The black stallion stood about 15 hands high. He was a fine looking horse, pitch black with an unidentified brand on him. The story went that he had escaped from the stockyards at Dandenong Market and made his way across country to the back of Carrum and was hiding out down near the river.

The local council had tried to catch him but he was shrewd, if he saw anyone coming he would bolt off in the opposite direction. On one occasion council workers managed to drop ropes over his head, but when they closed in he attacked lunging and trying to bite them. He then reared up and galloped away with the ropes hanging from him. He plunged into the river and swam to the other side climbing its bank. It's said, he looked over his shoulder at his would be captors before disappearing into the bush!

It was a typical hot summer’s day when John MaclHinney and Ken Dahlstrom hatched a scheme to try and nab the stallion. A massive pine tree was growing near the river bank, in those days radiata pine trees were dotted all over Carrum, they had been planted there many years ago by early settlers.

The plan, was to place a bucket of chaff at the base of the tree, climb it and lay in wait. Ken and MaclHinney rode out to the tree and hid their horses in some nearby scrub. Ken said as they lay in wait in the tree they could see the stallion grazing in the distance. Hours passed before he slowly headed in their direction stopping all along the way to eat grass. Finally, the stallion went over to the bucket of chaff, as soon as he lowered his head to eat the lasso was dropped ! The stallion reared back in fright, the rope fell and off he bolted in an easterly direction.

MaclHinney quickly ran and jumped on his horse and galloped after him. Ken Dahlstrom said last time he saw the stallion MclHinney was chasing after it, they were both jumping fences heading out towards the Bangholme Spillways!

On his return MaclHinney told Ken he kept on the stallion’s tail nearly all the way to Dandenong but couldn’t close the gap to lasso him. The stallion was just too wily and fast... it's not know what happened to him but right up until this very day the story about the stallion is still talked about.!_[1]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1. Ross C. Interview Ken Dahlstrom. Jim Jones. 2009