The True Story of the KellyGang of Bushrangers Chapter 12 page 2

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Meanwhile Mr Nicolson had gone on to Benalla where he arrived in the early morning, telegraphed to the police at Mansfield asking for two trackers, and then went on with Mr Wyatt, who was waiting for him, to Faithfull’s. Stopping the train there at about 8.30, he got out and met the party of police who had ridden out from Euroa, while Mr Wyatt continued his journey.

At Faithfull’s Creek there was a good deal of confusion. Sympathisers or busybodies, under pretence of seeking for the tracks of the outlaws, had galloped about all round the place, making it very difficult to pick them up. One of the overseers gave Mr Nicolson some trouble and caused delay, but eventually following the directions of the housekeeper, by whose common sense he was impressed, Mr Nicolson took his men in the direction—towards Euroa—in which she said she had last seen the dust of the outlaws’ horses. There tracks were picked up and followed, the troublesome overseer presently getting a fall from his horse and dropping out of the party, much to Mr Nicolson’s satisfaction. By midday the police were in Euroa, most of them absolutely knocked up. The majority had only just returned from a search party with Mr Nicolson before the robbery, and he felt it necessary to allow them some rest and refreshment. For this he was blamed in some quarters for procrastination, but he emphatically denies that there was anything of the kind, and declares that the men were so overcome with heat and fatigue that they actually dropped asleep over their food before they had eaten or drunk anything provided for them. Johnson, one of the most energetic men of the party, slept so heavily, that the hotelkeeper, believing he had sunstroke, poured water over him, but even this failed to wake him. In that state Mr Nicolson could do nothing with his troopers so he ordered a halt until six o’clock, during which time the men slept, and after a meal he led them away towards Murchison, a township lying near due north, in which direction, from what he had learnt from people at Faithfull’s Creek, Mr Nicolson thought it likely the outlaws would be making. During that night nothing of them was heard or seen, and any trucks they might have left would be impossible to follow in the darkness. About six next morning the men returned to Euroa for rest, and Mr Nicolson lay down but could not sleep, as he was ill from continuous fatigue, and suffering in particular from his eyes, which were so inflamed as to make him almost blind.

Captain Standish arrived from Melbourne in the course of the morning. After discussion with Mr Nicolson he agreed to send a police party away that day into the Strathbogie Ranges ; but as Mr Nicolson was absolutely broken down in health and unfit to accompany it the Commissioner telegraphed for Mr Hare to come up from Melbourne and take command.

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