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were a quarter of an inch thick, and, as was proved,
would keep out bullets very effectually. When this armour was first adopted by
the outlaws is uncertain, but it does not appear that they wore it either at
Euroa or Jerilderie. . It had probably been made after the latter exploit, and
was doubtless the work of some skilled local artisan.
Late in the evening of Saturday, the 26th of June, 1880
Aaron Sherrit (sic) was called upon by an acquaintance of his, knocking at his
door and asking information about the way to somewhere. Aaron came out to give
it, and as soon as he appeared at the open door he was shot dead by Dan Kelly
and Byrne, who were in attendance. There were four constables actually in the
house at the time. Some hours later, at about half-past two on the Sunday
morning, two platelayers at Glenrowan were roused from sleep by Ned Kelly and
Hart. They were forced to dress hastily and proceed to the point on the line
that had been fixed upon.
A mile and a half beyond Glenrowan station, on the
way to Beechworth, the line ran down a rather steep incline and then took a
sharp curve. On one side of the curve was a deep gully. Ned made the platelayers
take up the rails just beyond the incline. From above, the break in the line
would be invisible till it was too late, and the train, with its gathered
momentum, would be hurled sheer down the gully. Decidedly, when this had
happened, there would not be much trouble with survivors.
It was, of course, absolutely necessary to
confine the platelayers and the station-master till the smash had taken place.
The station-master, his wife and family, with the platelayers, were locked up
most of the Sunday in the
railway official's own house under guard of Steve. Hart; but Glenrowan itself
was fixed on as the headquarters.
Early on the Sunday morning the outlaws arrived at
Jones's Hotel, Glenrowan. They took possession, and selected a large room as a
temporary lock-up, thrusting into it at once all persons found in the hotel.
Then they quietly awaited the arrival of the doomed special, making prisoners
meanwhile of as many people as they caught about the hotel, and bringing over
the station-master