St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-23

Robbed Banks. Killed Police
men, Etc.
The career of the bandits Evans and
Sontag in measure resembles the hls-
tory of the celebrated Kelly gang of
Australian bushrangers. Like Evans
and Sontag, the Kelly gang were treach-
erous, cowardly and bloodthirsty. They
waged war against every one with the
exception of their accompliceS, and be-
cause these murderous pests of society
and coId-blOoded- slayers of fathers anc
bread-winners of families, when brought
to bay, fought for their lives like any
other wild beasts, certain class OF the
community were found who were dis
posed to look at their blOodthirty deeds
through pair of romantic spectacles,
and whose morbid sentiment led them
to regard these enemies of all mankind
with sympathy rather than repngHance
in short, to look at them as heroes in
stead of murderers. The Kelly gang
were four in number-the leader, Ned
Kelly, his brother Dan, Joe Byrne and
Steve dart.
They were originally horse and cattle
thieves. They were pretty successful
at first, and for long time managed to
evade the police, but at last the pursuit
got too hot for them, and they developed
Into busllraugers of the worst type, says
the San Francisco Call.
Although a large government reward
was put on their heads they managed to
escape capture, and kept large tract
of country in Victoria in complete
state Of terrorism.
This part of the country lies between
Mansfield ond Glenrowan and includes
the Wombat and StrathbOgie ranges
and the Ovens district. 1t still goes by
the nome of the Kelly country, and one
cannot journey by rail between Atburg
and Melbourne without having the bank
at "Eurva" and the depot at Violet"
pointed out to him as time-honored
places Of interest i'll connection with the
Kelly bushrangers. In 1878 the Kellys
killed the three mounted troopers, Scan
Ian, Lonergan and Fitzpatrick, near
Mansfield.
Ned KellNmurdered Sergeant Ken
nedy at the Wombat ranges.
The moor sergeat was badly wounded,
and begged Ned Kelly not to shoot him
down in cold blood. but the cowardly
wretch walked right up to the poor
fellow, and, placing the gun close to
his head, deliberately blew his brains
out.
After that the gang committed a
number of other Outrages Ill Victoria,
and then crossing over the border,
seized the town of Terilderie in New
South Wales.
First cutting the telegraph wires, they
then imprisoned the inhabitants in the
principal hotel and other houses, three
of them keeping guard while the leader,
Ned Kelly. pillaged the houses and ram
sacked the bank, stealing between
1900 and $4,000. Terilderie at that
time was fiourish!Dg little town with
police barracks and telegraphic commu-
nicatiOn. They held possession of 1t
for a considerable time.
After this the government increased
the reward for their capture to So, 900,
or $4,000, and at one time no less than
800 mounted troopers were securing the
country trying to find their whereabouts;
but as they had many friends and rela-
tiOnS in the district who sympathlZed
with them, and as they were amply pro-
vided with money and provisions they
remained hidden securely among the
mountain ranges for long time. Such
was the dread i'll which they and their
friends were held that no one dared TO
give any information about them. s-
A man named ''Skarrat," who had
supplied them with provisions, was sus-
pected of having given information to-
the police. Skarrat was surprised in,
bed one night by Ned Kelly, who. in
spite of the mans supplications and
protestatiOnS, deliberately murdered
him.
A special act of parliament was put
into force authorizing the detention of
persons supposed to be in communica-
ton with the buShrangerS, but very lit
tie was heard of them until June, 1880,
when they suddenly appeared at Glen-
rowan, small town with population
of about 100 people.
The KellvS thought themselves safe,
as they had torn the rails up, and inef-
tectuallv attempted to precipitate spe-
clal train full of troopers and 'black
crackers" into deep gully; but the at
tempt failed, and OH the arrival of the
police the outlaws took refuge in Jones'
hotel, a wooden building, where they
held the inhabitants prisoners.
The police surrounded the house and
laid regular siege to it. A heavy fire
was exchanged between the besieged
and beSiegerS for some time. Event
ua'ly the hotel was set on fire, and when
the flames and smoke first burst out Ned
Kelly suddenly appeared from among
the trees i'll the rear of the troopers and
fired upon them from behind, wounding
several. rhe gang wore bullet-proof
armor, which they had manufactured
from plow shares.
1t was made in four pieces and
weighed about ninety-seven pounds.
1t completely covered them down to the
knees, the headpiece resembling an
iron pot with slit for the eyes. Kelly
consequently was invulnerable until he
was shot in the leg by Superintendent
Hare and made prisoner.
Of the other three of the gang one
was shot and two were burned to death
in the house. Several people were
wounded, two accidentally. during The
encounter.
Ned Kelly was brought to trial at
Melbourne, found guilty and condemned
to death. During the time that elapsed
between the sentence and his execution
numerous applications were made for
his respite, and many petitions were
signed and sent to the governor for a
Communication of the death sentence,
women being especially active i'll his
behalf, but all this maudlin sentiment
and ill-judged sympathy with crime was
of no avail. The death penalty was
enacted, and Ned Kelly was hanged at
Melbourne Nov. IL, 1850.
The Small Boys Suggestion.