The Last of the Bushrangers: An Account of the Capture of the Kelly GangHare, Francis Augustus
History
The Last of the Bushrangers: An Account of the Capture of the Kelly Gang
Hare, Francis Augustus
Brigands and robbers -- Australia; Kelly, Ned, 1855-1880
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."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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