The Argus at KellyGang 30/6/1881 (3)
Correspondence from Insp O'Connor
We went on up to the Glenrowan station so as to enable us to get out our horses to ride down to the torn-up rails. While in the act of getting out the horses a constable named Bracken, who had been stationed at Glenrowan, rushed frantically down to us and said, "I have just escaped from the outlaws, who are at Jones's public house -take care or they will be off." Superintendent Hare and I started at once off towards the house, calling the men to follow us, but owing to the confusion and noise in taking out the horses, I presume, some of them did not at once respond, as only Mr Hare, myself, three or for white men, and, I think, about two of my boys were in the first rush. We rushed straight for the house, and upon getting within about 20 yards of the place one shot, followed by a volley, was fired at us from the verandah.
We returned the fire, and before I could load again, Superintendent Hare called out to me, 'Connor, I am wounded - shot in the arm. I must go back.' I think the whole party were up by this time. I ordered the men to take cover, and I myself dropped down into a creek immediately in front of the front door, and about 20 yards from it. From here I kept up a continual fire until the outlaws were obliged to retire into the house. The others kept firing also. I then heard the cry of a woman in the house, and cried out, 'Cease firing,' which cry was taken up by us all. I sang out to let the women out, and they immediately came and passed to the rear. Superintendent Hare, after stating he was wounded, retired to the railway station, and in about 15 minutes went off on the engine to Benalla, leaving me as the only officer on the ground in charge. I kept my position and, in fact, shot Joe Byrne before we were reinforced, or (of course we cannot say who shot Joe) before another officer arrived upon the ground, which happened at about 5 30am, when Mr. Sadleir arrived with reinforcements from Benalla, thereby leaving us with only 12 men, viz., my five boys and seven white men, from about 2.30 until 5.30.
During this interval I think I may say the heaviest of the firing was. Of course it is unnecessary for me to give my opinion upon the conduct of Superintendent Hare in running away to Benalla. I leave you to form your own opinion when I tell you his wound is only through the wrist. Mr. Hare was only on the ground about three minutes. Ned Kelly, it appears, after going into the house, left by the back door, and was captured a few yards from the building. We then, Mr Sadleir and myself, thought of rushing the house, but a senior-constable proposed to fire the building; which was done, and at about 4pm we took out of the house the charred remains of Dan Kelly and Steven Hart, and at the same time we recovered the body of Joe Byrne (about 4 pm l, but not touched by the fire.
“I will communicate farther with you, as I see the credit which our party fully deserves the chief commissioner is reluctant to give us.-Your obedient servant,
"STANHOPE O'CONNOR, Sub-inspector."
“ Brisbane , July 15,1880 . "To Sub-inspector O'Connor, Brisbane .
"Sir,-I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 1st July, giving an account of your proceedings during the encounter between the police and the outlaws as Glenrowan on the 27th June ult., and I regret exceedingly that, so far as I can judge from the very meagre information contained in your report and the more fully detailed accounts given by newspaper correspondents, I am unable to find any cause for congratulation.
" Your report and that given by the correspondent of ' The Argus,' who it appears was on the ground, differ widely on some very material points, and it will be a source of great gratification if you are able, as I trust you will be, to show that yours is the correct version.
"The portions of the proceedings which chiefly call for explanation are:
"1st. The apparent total absence of discipline or plan with which the affair was conducted from commencement to finish.
" 2nd. The indiscriminate firing which was permitted, whereby the lives of innocent persons were endangered and, as it afterwards turned out, were sacrificed; and
"3rd The seemingly unnecessary burning of the premises in which the outlaws and others had taken shelter.
"In your report you state that upon Constable Bracken's arrival with the information that the outlaws were in Jones's public-house, you 'started off at once towards the house, calling; the men to follow,' &c, but owing to the confusion and noise in taking out the horses, some of them did not respond; and you think about two of your boys were with you. How did you propose to capture the outlaws without your men, and under whose command were those who were left behind? It seems that each man was left to act as be thought fit - no definite plan of action having been decided upon, and the same want of management appears to have continued throughout.
"With reference to the indiscriminate firing which is alleged to have taken place, your report is that upon getting within about 20 yards of the place, one shot, followed by a volley, was fired at us from the verandah. We returned the fire, &c.' And a little further on you continue -' I kept up a continued fire until the outlaws were obliged to retire into the house. I then heard the cry of a woman in the house, and I cried out, “Cease firing." I sang out, “Let the women out," which was done, and they immediately came and passed to the rear.'
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