228 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



contingent of police and a party of Queensland blacks to track the 

 murderers of Sherrit. This precipitated the final stage. Early 

 on Sunday morning the 27th of June, the outlaws made a descent 

 on the little township of Glenrowan in Victoria, took possession 

 of the Glenrowan Hotel, and ran in every one who came near the 

 place, until they had about sixty people in durance there. Then 

 they took charge of the railway station, police barracks and tele- 

 graph office, and, revolver in hand, compelled some of the railway 

 workmen to tear up the rails on a dangerous bank just beyond the 

 station, with a view to wrecking the special train. Every precaution 

 had been taken by the police, and a pilot-engine preceded the train. 

 Fortunately, the schoolmaster of the district, who had escaped from 

 the general imprisonment, fled down the line and intercepted the 

 special train before it reached the station. It was just midnight when 

 the police reached Glenrowan, and they at once proceeded to storm the 

 hotel, from whence volleys were poured upon them by the outlaws 

 from revolvers and rifles. Eeinforcements from Wangaratta and 

 Benalla at early dawn brought up the number of police to about 

 thirty, with several civilian assistants. In the course of the assault 

 some of the non-combatant prisoners were wounded, and terrified 

 shrieks went up from the house after every volley. Early in the 

 morning Ned Kelly was discovered outside the cordon firing into 

 the police from the rear. He had got through during the darkness, 

 probably with a view to escape, but having been shot in the foot was 

 unable to travel. Half a dozen rifles were turned on him at once, 

 but the bullets, though striking him, appeared to have no effect, and 

 for nearly half an hour he seemed to bear a charmed life. At length 

 a shot in the leg brought him down, and when the police rushed to 

 secure him he was found to be wearing a casing of thick plate-iron 

 under his overcoat, and a rude kind of iron helmet on his head. 

 This ponderous armour weighed over ninety pounds and was a 

 decided hindrance to escape by flight. Having sent Kelly to the 

 station in custody, the police again returned to the siege. For a long 

 time their exhortations to the civilian prisoners to make a dash for 

 liberty were unheeded, but about midday a frantic rush of some 

 forty persons came tearing out with their arms in the air and cry- 

 ing for mercy. A few known sympathisers were detained in custody, 





