A KELLY GANG INCIDENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 281, 24 August 1880, Page 2

A KELLY GANG INCIDENT.

A correspondent writes to the Geelong Times the following ston, giving one tf the incidents of the long siege of the Kellys : —" Although the tact of the desperadoes b ing the whole time in the vicinity of the sceius ol their exploits was known to the police, the robbers wtre never actually seen, to be recognised, save by the sympathisers, for a period of .ibout thirteen months. The occasion on which they were unconsciously under cover of one at least of the police rifles is told as follows :—Shortly after Uip Jerilderie bank robbery, it appears that Sherritt proffered on several occasions to bad the police to where the Kellys were, but fearing treachery on the part of one who was supposed to be ' hand m glove' with them, the offers were declined. At length, it having replied the ears of Superintendent Hare that the outlaws were not very far away in the ranges, and that Sherritt was prepared to poi.it them out, he accepted the offer. Taking with him a single trooper (Phillips I think), the three sallied forth at lall, and traversed a mile of the rugged country, till about two in the morning, ' Hist!' from the lips of Sherritt brought the kittle party to a halt. Pointing to a small flickering fire some 200 yards away, he whispered ' There they are ;' but to make sure, he crept forward near enough to recognise each of the four outlaws beyond doubt. Returning to Hare and the trooper, he said ' Sure enough its them. Go forward and satisfy yourself. But the only favor I ask is—don't shoot Joe Byrne. Give him a chance to get away. And now I must go. If it was known that I was here, my life would not be worth one hour to me,' and he disappeared. We can we'd imagine that, for a moment, Mr Hare looked at the trooper, and the trooper ai Hare. ' Are you ready tor them ?' asked the latter. I'll do whatever you ask me, sir,' answered the trooper. l Then remain here, and hold the horses in readiness to assist me at any instant.' The conversation, of course, went on in whispers, and as it ended the officer glided stealthily forward in the darkness, till within an easy range of prey. Now came the risk. To ensure anything like safety, he must, for certain, pick off two of the outlaws - Once, twice, a dozen times, he raised his lifle and took aim, but the unsteady flickering of the small fire, and the uneasy movements of the bushrangers, marred the certainty of the shot. U"i on that 'shot hung life with some thou&ands of pounds on the one hand ; death on the other. It was a time of unimaginable anxiety ; but he determined to wait for the dawn, and slowly enough tlu hours crept on. At last the day broke, while he watched the spot with increasing eagerness, till the light was sufficient to show him that the birds had flown. Doubtless the snorting of the horses, or some sound, had fallen upon the practised ears of the band and scared them. On examining the spot.

it was found that a meal was in course of preparation, for the billy was still boiling on the fire. And thus passed the greatest and" onlf chancp, until the grand finale, of settling the Kellys."