The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-05-18

NIB son NeQ-lne terror OF tue SdhS
was handsome young fellow. who.
with his brothers. found 1t much easier
to live upon the produce of other peo-
pie than to work honestly for his own
living. He became a professional cat
tle-stealer. was caught and impris-
oned.
Released from goal, he threw OF all
restraint and took to the bush as
robber. Bushrangers had been COM
mon for many years, but at last the
race was beginning to thin out The
Kellys determined to revive the CORY
glory of the ancient times.
The country around Beechworth al
forded them excellent cover. while the
towns and scattered houses and sta
tons offered them as much plumber
as they desired. A murder was the
signal for departing from civilization
and taking to the adventures OF the
bush. Despite the fact that the coun-
try-side was alarmed, and that the
police were securing the country In
search of the outlaws. these last con-
tinued their robbing profession with
almost unbelievable GOODNESS.
One day they entered the National
bank at Euroa at q time when many
Of the inhabitants OF the town were
at funeral. They were well dressed.
with no suggestion Of the outlaw about
them. Covering the clerks with their
revolvers. they demanded all the cash
the bank contained. the sum, amount
ing to nearly $4,000.
They Stopped Nothing.
Then. gathering the entire staff Of
the bank together. they babe the
manager harness horse and prepare
carriage. And there issued from
the bank premises buggy containing
the manager with his wife and chill
dren, together with cart containing
the robbers and the plumber. All were
driven to Faithfull's Creek. where the
prisoners were entertained by the
thieves until such a time as the latter
thought fit to leave them. which they
did at nightfall.
The manager OF the bank and his
family found their way back to tho
town as best they could. Meanwhile.
the Kellys were safely hidden in one
of their favorite places of conceal
ment For cool daring this exploit
has not been surpassed.
They stopped at nothing. When.
after another murder. the police start
ed in a special train to q place where
the KeIlys were known to be. the rob-
bers raced across the country to
where the train had to pass They
commanded the sattion-master and
afterwards some platelayers to de-
stroy the railway. and so to wreck
the coming train. Luckily. however.
the disaster was averted.
One OF the outlaws prisoners man.
aged to escape and possess himself
of candle. a red scarf. and matches.
With these for danger signals. he
reached the railway as the train was
approaching. and lighting the candle
held the red scarf in front Of II. The
device was successful. The strange
red light was seen, and the train
drew up a few. yards away from the
place Of danger.
Meanwhile, the robbers had achieved
the daring business of imprisoning In
large hotel a number of citizens
who might have made trouble had
they been at liberty. Driven in to
the number OF sixty-two. they were
held at bay by four outlaws. who. by
force of arms and reputation. were
masters Of the situation. The robbers
were by this time clad In armor made
from stolen plowshares by a local
blacksmith.
Head, chest. back and sides were
protected by this clumsy metal.
Strangely enough. the robbers had not
thought of covering their legs. and 1t
was in that vulnerable spot that the
chief of the gang was hit
Despite the rife fire the outlaws
did not yield One of them. indeed
the leader-managed to escape In the
darkness. But reappearing, he was
shot in the legs. and his fighting
career was over. The other three re-
NAMED in the house stubbornly refus-
ing to surrender Then at last the
police decided to set fire to the house
and either burn out or burn up their
enemies.
When the fire subsidized. the charred
remains of two Of the robbers were
discovered amidst the ruins Of the
building. How they died will never be
known.
With the passing Of the Kelly
bushranging practically ceased.