The Last of the Bushrangers: An Account of the Capture of the Kelly Gang — John Shaqi
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
The next exploit of the gang was the Euroa Bank robbery, on the 11th
Dec. 1878. Euroa is situated on the main railway line between Melbourne
and Sydney, about one hundred miles from the former. The town at that
time had about three hundred inhabitants; there was a police station,
where one mounted man was stationed, and it had two hotels and some
substantially built buildings in it. A court was held there once a
month, and the town was built close by the railway line. The bank that
was stuck up was within fifty or sixty yards of the railway station,
and trains are constantly passing throughout the day; the nearest
townships on each side of Euroa are Lowground on the Melbourne side,
about nine miles distant, and Violet Town on the north side, about
eleven miles. A considerable amount of business is, however, done
in this place. It is the outlet for a large agricultural district,
reaching down the valley of the Goulbourne river; at the back of it,
and but a short distance away, are the Strathbogie ranges, which are
covered with thick scrub, and heavily timbered for thirty or forty
miles, reaching to near Mansfield, giving excellent cover for any
persons trying to escape justice.
About noon on Monday, the 18th of December 1878, an _employé_ named
Fitzgerald, on Mr. Younghusband's station, was sitting in the hut
eating his dinner, when a man who looked like an ordinary bushman
quietly sauntered up to the door, and taking his pipe out of his mouth
inquired if the manager, Mr. Macauley, was about. Fitzgerald replied,
"No, but he will be back towards evening. Is it anything in particular?
Perhaps I will do as well." The bushman said, "No, never mind; it is
of no consequence," and then walked away from the hut. Fitzgerald
continued eating his dinner without taking any further notice of the
man; but he happened to look up, and saw the bushman beckoning to
some person in the distance. About five minutes afterwards, two more
rough-looking characters joined the bushman; they were leading four
very fine horses, in splendid condition, they were three bays and a
gray. The three men went to the homestead, which was close to the hut,
and walked in. They met Mrs. Fitzgerald, the wife of the _employé_
already mentioned, who was engaged in some household duties.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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