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The Albury Banner & Wodonga Express. (July 3 1880)
SUB-INSPECTOR
O’CONNOR AND THE BLACK TRACKERS.
With
regard to the part taken by Sub-inspector
O’Connor
and the Queensland black trackers in
the
encounter at Glenrowan, Mr. O’Connor makes
the
following statement:—“I went down by the
special
train on Sunday night, at the request of
Captain
Standish. I collected my troopers, and
started
three hours after I received notice. I
agreed
to go on condition that the Government
of
Victoria would see me held blameless, as we
were
under orders to leave for Queensland. On
our
arrival at Glenrowan we heard that the rails
had
been taken up some distance further on. We
thought
the best course would be to get the horses
and
proceed to the spot. Bracken then appeared,
and
informed us that the Kellys were at Jones’s
publichouse.
Superintendent Hare, myself, and
four
or five men, rushed up to the house. When
we
got within 25 yards we were received with
a
single shot, and then a volley. We returned
the
fire. Hare said, ”O’Connor, I’m wounded;
I’m
shot in the arm. I must go back.” He left
immediately. We
remained, and our incessant
fire
drove the outlaws into the house, which we
heard
them barricade. Mr. Hare returned to the
station, stayed
a short time there, and then went
to Benalla. I stood at my post until half-past 10
o’clock
in the forenoon, when I was sent for by
Superintendent Sadleir. I was within 25 yards
of
the house the whole time. At daybreak I got
behind
a shelter. One of my troopers was shot
alongside
me—cut across the eyebrows. He
jumped
on the bank, fired five shots into the
house,
and said, ‘Take that, Ned Kelly.’ It
seemed
to afford him great relief, but rather
amused
us. I was in charge of the men from the
time
Mr. Hare left until Mr. Sadleir arrived on the
ground.”
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