Fact or fiction, word has it that one Jack Fitzpatrick appeared on the opal fields in earlier years. He wore a black patch over his left eye, quite a distinctive look among the diggers. Nobbies were being dug out at a fast rate in those days.
It happened that one of the mates approached Jack with a showy nobby he had smoothed to the perfect size for Jack to pop into his eye socket, so he could dispense with the patch that was a nuisance in the summer's heat!
'Crazy-eye Jack', as our friend with his ‘electric' eye became known, assumed a certain wild look about him. At the Imperial Hotel bar, he was offered big money for the source of his ‘flashy glance', but he wouldn't sell the nobby at any price.
Jack prospered at Lightning Ridge but became more of a mystery man.
About the same time, word was out that more than the odd sheep was disappearing from a local grazier's flock. This continued on a regular basis, and no matter what trap was laid, no trace of the culprit could be discovered. It was as if a wraith appeared in the night - not even a hide or bit of wool was left behind!
As time went on, little did Jack know just how much his nobby eyeball was coveted, and from one day to the next, he vanished from the scene rather like the sheep. That also marked the day that no more woolly beasts went missing!
As told by Adam, Newcastle Uni 2004, and recorded by Barbara Moritz, secretary.
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