Other Eyes

There were many men and women around during the battle, many who were neither
prisoners nor police.
According to information given to the Royal Commission, as Constable Johnston
made a wide arc in order to set fire to the Inn, he ran into four armed men.
It seems many men were out and about and some at least were armed.
The significance of this was never fully understood by the government.

The list of people who arrived to either watch or participate was almost endless. Tom & Jack Lloyd,
Wild Wright and Dick Hart arrived late in the affray. (it seems unusual that Tom Lloyd was not reported as being
present, for according to historian Ian Jones Tom was a major player at all Kelly happenings. A civilian named
Rawlins was on the ground and ran into Dick Hart, Steve Hart's brother, as he tried to scare away police horses.

Some reports had Ned accompanied by various sympathisers right from the start. Familiar names such
as Ryan, McAuliffe, Tanner, Delaney and Lloyd. It is not hard to believe that many of these men, friends of the
Kellys would have been present.

How many were there at the beginning and how many arrived later is impossible to say with any certainty.
The list of those present could easily be above 500 in number!

One civilian who was there as Ned fell was Fred Marsden. Fred was the Clerk of Courts, armed with a
revolver. Fred loaned Steele a knife to cut off the straps to Ned's armour. He also held Ned's revolver for Steele,
later it was given to Jesse Dowsett.

John (Jack) Sherritt, Aaron's brother, was present at Glenrowan. He collected the police at Sebastapol
and went with them to Glenrowan. He was armed and looking for revenge for the death of Aaron.

Interesting snippets about some people present during the siege:

Rawlings C Volunteer, Mr Rawlins came along on the train from Benalla.
He had unlimited free rides on the train because he introduced 'Cattle Trucking' to the railways.
Rawlings took an active part in the fight and said he was disgusted that the police had to burn down the Inn.

An interesting eyewitness to the affray according to a genealogical website was Elizabeth McClure.

Elizabeth MCCLURE (Lizzie) #1610 (Walter) born 1876 Glasgow, Scotland married
27 Aug 1894., Charles Emery #1618. .
Descendant is Brenda Bayliss, Queensland.

Lizzie saw the burning of the Glenrowan Hotel, after Ned Kelly and his gang had taken refuge in it.
They were visiting an uncle who had settled in that area. Lizzie lived in Bororen, and then Miriam Vale
for 58 years. Survived by 4 boys, 3 sons 16 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren. 2 sons predeceased her.

http://www.geocities.com/courtoy2001/mcclure1.htm .