Difference between revisions of "Sydney Morning Herald (39)"

Latest revision as of 21:04, 20 November 2015

He was only wounded, and appeared still determined to carry on the desperate conflict, but Steele rushed him, and seized the hand in which Kelly held his revolver, the only weapon with which he was armed. He fired another shot after that. When on the ground he roared with savage ferocity, cursing the police. Kelly was then overhauled, and it was found that he and his gang had improvised armour for head, chest and arms, out of stolen ploughshares from neighbouring farmers, manufactured, as is supposed, by confederate blacksmiths in their neighbourhood. The attack on the Glenrowan Hotel was still proceeding. That house was a weatherboard building, having six rooms, with brick chimneys, and a kitchen behind of slabs. The point the police wanted to know was, whether they could attack by burning the house down? They telegraphed to Captain Standish, the head of the Victorian police, asking whether they could fire the building. The reply was that they could, if all persons, other than the gang, were out of it. It appears that when this answer came such was the case. On the receipt of this sergeant Johnstone, under a final covering police volley, approached the house with a huge bundle of straw, which he placed against the walls, ignited it and retired safely. At first it was thought this firing had failed, but very soon it was seen that it had been effective, for the inside lining being of calico, the flames soon found an entrance, and very soon smoke first and flames afterwards, governed the Glenrowan Hotel in mastery. Just then a Roman Catholic priest, Father Gibney, who, travelling on the line, had remained at Glenrowan to witness the encounter, rushed into the house and was the means of bringing out a man named Cherry in a dying state, and the body of Byrne—Dan. Kelly and Hart being dead and their bodies almost consumed.

There are several episodes connected with this affray, that have been the subject of adverse comment in the papers, while all agree that to Mr Curnow, a schoolmaster in the district, is due the credit of having saved the train from being wrecked, it the risk of being shot down by the outlaws, or some of their friends. Mr and Mrs Curnow were stuck up at about 11 o'clock on Sunday morning by Ned Kelly and Byrne at the railway gates, as they were driving towards Greta. Their house and buggy were put up at Jones's hotel, and they themselves were lodged in the station-master's house. When bailing them up Kelly said, “I am sorry, but I must detain you." They were detained until about 10 o'clock at night, when Kelly and Byrne took them to the hotel, requested them to get into their buggy, and then accompanied them to the police station, where Kelly told them to go home and get into bed, and to remain quiet, otherwise he would shoot Mr Curnow. How Mr. Curnow heard of the rails having been pulled up has not yet been explained, and it seemed strange. He, however, did come by the information, and took the risk of earning the hatred of the Kelly gang by doing it in the interests of humanity. His house stands quite close to the railway line, and he was therefore able to hear the pilot engine approaching. Upon hearing it approaching he immediately ran out with a red handkerchief, which he held up, with a lighted   match behind it. By this action the special train was secured, and the locale of the gang discovered.

The bodies of the dead outlaws were given to the friends, and two of them, Dan Kelly and Hart, were buried with some demonstration. Ned Kelly is now in Melbourne gaol, recovering from his wounds and awaiting his trial.

NED KELLY IN ARMOUR

THE ILLUSTRATED SYDNEY NEWS,

of THURSDAY NEXT,

will contain a host of powerful Illustrations (from sketches on the spot) of the Principal Incidents connected with the

DESTRUCTION OF THE KELLY GANG

Among the engravings will be

Murder of Aaron Sherrett Finding of Byrne's body Capture of Ned Kelly

Ned Kelly's arrival in Melbourne . Armour worn by Ned Kelly; On the Track of the Kellys; The Mansfield Murders

&c, &c.

With the number will be

presented a SUPPLEMENT,

PRINTED IN COLOURS; containing

Portraits of Ned Kelly, Kate Kelly. Aaron Sherrett, and Police

Superintendent Hare; and a graphic representation of the

CONFLICT AT GLENROWAN.

A SECOND SUPPLEMENT will also be presented Gratis,

containing large illustrations of NED KELLY IN ARMOUR,

and

AFTER HIS CAPTURE.

PRICE ONE SHILLING

GIBBS, SHALLARD, and CO., Printers and Publishers, Copperplate, Lithographic, and Letterpress Printers, Electrotypers, Stereotyper, Copperplate, and Wood Engravers, Account Book Manufacturers, Artists, &c,

70, Pitt-street, Sydney .

end

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