The Argus (13)

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One of the biggest news days; full text of the articles

A summary of the articles below

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The first encounter

, Capture of Ned Kelly , The siege continued , The end. - the hotel burnt , Interview with Ned Kelly , The attempt on the train , Ned Kellys statements , The bullet proof armour , The stationmaster narrative , Robert Gibbons narrative , Statement of Mrs Reardon , Sergeant Steele's statement , Statement by Charles Rawlins , Statement of Constable Hugh Bracken , Statement of Rev. M Gibney , Statement by Senior Constable Kelly , The murder of Sherritt , The inquest on Sherritt , The ministry and the Kellys , KellyGang

News of the Glenrowan Siege and the end of the KellyGang. Written by corespondents who were on the scene

[The Argus gave at least a page to the story of the KellyGang. They had a number of versions of the story from different correspondence. They also included statements from a number of the key players. They even included part of an interview with Ned Kelly]

DESTRUCTION

'

OF THE

KELLY GANG

_______________

DESPERATE ENCOUNTER _____________________ NED KELLY CAPTURED ______________ DAN KELLY, HART AND BYRNE DEAD _________ CHILDREN AND CIVILIANS KILLED AND WOUNDED _______

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH]

(By Our Special Reporter)

At last the Kelly gang and the police have come within shooting distance, and the adventure has been most tragic of any in the bushranging annals of the colony. Most people will say that it is high time too, for the murders of the police near Mansfield occurred as long ago as the 26 th of October, 1878 the Euroa outrage on the 9 th December of the same year, and the Jerilderie affair on the 8 th and 9 th of February, 1879. The lapse of time induced many to believe that the gang was no longer in the colony, but these sceptics must now be silent. The outlaws demonstrated their presence in a brutally effective manner by the murder of the unfortunate Aaron Sherritt at Sebastopol . Immediately on the news being received a train was despatched from Melbourne at 10.15 on Sunday night. At Essendon Sub-inspector O’Connor and his five black trackers were picked up. They had come recently from Benalla, and were en route for Queensland again. Mr O’Connor, however, was fortunately staying with Mrs O’Connor’s friends at Essendon for a few days before his departure. Mrs O’Connor and her sister came along thinking that they would be able to pay a visit to Beechworth. After leaving Essendon the train travelled at a great speed, and before the passengers were aware of any accident having occurred, we had smashed through a gate about a mile beyond Craigieburn. All we noticed was a crack like a bullet striking the carriage. The brake of the engine had, however, been torn away, the footbridge of the guard’s van destroyed. Guard Bell was looking out of the van at the time, and had a very narrow escape. The train had to be pulled up, but after a few minutes we started again, relying on the brake of the guard’s van. Benalla was reached at half past 1 o’clock , and there Superintendent Hare with eight troopers and their horses were taken on board. We were now about to the Kelly country, and caution was necessary. As the moon was shining brightly, a man was tied on upon the front of the engine to keep a look out for any obstruction of the line. Just before starting, however, it occurred to the authorities that it would be advisable to send a pilot engine in advance, and the man on the front of our engine was relieved. A start was made from Benalla at 2 o’clock , and at 25 minutes to 3, when we were travelling at a rapid pace, we were stopped by the pilot engine. This stoppage occurred at Playford and Desoyre’s paddocks, about a mile and a quarter from Glenrowan. A man had met the pilot and informed the driver that the rails were torn up about a mile and a half beyond Glenrowan, and that the Kellys were waiting for us near at hand. Superintendent Hare at once ordered the carriage doors on each side to be unlocked, and his men to be in readiness. His orders were punctually obeyed, and the lights were extinguished. Mr Hare then mounted the pilot engine, along the a constable, and advanced. After some time he returned, and directions were given for the train to push on. Accordingly, we followed the pilot up to Glenrowan station, and disembarked.

THE FIRST ENCOUNTER

No sooner were we out of the train, than Constable Bracken, the local policeman, rushed into our midst, and stated with an amount of excitement which was excusable under the circumstances, that he had just escaped from the KellyGang,

The police and the gang blazed away at each other in the darkness furiously.

Superintendent Hare wounded

Senior constable Kelly took charge

A heart rending wail of grief ascended from the hotel. The voice was easily distinguished as that of Mrs Jones, the landlady. Mrs Jones was lamenting the fate of her son.

Police reinforcements arrived from Benalla, Beechworth, and Wangaratta. Superintendent Sadleir came from Benalla

Senior constable Kelly found Ned Kelly's revolving rifle and a cap

CAPTURE OF NED KELLY

At daylight the gang were expected to make a sally out, so as to escape

To the surprise of the police, however, they soon found themselves attacked from the rear by a man dressed in a long gray overcoat and wearing an iron mask.

The role of Sergeant Steele of Wangaratta, Senior constable Kelly, and Jesse Dowsett.

THE SIEGE CONTINUED

That the three other outlaws were still in the house was confirmed by remarks made by Ned

A rumour got abroad that Byrne was shot when drinking a glass of whisky at the bar of the hotel about half past 5 o'clock in the morning. The Dan Kelly and Steve Hart kept up a steady defence from the rear of the building

The civilians escaped

THE END. - THE HOTEL BURNT

At 10 minutes to 3 o'clock another and last volley was fired into the hotel, and under cover of the fire Senior constable Charles Johnson, of Violet Town, ran up to the house with a bundle of straw.

Just at this junction Mrs Skillian, sister of the Kellys, attempted to approach the house from the front.

Father Gibney at much personal risk from the flames, hurried into a room to the left, and there saw two bodies lying side by side on their backs.

The bodies of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart. Joe Byrne

Martin Cherry

All that was left standing of the hotel was the lamp post and the signboard

The outlaws horses

Dick Hart and Mrs Skillion

INTERVIEW WITH NED KELLY

After the house had been burned Ned Kelly's three sisters and Tom Wright were allowed an interview with him.

Ned Kelly's response to questions

An inquest on the bodies of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart

THE ATTEMPT ON THE TRAIN

According to Ned Kelly, the gang after shooting Sherritt at Sebastopol, rode openly through the streets of Beechworth, and then came on to Glenrowan for the purpose of wrecking any special police train which might be sent after them, in the hope of destroying the black trackers.

The spot selected was on the first turning after reaching Glenrowan, at a culvert and on an incline

Police arrived at Glenrowan

NED KELLY'S STATEMENTS

'I was going down to meet the special train with some of my mates, and intended to rake it with shot; but it arrived before I expected, and I then returned to the hotel. I expected the train would go on, and I had the rails pulled up so that these - black trackers might be settled

I do not care what people say about Sergeant Kennedy's death.

THE BULLET PROOF ARMOUR

The armour in which each member of the gang was clad was of a most substantial character.

All these articles are believed to have been made by two men

Ned Kelly's armour alone weighed 97lb

THE STATIONMASTER Mr. STANISTREET'S NARRATIVE

ROBERT GIBBONS NARRATIVE

STATEMENT OF MRS REARDON

SERGEANT STEELE'S STATEMENT

STATEMENT BY CHARLES S RAWLINS

STATEMENT OF CONSTABLE HUGH BRACKEN

STATEMENT OF THE VERY REV. M GIBNEY

STATEMENT BY SENIOR CONSTABLE KELLY

THE MURDER OF SHERRITT

One of the constables present gives the following narrative

THE INQUEST ON SHERRITT

An inquest was commenced to day on the body of Aaron Sherritt

THE MINISTRY AND THE KELLYS

Immediately after the present Ministry were settled in office Chief Secretary made a special investigation into the conduct of the police in connexion with the KellyGang

The special train

Use of a cannon

Use electricity to light the site at Glenrowan

Dealings between Victoria and Queensland

THE KELLYS

Commenced their career with a cold blooded and gratuitous atrocity

Death of the hapless AARON SHERRITT

Their motive in committing this crime was as senseless as was their object in the murder of the Kennedy party

If the gang had not made the effort they would have been back in their old hiding places in the Strathbogie Ranges long before the police could have been on their tracks, and thus they might have eluded pursuit as successfully as ever

Superintendent HARE anticipated a trick of the kind, and arranged that a pilot engine should run in front of the special, and that a watch should be kept from it on the track, and that precaution would have saved the force

The fight with EDWARD KELLY was in the open, and this ruffian was captured without being killed, and without his having killed any one

BYRNE with a coward's hand, had murdered the unsuspecting SHERRITT, fell first.

HART and the younger KELLY were found dead

Melbourne was a was scene of unexampled excitement yesterday, in consequence of the receipt of the news that the KellyGang had been surrounded at Glenrowan.

The Argus office at 11 o'clock, and successive editions appeared up to half past 5 o'clock, when we published a final issue, giving details of the destruction of the gang supplied by our reporters, who were present at the scene.

They imprisoned the residents here, and compelled two platelayers to tear the line up beyond Glenrowan, and threatened to blow out the brains of the station master if he ventured to signal the special.

The civilians who were captured were allowed by the KellyGang to leave the hotel about 10 o'clock in the morning

Five people were wounded at Glenrowan

The Argus back < > next section , Same day The Age, Herald, Melbourne Daily Telegraph, Oven & Murray Advertiser, Sydney Morning Herald