Tarrant's is the coach, being the best known locally and the largest on the road. The knight of the whip is careful, attentive, and civil.

Immediately upon the rumble of the coach being heard miners and others, distracted with having nothing to do pop out from all sorts of imaginable - from under verandahs, from public houses, billiard rooms and elsewhere.

All are flocking down the street to see the coach pulled up in front of Angove's store.

When this is done, the miners and others, chatter as to who and what was on the coach, particularly the passengers. They wanted to know whether the passengers were young or old, esteeming both greatly.

The male passengers dismount from the coach catching hold of their luggage and quickly departing attempting to delude the on-lookers with the idea that they now the run the place. After the newspapers are unloaded and dispatched the night show of the coach arriving is over.

Freeman's Journal (Sydney) of June 10, 1871, recorded that considerable surprise was created at Gulgong, nine days previously when Tarrant's coach was stuck-up a little out of Gulgong on its return from Mudgee. All the passengers were robbed.

While ascending the steep hill, on the summit of which is situated the old Gulgong reef, the horses going at a walking pace, four bushrangers on foot moved quickly down the hill. In the orthodox style they ordered Mr Tarrant to "bail up."

The men had their faces covered, and carried out their attack in a cool and business like way. There were four passengers in the coach, and all were plundered, one asserting he lost 90 pounds, another 25 pounds.

Mr Tarrant was not asked to contribute. He was fortunate as he was carrying a huge sum of money for friend.

Mr and Mrs Naughton who lived in the country side were riding home from Gulgong and noticed the coach stopped in the middle of the road, and the passengers sitting beside.

A man whose face was concealed by means of crape, presented two revolvers at Mr Naughton and ordered him to stand.

He dismounted, and then observed that he had fallen into the hands of a bushranging party, who were all armed with revolvers, with their faces covered.

With one exception they all wore the costume of diggers, and their clothes were considerably soiled with clay. One of the party was dressed in black. They had no horses. A member of the party proceeded to relieve Mr Naughton of his watch and chain.

On the latter remonstrating with him, and telling him it was an old favourite he desisted, the robber returned several small articles he had taken.

After the robbery had been completed, the robbers moved down the hill and the coach continued on its journey to Gulgong.

As this was the first real attempt at revive bushranging in the Gulgong district, no exertion was spared by the local police in tracing the offenders.

The police are already aware there are several peculiarities in the case which leads to the conclusion that the hold up was carefully planned.

The Mudgee Guardian of August 22, 1901, paid the following tribute to Tom Tarrant:- "A grand old stagger was Tom . He was not a Cobb man.

He drove his own coach and van, the former between Gulgong and Mudgee, the latter between Mudgee and Wallerawang.

He was an 'Oxberry' (freeman) man from about Yarramundi, and a good man whoever drove a team. The Gulgong folks swore by him."