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The Argus at KellyGang 4/11/1878 (3)

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' A fear has been expressed that the parties out hunting for the bushrangers might mistake each other in their disguise, and shoot each other down. That this fear was not without grounds will be seen from the following telegram from our Corowa correspondent:—


Corowa, Saturday.

“Police patrolling both banks of Murray. The Wahgunyah party were fired on last night by another party of police, fortunately without injury. Impression prevails that the Kellys have crossed the Murray . If Christian’s report be true there can be no doubt. The difficulty of crossing the river is imaginary. Scores of boats on its banks.”

Some understanding should be come to so that the various police and volunteers parties might recognise each other, and so prevent such a dangerous mistake being repeated. The weight of evidence is still in favour of the report that the gang were seen in the Chiltern district, and that one of their number was wounded. Our Chiltern correspondent telegraphs:—

“Chiltern, Saturday.

“Information reached us last evening, and again this morning, that the party of ruffians causing so much excitement are lurking in the ranges known as Rats’ Castle, near the Mares’ Flats, Indigo Creek. Volunteers can be obtained from the township and about if arms were to be had. The police are very active, and have received fresh news, I hear, this afternoon. It is also said that one of the party must be wounded, as when sticking up Christian’s house he could not sit upright. Rats’ Castle is well-known to have been the haunt of Sullivan, Power, and Morgan, but the Victorian police also know the place well.”

From our Mansfield correspondent we have the following:—

“ Mansfield , Sunday, 5 p.m.

“Nothing new has transpired here since I last sent about the bushrangers, but there are all sorts of rumours of their having been met with in various parts of the border, which are not believed here. It was an old trick of Power’s to elude the police by appearing to cross into New South Wales , and Kelly is quite capable of the same ruse. Eleven Troopers disguised left here in haste about 11 o’clock this morning for Benalla..”

At a later hour our special reporter telegraphs the following intelligence from Benalla:—

“Sunday, 10 p.m.

“A telegram was received from Superintendent Nicolson at 6 o’clock , stating that the men seen at Barnawartha answered the description of Kelly’s party, and two of the horses the description of those taken from the murdered troopers. The police are following up the tracks. The troopers who reached Mansfield from the ranges on Friday came on to Benalla to-night for fresh orders. It came on to rain heavily at sundown.”

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