Ovens & Murray Advertiser (16)
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The public were still further startled on receipt of the news that the outlaws had at an early hour on Monday morning caused to be torn up several rails on the line between Glenrowan and Wangaratta, and stuck up Jones’s public-house, a weatherboard building, at the first-named place, where they had bailed up a number of resident’s in the hotel. The news could hardly be credited, as it was not thought that such daring villains as the members of the gang have on all previous occasions shown themselves to be, and had ever acted most cautiously in their movements, could have committed such an evidently suicidal act as to allow themselves to be hemmed in by the police in such a manner. The following accounts were received by us from time to time during the day from the scene of the affair:-
9 a.m
As a special train, conveying Superintendent Hare and a number of police, was travelling from Benalla to Glenrowan at an early hour this morning it was stopped and its occupants informed that the line had been pulled up by the Kellys a mile beyond Glenrowan. When the train pulled up at the Glenrowan station Superintendent Hare, on going to the station master’s house, was informed by the latter that everybody in Glenrowan had been taken into the bush by the outlaws. The police were immediately ordered to leave the train, when Constable Bracken appeared on the scene, exclaiming: “I have just escaped from Jones’s public-house, and for God’s sake go quickly, or they will get away.” Mr Hare, followed by two or three of the police, without the slightest delay, proceeded to the place indicated, on nearing which a shot, which struck Superintendent Hare on the arm, wounding him, but not seriously, was fired from inside the house, which was immediately surrounded by all the police then present. Contingents of police from Beechworth, Wangaratta and Benalla, were telegraphed for, and despatched accordingly.
10.15 am
Ned Kelly has been captured alive, although wounded. When searched he was found to have a complete suit of bullet-proof armour underneath his clothes.
The rest of the gang are not captured owing to police not wishing to incur unecessary bloodshed by firing into the public-house, which is full of the towns-people.
11.15 am
Ned Kelly, who was shot by Sergeant Steele while trying to escape, is mortally wounded and is at present lying at the Glenrowan Railway Station. It is said that Byrne shot Jones, the publican. The people who were detained in the hotel by the gang have since been released. Dan Kelly, Hart and Byrne are, however, still in the place, the doors of which are now open. Incessant firing is being kept up. It is believed that the freeing of the civilians is only a bait to entice the police to enter the hotel. It is not expected that the outlaws will be able to hold out much longer.
1 pm
The outlaw Joseph Byrne has been killed.
Ned Kelly is still alive. It is not yet known whence he will be removed.
The police are keeping up a lively firing; Hart and Dan Kelly still occupying the hotel.
Two civilians have been wounded.
Some cannon is coming from Melbourne to blow up the house.
All is going on well with the attacking party.
Wangaratta, 4 pm
Some fifty policemen'from all parts of the district surrounded Jones’s public-house at Glenrowan this morning. Ned Kelly woke up a platelayer named Reardon at two o’clock on Sunday morning, and asked him to dislodge some of the rails, so as to overturn the train. Reardon said he had not the proper tools, but afterwards took off some bolts and told Kelly if the train came up there would be a smash; but he had left some bolts so that the train could pass safely. He and others were then ordered to enter into Jones’s Hotel, in which there were some sixteen people, besides the four bushrangers, including children, when the police surrounded the house. The inmates of the place laid down on the floor so as to prevent the balls from hitting them. Two children were wounded, but not seriously by the shot of the police. The four men were encased in iron mail, made from the mould-boards of ploughs. Ned Kelly was completely covered with the armour, with an iron helmet made of the same material. The armour one hundred and twenty pounds. Ned Kelly came out of the house and challenged the police. He was answered by a volley of shots, and would have been completely riddled but for the armour. However, he was shot in the arm, and also in the groin, and made a prisoner. He is now lying at the Glenrowan railway-station.
Byrne was shot dead; and Hart and Dan Kelly are now desperately fighting the police. All the inmates of the house escaped. Hart and Dan Kelly say they will meet death rather than surrender. A large cannon has been sent for to Melbourne to blow the shanty up. Ned Kelly told Reardon that he had four stone (weight) of powder, and would make it hot for the police. The two children arrived from Glenrowan by train, and are now in the Wangaratta Hospital . The wounds are not serious. The whole of Wangaratta is alive, as the residents expect that Ned Kelly will arrive by special train; and almost everyone is delighted that he has been taken alive.
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