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
Kelly then said he would let him off this time, at the same time
praising his own leniency, by saying not one man in a hundred would
have dealt so leniently with him, after the manner in which he had
behaved. Dan Kelly was evidently eager for blood, as he expressed a
strong wish to put a bullet through "the wretch." Gloster was then
marched up to the store-room, and locked up with the other prisoners.
The four ruffians then proceeded to ransack the hawker's cart, and
provide themselves with a new fit out; they made regular bush-dandies
of themselves, and helped themselves pretty freely to the contents
of the scent-bottles which they found amongst the stock. They also
took what fire-arms he had. Before going to bed for the night, the
Kellys opened the door of the store-room, and let the prisoners out
for a little while to get some fresh air, but at the same time holding
their revolvers in their hands and keeping a sharp look-out after them
all. The Kellys had frequent conversations with their prisoners in a
most friendly manner, and conversed freely on any subject. All night
long two of the outlaws kept guard, whilst the others slept. Tuesday
morning they were up early; they appeared to keep a good watch on the
approaches to the homestead, so that no information would reach Euroa
that would interfere with the successful carrying out of their plans of
robbing the National Bank.
About two o'clock on Tuesday afternoon a party of four men, named Mr.
McDougal, Mr. Dudley, Mr. Casement, and Mr. Jennant, who were returning
from the Strathbogie ranges, were "bailed up," and made prisoners.
Mr. McDougal's account of what took place is as follows:--"We had
just reached the railway gates where there is a crossing to Mr.
Younghusband's station, three of us driving in a spring-cart, and Mr.
Jennant on horse-back. The gates were closed, and nothing was farther
from our thoughts than the idea of the Kelly gang being close to us;
we were laughingly speculating with each other on the chances of the
gates, which are on private property, leading into the run, being
locked. Mr. Jennant got down from his horse, and finding them unlocked,
was opening them, when two men suddenly made their appearance, one
coming from behind us on horse-back, and the other advancing on foot in
front. Both presented revolvers, and called on us to 'bail up.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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