The True Story of the KellyGang of Bushrangers Chapter 2 page 4

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In the meantime the police had been busy in organising a second search party to look for Kennedy, which started for Stringy Bark Creek on Tuesday. When the men arrived at the camp it was late in the afternoon, and during the hours of daylight remaining, the ground was searched carefully, but without success. When dusk came on the members of the party, in spite of Sub Inspector Pewtress’ remonstrances, positively refused to remain for the night upon the ground, but insisted upon returning to Mansfield. It was useless for the police officer to remain alone, as many men were wanted for the search; so he perforce accompanied the others on their return, leaving, on his way, some of the constables at Monk’s saw mill for its protection, since it was thought the bushrangers might still be lurking in the neighbourhood.

When Sub Inspector Pewtress returned to Mansfield , he found that other constables had arrived, and also the chief officer in charge of the district, Superintendent Sadlier. By this time Mr Pewtress was almost worn out by his continued exertion and responsibility, while M’Intyre had broken down, and was ill in the hospital. Mr Pewtress, however, accompanied the third search party—a large one, composed of police and civilians, which he and Superintendent Sadleir had collected—and set out again as soon as possible for the scene of the tragedy. There, about eight o’clock on Thursday morning, the question of Kennedy’s fate was solved at last. More than a quarter of a mile from the camp, Mr Tompkins, President of the Shire Council, came upon a body covered with a cloak. It was Kennedy, shot through the forehead and disfigured with numerous other wounds. Lapse of time and the attacks of insects had made his features almost unrecognisable; but there was no difficulty in identifying the body, and, like those of his unfortunate comrades, it was slung upon a horse for conveyance through the bush to the saw mills, whence a vehicle took it on to Mansfield . There an inquest was held; but necessarily no further evidence was forthcoming than had been available in the case of the other murders. Medical examination, however, showed that a wound in the chest had been made by a charge from a shot gun fired at close range. The muzzle, in fact, must have been held almost against the wounded man’s breast as he lay helpless, and the shot was probably fired from his own gun.

Sergeant Kennedy’s funeral, which was one of the largest ever witnessed in the district, was attended by clergy of all denominations, among them Dr. Moorhouse, Anglican Bishop of Melbourne , and quantities of flowers were sent to do honour to a brave man and testify the sympathy felt for his widow. The Government generously recognised her claims upon it, by deciding that the late sergeant’s full pay should be given to her for the support of herself and her children.

After the funeral Mansfield, gradually recovering its equilibrium, turned its attention to the chances of capturing the miscreants, and the facts connected with the outrage. Of the latter it was impossible to learn much; but it was ascertained that Kennedy had been informed of the proximity of the Kellys to the police camp. He had not communicated that fact to M’Intyre, and it was surmised that his informant had treacherously told the Kellys that Kennedy was going in search of them. They, it appeared, had inhabited a hut, with mud walls, which was almost a fortress, on the site of some deserted alluvial diggings, not far from the scene of murder. Complaints were loud in Mansfield of the shockingly inadequate arming of the police who, by this time, had gone in pursuit of the bushrangers. One party of seven police had only four rifles between them; but these matters were gradually attended to, and Mansfield itself was mollified by a strong force of constables being stationed in the town, and the despatch of twenty five rifles from Melbourne for the defence of the inhabitants.

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This document gives you the text of the report about the KellyGang for this day. The text has been retyped from a copy of the original. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. We also apologise for any typographical errors. This document is subject to copyright.

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