Boodalin Soak - WA

One of Hunt’s Wells. Where Moondyne Joe was captured.Boodalin SoakThe Boodalin Soak, known also as the Boodalin Well, was one of a series of dams and wells sunk by early explorer and Government Surveyor C.C. (Charles) Hunt in 1865.It was well known to sandalwood cutters, pastoralists, travellers and gold prospectors and during the 1890's was part of a well used track between York and the Goldfields, Travellers were requested to be careful 'in using and repairing the watering places'.Moondyne Joe - Western Australia's Greatest Escape ArtistAn interesting incident relating to Hunt's 1866 expedition was the capture of Moondyne Joe, possibly Western Australia's greatest known bushranger in September that year. Moondyne Joe (born Joseph Bolitho Johns) was a colourful character whose defiant antics, frequent escapes and constant declarations of innocence entertained the early settlers. Originally transported from England in 1855 for stealing food, his notoriety sprang from his stubborn refusal to serve the prison sentences imposed on him and his very successful and numerous jail breaking episodes.Joe and his companions, having absconded from police custody on the 5th of September, were intending to head to South Australia by initially following Hunt's line of conveniently placed wells. Food, clothing, firearms, ammunition and horses were stolen from farms and properties around Toodyay and the escapees were well ahead of any pursuing parties.Knowing that Hunt and his party were eastwards working on tracks and wells, Joe intended to catch up with them, surprise them at night and steal fresh horses and rations at gun point. They had planned to destroy any horses they did not need, forcing Hunt's party to walk back to civilization, by which time Joe's party expected to be well over theborder.The plan failed when the fugitives were sighted by sandalwood cutters near Youndegin and a search party was organised. At around midday on September 29th, the police party caught up with Joe and his friends who were captured with little resistance. From Boodalin (322 kilometres east of Perth) the party returned to Fremantle, one fugitive on horseback having been wounded by a gun shot during capture, with Joe and the other convict completing the journey on foot.Moondyne Joe (buru Jseph Belithe Joha