Captain Thunderbolt

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Thunderbolt didn't kill anyone

Thunderbolt was involved in several shootouts with police, so the fact that he never killed anyone may have been luck, but it led to the belief that Thunderbolt was the Gentleman Bushranger, the last of the professional highwaymen.

The illusion of the gallant highwayman suited Thunderbolt as he was regularly assisted by a sympathetic public. He apparently encouraged this illusion through courtesy to his victims and the striking image he made on his magnificent stolen horses.

Thunderbolt is credited with committing up to 200 crimes. It is surprising that during so many hold-ups not one person was killed, although he shot at police and was once wounded himself.

Photograph: Uniformed police of the 1860s.

Further information is available in the book Captain Thunderbolt - Horsebreaker to Bushranger which you can buy from Tocal [details]

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