Ovens and Murray Advertiser at KellyGang 15/7/1880 (3)
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As to storming the house after the people were out, what would that avail? The remaining outlaws, dead or alive, were then in hand.By firing the place they would be either compelled to come out, if able; or to call for quarter, if wounded.What matter if their dead bodies were burned? Ned Kelly said they would never surrender; although, he also said, they were too cowardly to shoot themselves.Our own opinion on that point is that Ned Kelly did not wish them to be taken alive.They knew too much about the banks spoils, and concerning certain friends.Dreadful as it is to think that two innocent people were killed—although it is now asserted that Cherry was shot by Ned Kelly—we cannot but think it was a great mercy that such an assault did not take place.It may be said with our after knowledge that the house should have been simply surrounded until the people dribbled out, and that the police should have stood to be fired at whenever they had occasion to show themselves, without returning a shot. That would be too much to expect even from veteran troops in a bush fight. There never was a fight but that some brave fellow—who wasn’t there—could have fought it better. But what is all this fault-finding about? Did any man, black or white, flinch from his duty? Or was there any really reckless destruction of life? In fact, we think that on a fair review of the whole of the circumstances, it must be admitted that of all the marvels of that day of surprises—of that day which set in with such thought of slaughter and such preparations for a feast of blood, with its chances of death amongst police, prisoners and spectators—the greatest marvel of all was that so few people, besides the outlaws themselves, were shot.
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Ned Kelly is sufficiently recovered to appear at the police court next Monday.
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THE KELLY SCARE
A gentleman residing at Jerilderie, writing to a friend in Geelong, mentioned a scare which happened at the former township just prior to the late chapter in the Kelly tragedy, and which has not yet found its way into print.Some boys passing by the bank there heard a dog barking loudly, and a voice exclaim “I’m bailed up.” They took up the cry, which was passed from lip to lip, and the intelligence was immediately conveyed to the police that the bank was being stuck up by the Kellys.The guardiana of the police seized all the available arms, and proceeded with dispatch to the bank expecting an encounter with the outlaws. An entrance was very cautiously effected, and the manager whom they expected to find under the surveillance of the desperadoes, and with revolvers menacing his life, was surprised at a game of chess with a friend, having no more dangerous an antagonist than his opponent’s king which threatened a checkmate .Explanations, of course, followed, from which it appeared that the friend had been bailed up by the watch-dog; and the troopers, after partaking of some little refreshments, departed, in no way regretted that what had been reported as a serious bank robbery had such a harmless termination.
Mr H E C heshire
During the late memorable encounter with the Kelly gang at Glenrowan it will be recollected that important service was rendered by Mr H E Cheshire, of the Telegraph department, and in charge of the Beechworth office, in establishing direct telegraphic communication between Glenrowan and Melbourne.The Postmaster-General has signified his approval of the steps taken by Mr Cheshire to ensure communication with Melbourne under the trying and unusual circumstances, and it is understood by the “Argus” that the commendable conduct of Mr Cheshire will be brought under the notice of the Cabinet.
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