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A TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE KELLY GANG, BY Thomas McIntyre, SOLE SURVIVOR OF THE POLICE PARTY MURDEROUSLY ATTACKED BY THOSE BUSHRANGERS IN THE WOMBAT FOREST, . ON THE 26th OCTOBER, 1878..
P90..Had Mr. Hare decided to get the train and rush away to the scene of the outrage, or had his request to get the trackers services been immediately acceded to, it would have been disastrous as will be seen by the accompanying engraving of the preparations made by Kelly to receive us. In consequence of these delays it was nearly two a.m. on the 28th before a train arrived from Melbourne containing Lieutenant O'Connor and the Queensland trackers. A little afterwards we got our horses entrained and started for the scene of the murder near Beechworth. The members of the Victorian police present were Superintendent Hare, myself and troopers Arthur, Barry, Canny, Gascoigne, Kirkham and Phillips. A gentleman residing at Benalla named Rawlins also accompanied us as a volunteer and did good service in the destruction of the gang. There were also two ladies and four pressmen in the train making a total of twenty-four persons including the three railway officials. At
first it was suggested that one of the troopers should be strapped to the
engine, upon the side plates near the front, to look out for any obstruction
upon the line, and Barry volunteered for this dangerous duty. **I suggested that
there should be a pilot engine sent in front as there had been rumours that the
gang intended to pull up the rails. This suggestion was adopted and a pilot
engine was procured. Of course it was known that the men upon the pilot ran a
considerable risk. These pilot engines were used several times and I never saw
any notice taken, in the press., of the danger the officials incurred. On this
occasion they got something more tangible than praise as each of them received
104 (pounds) of the reward and guard Dowsett got 175 (pounds) other railway men
received rewards of a lesser amount. Our train consisted of the necessary
driving power, a guards van first class carriage and two trucks for the horses.
I was in the van with the police and trackers, and stood at the front looking
through the window, as it was moonlight I had a good view of the line and
the pilot ahead. When we were nearing Glenrowan I saw the pilot stop. Suspecting
something wrong I got out of the van as soon as our train stopped in response to
the signal from the pilot, and running forward I met guard McPhee. He told me
that a man upon the line had held up a light behind a red scarf and upon their
pulling up he told them the outlaws were at Glenrowan. I went up to the pilot
with the guard and found Mr. Curnow there, he informed us the
Kelly's were at
Glenrowan and had torn up the rails upon the other side of the station. I
returned to the train and told Mr. Hare what had been reported to me. He gave
orders for the two engines to advance
slowly to the platform, and he, taking three of the Victorian police with him,
got on the pilot engine whilst I had charge of the other three and was stationed
upon the second engine. On arrival at the platform Mr. Hare gave orders for the
horses to be got out and he, accompanied by Mr. Rawlins, went up to the
stationmasters house. Being unable to get any information there they returned to
the train just as Bracken escaped and came running down to the platform. When
they were informed the Kelly's were in the Glenrowan Inn, Mr. Hare cried out
"come on men" and we all abandoned the horses and followed him. When
we were about twenty yards from the hotel a tall man appeared upon the verandah
and fired at us, his shot was quickly followed by three others. We returned the
fire and had scarcely done so when Mr. Hare told me he was wounded and ordered
me to get the men to surround
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**
Everyone seems to want credit for thinking of the pilot engine.
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