The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-16
OF


eminent of Victoria for the capture of
the rObber band. Some weeks later the
colony was electrified by the intelligence
that quiet little town on one of the main
lines Of railway, miles away from the
scene already described had been enter
ed by the Kelleys, the whole town terror
lied, and a leading bank robbed of Sl0-
600. The outlaws were enabled TO seek
the cover Of the ranges before outside
help could be obtained The police re-
doubled their efforts. Again the Kelleys
raided town upon the frontier more
than one hundred miles from the place Of
the previous robbery, and for the second
time got back safely 80 their hiding place
carrying with them many thousands Of
dollars
From this time the whole country was
in d state of terror Volunteer pickets
were enlisted and patrolled all the prin-
cipal towns, the rewards for the capture
of the band were doubled, and many par
ties were organized to penetrate the range
and endeavor to find the hiding-place of
the marauders. Months passed by before
the end came. The Kslleys obtained in
formation that a special train conveying
a dozen police officers was to pass over
one Of the lines on certain Sunday. On
the Saturday night previous they sur
prised a little railway town called Glen
couver, drove all the inhabitants into the
only hotel in the village, and prepared TO
wreck the train. In order 10 carry out
their plans they compelled two local
tracllayers at the muzzle of the
revolver, TO tear up the rails at the
edge of canyon and there the
train would have been dashed TO pieces,
but for the bravery of schoOlmaster
who had been driven into the hOJe1 with
his wife Feigning that his wife was
sick, the schoOlmaster prevailed upon the
murderers TO allow him 10 take her home.
As soon as he reached his home he
snatched up a red handkerchief and q box
of matches, crept unobserved to the rail
road track, and started TO warn the en-
CINE driver of the danger. it was dark
when the schoolmaster reached the track,
and the train was then due Holding a
light behind the red handkerchief, he
moved forward until the rumbling an
nounced the approach Of the train. The
driver saw the danger signal, reversed
the lever, and q train came to a stop a
mile out of the town.
After hurried consultation, the train
was moved slowly through the darkness
into the station, and then began a des-
perate combat, which did not terminate
until long after daybreak The Kelleys
were surrounded in the hotel, where they
had over twenty people in confinement.
The police poured volley after yolley into
the building, but the robbers responded
with persistent energy, and had it not
been that three Of them were in half
drunken condition, the effects of jug Of
whisky which they found in one of the
storerooms, it is probable that the whole
band would have escaped At daybreak
three Of the Kelleys had been killed and
as many of their unfortunate prisoners
Several hours later the leader of the
band, who was still unframed was
seen leaving the building and making
toward the cover Of the brush. The en-
gine-driver and two of the police fol-
lowed the retreating man and poured a
volley upon him. Their bullets had not
the slightest effect. Suspecting a coat of
armor, the driver lowered his rife and
fired at the outlaw, who dropped with
one of his legs broken. Upon examina-
ton It was found that his body was COW
cred with n rude but heavy coat of mail
made by friendly blacksmith Each Of
the Kelleys was protected in a similar
way The leader Of the band was tried
for murder and hanged.
The cost Of destroying this band of
bushrangers exceeded 5000, 600, in addi-
ton to all the money they had extracted
from banks and private citizens The
received 5000 for his share
of the work and the remainder of the re-
ward was divided between the police,
the engine-driYer and the firemen.