Heroes

Heroes were few and far between on the ground at Glenrowan.

Fortunately there were more than a couple of persons who committed heroic acts.

Constable Arthur, this officer saved innocent people from the indiscriminate firing of Sgt Steele.
His reward was an attempt by Steele to have him dismissed from the force.

CONSTABLE BRACKEN.

Constable Bracken saved Ned from being shot by Sgt Steele.

THE PRIEST.

Father Matthew Gibney was on his way back to Western Australia when he was asked to give
the last rites to Ned Kelly who had been captured.

Father Gibney was a brave man who entered the burning Inn to try and save the two bushrangers.

He was the main witness who saw the dead bodies of Dan and Steve. It was on his evidence
that we know the bodies were the outlaws. Personally I wonder how he could be certain who they
were since he was from another state.

THE SCHOOLMASTER.

Seen as a hero to some, a traitor to others, Thomas Curnow was responsible for the saving of many,
many lives**.

THE RAILWAYMEN.

   Jesse Dowsett carried Margaret Reardon to safety during the siege.
    Railwaymen risked death when they ferried police to the siege and also at times when they had to
    change the tracks and this required them standing in the open!

THE TELEGRAPH LINE REPAIRER.

According to eye-witness Mrs McDonnell, a line repairer (Mr. Osborne) climbed the telegraph pole and fixed on a wire.
She said he was very brave because 'bullets whistled all around him'.

THE CIVILIAN.

Neil McHugh carried Johnny Jones out of the Inn under the risk created by constant gunfire.

*Additional information: According to a police report by constable Phillips, McHugh's Christian name was 'LEAN'.
**Assuming that the plan was to wreck the train.