The Fight with Ned Kelly.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1252, 8 July 1880, Page 3

The Fight with Ned Kelly.

The morning 1 broke beautiful and clear. The police were dispersed all round the hotel, when they wero beset by danger from the rear, Ned Kelly being the cause. It appears he was the man who shot Mr Hare, and he himself was wounded in the arm by the fire, which was returned. He could not, without danger, get into the hotel, so he sprang upon his horse, and during the excitement which followed, he got away towards " Morgan's Look-out," but it was not the intention of the bold ruffian to desert his comrades, and he returned to fight his way to them. It was nearly S o'clok when his tall figure was seen close behind the line of police. At first it was thought he was a black fellow. He canied a great coat over his arm, and walked coolly and slowly among the police. His head, chest, back and sides, were all proteoted with heavy plates of quarter-inch iron. When within easy distance of SeniorConstable Kelly, who was watching him, he filed. The police then knew who he was, and Sergeant .Steel, Senior-Constable Kelly, and Dorset fa railway guard) fired on the ruffisxn. Nine police, -n. joined in the conflict, and fired poinv Mank at Kelly, yet he always recovered him.. *f,and tapping his breast, he laughed den., oly at his opponents as he coolly retur. '* their fire, fighting only with a revolve It appeared as if he was a fiend with a charmed life. For half-an-hour the strange combat was carried on. Then Sergeant Steele rapidly closed in on him, and when within only ten yards of him he fired two shots into his legs, and this brought the outlaw down. He was only wounded, and appeared still determined to carry on the desperate conflict, but Steele bravely rushed him, and seized the hand in which Kelly held his revolver, the only weapon with which he was armed. He fired one shot after this, but without effect. When on the ground he roared with savage ferocity, cursing the police. Ultimately, he was stripped of his armor, and then became quiet and submissive, after which he was carried, bound, to the railway station, where some brandy was given him, as he appeared to be very weak from loss of blood.