From _The Age_ (continued). Mrs. Skillian comes on the Scene--The
Hotel fired--Rescue of Sherry--Fate of Dan Kelly and Hart--Statement
of Various Prisoners made by the Gang--The Incident of the Cannon.
Just as they were about to put this newly-conceived plan into
operation, Mrs. Skillian, sister of the Kellys, dressed in a dark
riding-habit trimmed with scarlet, and wearing a jaunty hat adorned
with a conspicuous white feather, appeared on the scene. Father Tierney
earnestly requested her to go to the hotel and ask her brother and
Hart to surrender. She said she would like to see her brother before
he died, but she would sooner see him burned in the house than ask him
to surrender. This, in fact, was the procedure which the police had
decided upon in order to bring the outlaws from their cover. Some 200
people by this time had arrived on the platform.
The police opened up a heavy fire on the hotel from the front and rear.
This was done in order to cover the operations of Senior-constable
Johnstone, who rapidly approached the house on the north side with
a bundle of straw, which he placed against the weather-boards and
set fire to. It was known that Martin Sherry, an old man, was still
in the house, and when the last prisoners had escaped he was alive,
though badly wounded. The thought that the unfortunate man would be
sacrificed, and perish in the flames with the determined bushrangers
who had made so long a stand, caused a feeling of horror to pervade the
crowd.
Kate Kelly at this juncture came upon the scene, but the only
expression which escaped her lips was the one uttered in heart-broken
accents, "My poor, poor brother." Mrs. Skillian exclaimed, "I will see
my brother before he dies," and then sped towards the hotel, from the
roof of which by this time tongues of flame were beginning to ascend.
The police ordered her to go back, and she hesitated.
Father Tierney emerged from the crowd, saying he would save Sherry.
The brave clergyman was encouraged on his mission by a cheer from
the spectators. He walked boldly to the front door, was lost to view
amongst the smoke, and directly afterwards a mass of flames burst
from the walls and roof of the dwelling at the same instant. A shout
of terror from the crowd announced the fear that was felt for the
safety of the courageous priest. Constable Armstrong, with some other
policemen, rushed into the building from the rear, and a few seconds
afterwards their forms, with that of Father Tierney, were seen to
emerge, carrying with them Sherry, who was in a dying state, and the
dead body of the outlaw Byrne.
On reaching a place of safety they stated that Dan Kelly and Hart were
lying upon the floor apparently dead. Nothing, however, could be done
to rescue their remains from the fire. Soon afterwards the building was
completely demolished, and on a search being made amongst the ruins,
two charred skeletons were raked out from the smouldering _débris_.
Wild, Wright, Hart (the brother of Steve), and other well-known friends
were witnesses of this terrible scene. All the bushrangers were clad
in the same kind of armour as that worn by Ned Kelly, which weighed as
much as ninety-seven pounds, and had evidently been constructed by some
country blacksmith out of ploughshares. The marks on Kelly's armour
showed that he had been hit seventeen times with bullets.
The unfortunate man Sherry died soon after being rescued from the
burning building. Ned Kelly was brought on to Benalla by the evening
train, and lodged in the lock-up, to await the inquest to be held in
the morning.
The statement of Constable Bracken is to the effect that the first
intimation of the presence of the gang at Glenrowan was on Sunday night
at eleven o'clock, when he was bailed up by Ned Kelly. He had been
confined to bed through illness. Whilst a prisoner in the hotel he
courageously managed to steal the key of the front door, which enabled
him to escape in time to warn the police that the outlaws were in the
house.
Mr. John Stanistreet, station-master at Glenrowan, states--"About three
o'clock on Sunday morning a knock came to my door, at the gatehouse,
within one hundred yards of the station, on the Melbourne side. I
jumped up, and thinking it was some one wanting to get through the
gates in a hurry, I commenced to dress as soon as possible. I half
dressed, and went to the door. Just when I got there it was burst in,
but previous to that there was some impatient talk, which caused me
to dress quickly. When the door was burst in I asked, 'What is that
for?' or 'Who are you?' The answer was, 'I am Ned Kelly.' I then saw a
man, clad in an overcoat, standing in the doorway. He pushed me into
my bedroom, where my wife and some of the children were in bed. There
were two girls and one infant besides my wife. Then he said to me, 'You
have to come with me and take up the rails.' 'Wait,' said I, 'until I
dress.' He said, 'Yes,' and I completed my dressing and followed him
out of the house.
"On the line there were seven or eight men standing at the gate which
crosses the line to Mrs. Jones's hotel, the Glenrowan Inn. He said,
'You direct those men how to raise some of the rails, as we expect a
special train very soon.' I objected, saying, 'I know nothing about
lifting rails off the line; the only persons who understand it are the
repairers; they live outside and along the line.' Ned Kelly then went
into Reardon the plate-layer's house. Reardon lives outside the line on
the Greta side, about a quarter of a mile away. Steve Hart was present,
and Kelly left us in his charge. When Kelly went away Hart gave me a
prod with his rifle in the side, saying, 'You get the tools out that
are necessary to raise those rails.' I said, 'I have not the key of the
chest;' and he said, 'Break the lock.' He told one of the men to do so,
and on arriving at the station he got one of the men to do it. This was
in the little back shed used as a store-room, between the station and
the gatehouse. The tools were thrown out, and in the meantime Reardon
and Sullivan, the line-repairers, arrived with Ned Kelly. These two
men and Ned proceeded down the line towards Wangaratta to lift the
rails. We were still under Steve Hart, and we remained where we were
over two hours, and then Ned Kelly and the repairers returned. Ned
then inquired about the signalling of trains, as to how I stopped a
train with the signal-lights. I said, '"White is right, red is wrong,
and green is gently, come along."' He said, 'There is a special train
coming; you give no signals.' Speaking to Hart he said, 'Watch his
countenance, and if he gives any signal, shoot him.' He then marched
us into my residence, and left us there under Steve Hart. There were
there then about seventeen altogether, other persons subsequently being
placed in my house also. There were present Reardon's family, the Ryan
family, Cameron (son of the gatekeeper on the other line), Sullivan,
line-repairer, and others whom I do not remember. We were locked up all
day on Sunday, and were only allowed out under surveillance. The women
were permitted to go to Jones's Hotel about five o'clock, and shortly
afterwards all the men but me and my family went away. Steve Hart
stopped with us, and during the night Dan Kelly relieved Hart, and he
was afterwards relieved by Byrne.
"Just before the special train arrived I was ordered to the hotel by
Hart, who was on and off duty all the time, to follow him to Jones's,
and not signal the train. I went into the back kitchen, where Mrs.
Jones and daughter, aged about fourteen, and two younger children were.
There was also a man there named Neil M'Kew. By this time the train had
arrived, and firing was going on furiously. I did not see Ned Kelly
in the room. I with others stood in the chimney. I did not hear any
remark passed by any of the gang, and they disappeared. A ball passed
through the hut, and grazed Miss Jane Jones, fourteen years of age, on
the forehead. The girl said, 'I'm shot,' and turned to me. I saw the
blood and told her it was nothing. The mother commenced to cry, and
soon afterwards I left the kitchen, and went into the back-yard. I then
saw three of the gang there standing behind the chimney. They had their
rifles in their hands. One of them said, I don't know which, 'If you go
out you'll be shot.' I walked straight down the path towards the house.
The firing was then going on all round me, but I was uninjured. One of
the police very nearly shot me, but I said 'Station-master' when he
challenged me. I forgot to mention that during Sunday afternoon Steve
Hart demanded and received my revolver."
Robert Gibbons states--"I am a farmer, and have recently been stopping
at Glenrowan with Mr. Reynolds. I came to the railway-station about
eight o'clock on Sunday night with Mr. Reynolds to ask about his
little boy, who had not been home. When we knocked at the door, Mrs.
Stanistreet told us that Mr. Hart was inside, and that they had been
stuck up ever since three o'clock on Sunday morning. We followed her
in, and saw Steve Hart. She told him who we were, and he then put his
fire-arms down, giving us to understand that we were not to go out. We
remained there about two hours, when Ned Kelly came, and Hart ordered
us to come out of the room. Ned Kelly then told us that we would all
have to go down to the police-barracks with him. He kept us waiting
there for about two hours, he having gone for Bracken. He returned to
us with Bracken. He kept us waiting there about an hour and a half.
Byrne at that time was with us. There he told me and Mr. Reynolds we
would have to go to Jones's Hotel. We went to the hotel, and he told us
to get into the bar parlour. It was then about ten o'clock on Sunday
night, and we remained there until the train came. During that time
the Kellys were going about the place making themselves quite jolly.
Byrne was in charge of the back-door, the other door being locked.
A little after three o'clock the train came. Prior to that the gang
drank quite freely with the others. When the train arrived, Ned came
and said, 'You are not to whisper a word that has been said here about
me. If I hear of any one doing so I will shoot you.' He went to the
door of the room and said, 'Here she comes,' and then the gang busied
themselves in making preparations, but for what I did not know. They
came back and said the first man who left the room in which we were
would be shot. Two of them then mounted their horses, and rode away,
but I could not tell which two. They came back in about ten minutes'
time. When they came back, I saw that Dan was one of the two who had
gone away. Dan went into a back room. All four in turn went into the
same room. Very soon afterwards a hurried move was made, and firing
commenced. There must have been about forty men, women, and children in
the house then. The women and children commenced to shriek, and Mrs.
Jones's eldest daughter was wounded on the side of the head, and the
eldest boy shot in the thigh. The bullets rattled through the side of
the house, and we laid down. We were packed so close that we had to
lie on our sides. It was those who laid next the door who prompted us
to come out, and we did so because we feared that the bullets would
come through faster than ever. We also feared a cannon would be used;
and about ten o'clock we ran out. I heard some of them say that Byrne,
or one of the gang, was lying dead in the back. I know that Dan was
alive when I left."
Arthur Loftus Mauld Steele states--"I am a sergeant of police at
Wangaratta. I arrived here with five men about five a.m. We were at
once challenged by police, and answered, 'Wangaratta police.' My men
were then distributed around the hut, and I got to the tree near the
back door of the hut. There was no firing then. A woman and child
came to the back-door screaming, and I told the woman if she ran in
quick she would not be molested. A man then came to the back-door,
and I asked him to throw up his arms or I would fire on him. He was
only about twenty-five yards distant. The man stooped and ran towards
the stables and I fired. He then turned and ran back to the house,
and I fired again. I am certain I hit him with the second shot, as he
screamed and fell against the door. There was then some hot firing, and
the bullets whistled all around me. The firing was kept up for some
time, and some of the men behind me called out. It was then breaking
day. I looked round, and saw a man stalking down. I thought he was a
black-fellow, and called on the others to be careful. I then saw him
present a revolver and fire at the police. I could see the bullets
hitting him, and staggering him for a moment, with no further effect.
I therefore thought he had armour on, and determined to have a close
shot at him. I ran towards him, and when within ten yards of him he
saw me, and turned round to fire at me. I then aimed at his legs, and
he staggered, but he still tried to aim at me. I then fired the second
barrel on the legs. We were then in the open. He fell, and cried, 'I'm
done, I'm done.' I ran up to him then, and he again tried to shoot me,
but I caught the revolver and pushed it down. I was behind him, and
he could not turn on me quick enough to shoot me. Whilst I held the
revolver away from me he fired the revolver. Senior-constable Kelly
then came up and assisted me to secure him. So did O'Dwyer, and a host
of others at once followed. We only found one revolver on him, and a
bag of ammunition. We divested him of his armour. I was strained after
the scuffle which ensued."
Senior-constable Kelly states--"When we started from the platform we
ran down towards the railway-gates, hearing that the gang were in
Jones's public-house. The men at that time had not sufficient time to
scatter, and all made towards the hotel. As we approached, some one
came out on the verandah and fired on us. Mr. Superintendent Hare, with
Mr. Rawlings, a volunteer from Benalla, was close to me. Mr. Hare said,
'I am shot in the wrist,' but he continued to fire. We sought cover,
and Hare said to me, 'For God's sake, surround the house, and don't
let them escape.' He then fired again, and gave the gun to Rawlings.
He then left, saying, 'Kelly, place the men under cover,' and I placed
the men around the house. Mr. O'Connor and his trackers took up a
position in front of the hotel. I then went round towards the back of
the premises. Constable Arthur was with me, and we crawled about 400
yards. In this way we got to within about fifty yards of the house, at
the back of a tree. In the scrub I found a revolving rifle covered with
blood, and a padded skull-cap." [This was Ned Kelly's. Being wounded
in the thumb, he could not use his rifle.] "We kept strict watch, and
fired upon any one who attempted to leave the hut. There were four
horses saddled and tied up to the back-door. These we shot in order
to prevent the sudden escape of the gang. When we left the station we
met Constable Bracken, who told us that the gang were at Jones's. He,
I believe, jumped on one of our horses, and rode off to Benalla to get
further assistance, and at half-past six o'clock he returned with the
Wangaratta police, Sergeant Steele being at their head. We continued to
fire, and at about eight o'clock, so far as I can remember, Ned Kelly
made his appearance under the brow of the hill, 300 yards from the hut.
He deliberately fired at me. I returned the fire, and my men closed
around him, Sergeant Steele being behind him, myself on one side,
and Dowsett, the railway-guard, on the other. About ten rifles were
brought to bear on him, and we hit him several times. His heavy armour,
however, protected him, and he walked boldly to and fro. Near a fallen
tree he fell, and we rushed forward. I caught him by the head as Steele
grasped his hand, in which he still held his revolver. He fired it,
but did no damage. His armour was taken off, and he was carried to the
railway-station, where he was searched, but only threepence was found
on him, a silver Geneva watch, and a lot of ammunition. I asked him
to tell me where Sergeant Kennedy's watch was, and he said, 'I cannot
tell you; I would not like to tell you about it.' He also said, 'I had
to shoot Sergeant Kennedy and Scanlan for my own safety. I cannot tell
you any more.' We then gave him over to the medical gentleman and Mr.
Sadleir."
During the forenoon Colonel Anderson received information from
Captain Standish that in order to dislodge the two remaining members
of the gang without endangering any further life, the hotel would
have to be blown down, and as the best means for accomplishing that
object, a small cannon would probably be required. The Commandant,
telegraphing for further particulars in order to guide him in the
selection of a gun, received from Superintendent Sadleir the following
reply--"Glenrowan.--Weather-board, brick chimneys, slab kitchen. The
difficulty we feel is that our shots have no effect on the corner, and
there are so many windows that we should be under fire all the day. We
must get the gun before night, or rush the place." Immediately upon the
receipt of this message, Colonel Anderson arranged for the supply of a
twelve-pound Armstrong gun, which was quickly placed upon a truck at
the Spencer-street station. A special train was soon in readiness, and
at twenty minutes past two it departed, carrying the formidable-looking
weapon, a detachment of the Garrison Artillery under Lieutenant
Nicholson, and the Commandant himself. The train, in order to land
the gun at the scene of action while it was yet daylight, started at
a pre-arranged rate of forty miles per hour. Seymour was reached in
due average time, but before the soldiers had time to step upon the
platform, came the not altogether unexpected, though disappointing,
news that the gun was no longer required, as the whole of the outlaws
had been taken. The train proceeded no further, and the gun, officers,
and men returned by the first passenger goods-train to Melbourne.
On Saturday night, at six o'clock, the Chief Secretary was informed
by telegram of the murder at Sebastopol, and he at once communicated
with Captain Standish, Chief Commissioner of Police, with whom he
consulted. Seeing the gravity of the situation, and remembering how
previously the gang had always managed to obtain a good start of
the police after the commission of their outrages, it was decided
to despatch a special train to Beechworth at once. The Minister of
Railways was informed of that determination, and without delay a
train was got in readiness. Superintendent Hare, who was at Benalla,
was telegraphed to, and instructed to proceed to Beechworth, and the
black trackers, under Lieutenant O'Connor, who were at Essendon, where
they were staying previously to their return to Queensland, were also
apprised of the fact that they were required. As their engagement to
the Victorian Government had expired, Captain Standish telegraphed to
the Commissioner of Police at Brisbane, and requested that they might
be allowed to remain, but that permission was refused. Mr. Ramsay,
however, would not allow the Government to be so curtly treated, and he
communicated with Mr. Palmer, Chief Secretary of Queensland, and at two
o'clock on Sunday morning he obtained the required permit.
In the meantime--at about a quarter to ten--the train left Spencer
Street with the tracking party. At a later period of the day--about
nine a.m.--when the news of the commencement of the fight at Glenrowan
was received, the Commissioner and the Chief Secretary again consulted,
and it was then arranged that a reinforcement of police should be
despatched, and an ample supply of ammunition was ordered to be sent
up with it. As it would be almost impossible for any firing to take
place without some of the men being injured, it was considered
necessary that an experienced surgeon should also be sent to the scene,
and accordingly Dr. Charles Ryan, who, it is well known, was attached
to the medical staff at Plevna during the Russo-Turkish war and the
bombardment of that town, was requested to place his services at the
disposal of the authorities. He consented, and at about ten o'clock
another special, taking Captain Standish, Dr. Ryan, Senior-constable
Walsh and five other constables, and a quantity of ammunition, left for
Glenrowan. The circumstances of the wounding of Superintendent Hare,
and the commencement of the attack; that Ned Kelly had been wounded
and captured; that he had been discovered to be wearing a breastplate
of iron, a mask, and helmet; that his wounds were not considered to be
mortal, were all duly telegraphed.
[Illustration: Group taken during the Fight.]
At twenty minutes to eleven a.m., it was officially intimated that the
civilians had been liberated from the hotel; that Byrne had been shot;
and that Dan Kelly and Hart maintained possession, and were firing in
reply to the incessant firing by the police. As there appeared to be
every likelihood that, if the fight was continued, some of the police
might be seriously injured, the Chief Secretary instructed Captain
Standish, if possible, to blow the house up, but before doing so to
see that none but members of the gang were in it. Colonel Anderson was
summoned to a consultation with a view to steps being taken to effect
that object, and the result was that at twenty minutes past two p.m. a
third special, conveying that officer and a detachment of artillery,
with a 12-pounder field-piece, left for Glenrowan, but as the
termination of the conflict before the arrival of the train at Benalla
rendered it unnecessary that it should proceed further, it was detained
at that place. The Chief Secretary also advised by telegram that a
wooden bullet-proof shield should be constructed to be fitted on a dray
or wagon, under cover of which the attacking party might approach the
house and effect its ruin, always assuming that the gang were the sole
occupants. It was also feared by Mr. Ramsay that the fight would not
be concluded before nightfall, and that if that was so, the outlaws
might escape in the dark. He therefore consulted with Mr. Ellery, the
Government astronomer, and asked his advice as to the practicability of
sending up an electric-light apparatus, but that gentleman expressed
the opinion that it would be of little utility adopting such a
course, as it would take quite twenty-four hours after the apparatus
arrived on the ground to get it fairly at work. To carry out the same
idea, however, Mr. Ramsay telegraphed suggesting that large bonfires
should be burnt round the house so as to give the required light and
prevent the bushrangers escaping. But all these precautions were not
required to be put in practice, as before sundown the final scene in
the tragedy had been enacted.
His Excellency the Governor telegraphed about noon to Superintendent
Hare, congratulating him on the bravery displayed by himself and his
men, and encouraging them in the struggle in which they were engaged.
The Chief Secretary, on behalf of the Government, also telegraphed to
Mr. Hare to the same effect; and at twenty minutes past one p.m., Sir
Henry Parkes, Premier of the Government of New South Wales, telegraphed
to the Victorian Government, expressing the great satisfaction which
was experienced in Sydney at the prospect of a speedy destruction of
the gang, and congratulating the Government.
The change which had been lately made in the control of the police
in the Kelly district gave rise at the time it was decided upon to
some comment. Mr. Ramsay states that on assuming office he made the
determination that, if possible, the Kellys should be discovered
without delay. He accordingly summoned Assistant-Commissioner
Nicholson, who was in charge of the police in the district, and told
him of the dissatisfaction which was experienced at the absence of
results from the presence of the force there. He reminded him that he
had been there for ten months, but that nothing had been done, and said
that unless within a reasonable time something definite was effected
or ascertained, an alteration of the arrangements would be made. Mr.
Nicholson requested to be allowed a month longer, but he eventually
returned to his position as Assistant-Commissioner at Melbourne.
Mr. Hare, who had been engaged in the capture of Power, the notorious
bushranger, was spoken to as to his filling the vacancy. In Mr.
Ramsay's opinion he had been very badly treated, inasmuch as he had
not received any recognition of the services he had rendered to the
colony on that occasion. He had had his salary increased by £100 a year
at the time that Superintendent Winch's was also added to, but under
the _régime_ of the late Government his salary had been reduced by
Parliament, whilst Mr. Winch's was continued. He was regarded as being
specially qualified for the duty which he was required to perform, and
he was instructed to choose the best men and officers in the force with
whom to act. He was further assured that he would be untrammelled by
any official rules and regulations.
The Chief Secretary received a later telegram from the Chief Secretary
of Queensland in the forenoon, which stated that from what had been
reported officially, and had been communicated by residents of
Queensland who had visited Victoria, it appeared that a considerable
amount of jealousy was evinced by the Victorian police with respect to
the trackers, and that unless they were allowed to go to the front at
once, it was little use their being required to do so, because if the
white police preceded them and effaced the tracks, they could not do
their work.
The outlaws were disposed of in time to give the police a claim to the
reward of £8000 offered by the Governments of Victoria and New South
Wales. For it was notified on the 20th of April that the reward would
be withdrawn on the 20th of July.
At the inquest on the body of Aaron Sherritt, held at the Vine Hotel,
Beechworth, before Mr. W.H. Foster, P.M., the jury having been
empanelled, the following evidence was heard:--
John Sherritt, father of deceased, deposed that he had seen the body
of the deceased, and identified it as that of his son Aaron, aged
twenty-five years. He did not know from his personal knowledge how his
son came by his death.
William Sherritt, brother of the deceased, identified the body as that
of his brother, but did not know from personal knowledge how he came by
his death.
Ellen Barry stated--"I am deceased's mother-in-law, and identify the
body as that of my late son-in-law. I was at Aaron Sherritt's house
on Saturday last, and was present at his death. I was at the house
between six and seven o'clock, half an hour before the outlaws arrived.
There were also my daughter and the deceased present. I was sitting at
the fire when we heard a knock at the door. The deceased and his wife
were having tea. There was a candle alight in the room in which I was
sitting. An ordinary knock was given at the back-door, that being the
first sign we got of any one being about. Aaron answered the knock, and
said, 'Who's there?' and he heard Antone Wicks reply, 'I have lost my
road, Sherritt; come and put me on the road.' I heard no other noise
at the time. The deceased then opened the door and put his head out.
I heard something said outside, but could not say what. The deceased
appeared to be inclined to step back into the room, but before he could
retreat a shot was fired from outside--by whom I do not know. The shot
was fired very close to the door, and as soon as deceased was struck
he stepped backwards into the centre of the room. After the first
shot, Joe Byrne stepped up to the door and fired a second shot at the
deceased, who was still standing in the centre of the room. Deceased
then fell back to the ground. Byrne remained at the door for a short
time. My daughter then asked, 'Joe, why did you shoot Aaron?' and Byrne
replied, 'If I did not, he would shoot me.' Byrne, who had a gun in his
hand, was in sight during the whole of the conversation. Byrne then
told me to open the door opposite the one at which he stood. I did so,
and saw Dan Kelly outside with a gun in his hand. I was then allowed to
go outside. When outside Byrne asked me, 'Is there a window in front of
the house?' I said, 'Yes,' and Byrne called out, 'Look out, Dan; there
is a window in the front of the house.' Dan Kelly then joined me and
Byrne, and I recognized him. He afterwards returned to the front of the
house. About five or ten minutes elapsed from the time I heard the
knock until I saw Dan Kelly. Two shots had been fired by Byrne before I
went outside, and he afterwards fired two shots at the bedroom. Byrne
was directly in front of the house when he fired at the bedroom."