Morning of the Fray, The
DESCRIPTION: Frank Gardner leads his gang against a coach at the Eugowra Rocks. The outlaws scatter the escort and take the rich prize. Chorus: "You can sing of Johnny Gilbert, Dan Morgan, and Ben Hall, But the bold and reckless Gardiner he's the boy to beat them all"
AUTHOR: Music supplied by A.L. Lloyd
EARLIEST DATE: 1984
KEYWORDS: outlaw robbery battle money
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1830 - Birth of Francis Christie in New South Wales. He later took the name Frank Gardiner
FOUND IN: Australia?
Fahey-Eureka-SongsThatMadeAustralia, pp. 84-85, "The Morning of the Fray" (1 text, 1 tune)
Stewart/Keesing-FavoriteAustralianBalladsm p. 67, "The Morning of the Fray" (1 text)
A. L. Lloyd, "The Hold-Up at Eugowra Rocks" (on Lloyd4, Lloyd10)
cf. "Frank Gardiner" (subject of Gardiner)
NOTES [92 words]: Although the song implies Gardiner was separate from Gilbert, Morgan, and Ben Hall, in fact Gilbert and Hall were associated with Gardiner's gang. Ben Hall was shot in 1865; Johnny Gilbert met his fate in 1866. Gardiner was eventually taken and imprisoned, but was released and sent into exile after serving ten years of a 32 year sentence. For more on Gardiner (known as "The Darkie" because of he was part-aborigine), see "Frank Gardiner."
Stewart/Keesing-FavoriteAustralianBallads tentatively assign this to Gardiner himself. I don't believe it. - RBW
File: FaE084