Narrative of the Stationmaster.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 27, 14 July 1880, Page 4

Narrative of the Stationmaster.

John Stainstreet, the station master at Glenrowan, states: — About three o'clock on Sunday morning, a knock came to my door at the gate-house, within 1000 yards of the station on the Melbourne side. I jumped up, and, thinking it was somebody wanting to get through the gates in a hurry, I half-dressed and went to the door. Just when I got to the door, it was burst open, but previous to that there was some impatient talk, which caused me to dress quickly. I asked, " What is that for?" or, "Who are you?" The answer was—" I am Ned Kelly." I then saw a man, clad in an overcoat, atauding in the doorway. He pushed me into my bedroom, where my wife and some of the children were in bed.

There were two girls and one infant, besides my wife. Then he said to me, " You have to come with me and take up the rails." " Wait," said I, " until I dress." He said " Yes ;" and I completed my dress and followed him out of the house on the line. There were seven or eight men standing at the gate which crosses the line to Mrs Jones's hotel, the GieuKOwaii lun. Kvlly said, "You direct those men how to raise some of the rails, as we expect a special train very soon." 1 objected, saying, "I know nothing about lifting lails off the line. The only persons who understand it are the repairers ; thuy live outside and along the line." Kelly then went into Beardon's, the platelayer's house. Eeardon lives outfcidu.the line, on fche Greta side, about a quarter of a mile away. Steve Hart was present, and Kelly left us in his charge. When Itelly went away Hart gave me a prod with his rifle on the side, saying, " You get the tools out that are necessary to raise those rails." I said, "I have not the key of the chest." He said, " Break the lock." He told one of the men to do so ; and on arl iving at the station he got one of the men to do it. This was in the little back shed used as a storeroom, between the station and the gate-house.' The tools were thrown ouL, and in the meantime Heard on and Sullivan, the line repairers, arrived with Ned Kelly. ' These two men and JS'ed Kelly proceeded down the line towards Wangaratta to lift i-he rails. We were still under Steve Hart's charge, and we remained where we were over two hours, and then Ned Kelly and the repairers returned. Ned Kelly then inquired about the signalling of trains, and as to how 1 stopped a tvaiu with the signal lights. 1 said, " White is right, red is wrong, ami green is 'gently come along.'" He said, " There is a special train coming ; you give no signals." Speaking to Halt, he said, "Watch his countenance, and if he gives any signal, shoot him." He then marched us into xny residence, and left us there under Steve Hart. There were then about seventeen other persons subsequently placed in my house. Also, there were present, Keardon's family, the By an family, Cameron (son of the gatekeeper on the other line), Sullivan, line repairer, and others whom I do not remember. We were locked up all day on Sunday, and were only allowed out under surveillance. The women were permitted to go to Jones's hotel about 5 o'clock, and shortly afterwards all fche men except me and my family went away. Steve Hart stopped with us, and during the night. "Dan Kelly relieved Hart, and he was afterwards relieved by Byrne. Just before the special train arrived, I was ordered to the hotel by Hart, who was on and off duty all the time, to fullow him to Jones's, and not signal to the train. I went into the back kitchen, where Mrs Jones, her daughter, aged 14, and two young children were. There was also a man there named Neil M'Phew. By this time the train had arrived, and firing was going on furiously. I did not see Ned Kelly in the room. I, with others, stood in the chimney. I did not hear any remark passed by any of the gang, and they disappeared. A ball passed through the hut, and grazed Miss Jane Jones, 14 years of age, on the forehead. The girl said, " I'm shot," and turned to me. I saw the blood, and told her it was nothing. The mother commenced to cry, and soon afterwards I left the kitchen and went into the back-yard. I then saw three of the gang there, standing behind the chimney ; they had their rifles in their hands. One of them said — I don't know which, "If you go out, you'll be shot." I walked straight down the path towards the house ; the firing was then going on all round me, but I was uninjured. One of the police very nearly shot me, but I said " Stationmaster" when he challenged me. I forgot to mention that during Sunday afternoon Steve Hart demanded and received my revolver.