THE CAPTURE OF NED KELLY.
At
daylight the gang were expected to make a sally out, so as to
escape, if possible, to their native ranges, and the police were consequently on
the alert. Close attention was paid to the hotel, and it was taken for granted
that the whole gang were there. To the surprise of the police, however, they
soon found themselves attacked in the rear by a man dressed in a long grey
overcoat and wearing an iron mask. The appearance of the man presented an anomaly, but a little scrutiny of his appearance
and behaviour soon showed that it was the veritable leader of the
gang, Ned Kelly himself. On further observation it was seen that he wau (was)
only armed with a revolver. He, however, walked coolly
from tree to tree, and received the fire of the police with the
utmost indifference, returning a shot from his revolver when
a good opportunity presented itself. Three men went for
him viz, Sergeant Steele, of Wangaratta, Senior-constable Kelly,
and a railway guard named Dowsett. The latter, however, was only armed with a
revolver. They fired at him persistently, but,
to their surprise, with no effect. He seemed bullet-proof. It then occurred to
Sergeant Steele that the fellow was encased in mail, and he then aimed at the
outlaw's Iegs. His first shot of
that kind made Ned stagger, and the second brought him to the
ground with the cry, "I am done I am done." Steele rushed
up along with Senior constable Kelly and others. The outlaw
howled like a wild beast brought to bay, and swore at the police, He was first
seized by Steele, and as that officer grappled with him he fired off another
charge from his revolver. This shot was evidently intended for Steele, but
from the smart way in which he
secured the murderer the sergeant escaped. Kelly became gradually quiet, and it was soon found that
he had been utterly disabled. He had been shot in the left foot,
left leg, right hand, left arm, and twice in the region of the groin.
But no bullet had penetrated his armour. Having been divested of his armour he was carried down to the railway station,
and placed in a guard's van. Subsequently he was removed
to the stationmaster's office, and his wounds were dressed
thereby Dr. Nicholson, of Benalla. What statements
he made are given below.
next: SIEGE