AMATEUR KELLYS IN TASMANIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 174, 2 June 1879, Page 3

AMATEUR KELLYS IN TASMANIA.

Q (Hobart Town Mercury, May 19.) A correspondent supplies us with the following account of a sticking-up affair which occurred a few days ago in tho Midland districts: —As two gentlemen, well knownm Tasmania, wore driving along the main road botweon two of tho midland counties, they wore met by threo persons who were evidently very ardent admirers of Ned Kelly's reckless behaviour, The travellers were driving along, little dreaming of tho startling rencontre that was awaiting them. One of the would-be bushrangers, mounted on a spirited horse, threw himself directly in front of their path, irhilo the others in front ranged one '■»n each side of tho buggy, with guns lev%"[*,at the occupants. The tallest of tho iffilTe, quickly stepping round behind the cart, in a grutF, stentorian voico called out "Bail up!" at tho same time opening tho lamp of tho buggy and blowing out the light. The travellers were then ordered to descend from tho buggy under threat of being shot. This they did,. tho threo quasi desperadoes taking possession of it It was their intention, they stated, to utilise the buggy in conveying them to Latinceston, whence they wished to embark en route for Melbourne. The travellers then asked to be allowed to get their walking-sticks out of the buggy. At this there was some demur, the desperadoes evidently thinking there might have been some firearms in the buggy. One of the travellers got into the buggy, and the rattling of the sticks then raised the suspicions of the bushrangers, upon which the leader called to Ins mates to prepare to fire if any weapon was produced, The travellers taking them to be genuine bushrangers, immediately desisted, and said that the only things in the buggy were two ordinary walking-sticks. Upon this they wcro allowed, still covered by three guns, to talie them. The three men held a whispered conversation as to what should be done, and the leader, who was addressed as " Ned," at last asked his mates to get the ropes, at the same time apologising for the necessity of having to tie the travellers' legs. Whilst parleying they forgot their previous cautious demeanour, and lowered their guns. One of the travellcrs fortunately possessed a revolver, although unloaded, and with great presence of mind producing it, said in a calm voice, " The first man that moves, I fire," There was immediate dismay in the enemy's camp, One of them called out in a voico of abject terror, "For God's sake, don't lire," They were then ordered to disclose their names, and lay down their arms. After confessing who they were, and saying it was merely a joke they intended to play, the travellers satisfied themselves with making them kneel down on tho hard ground and beg their pardon. Doing this with an ill grace, tho bitten biters accompanied the two gentlemen to the nearest house of call, when the differences were amicably arranged,