"A BIT OF RED.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 78, 22 May 1911, Page 2

"A BIT OF RED.”

There f‘Mn seared v be a more euri ous relic in the Dominion that! a piece ol red cloth ill tile coi-l-vet ion of Capl.iin lieniinli, olficcr-in- , Si';ro-(> ei tiie ( l overnment ■ <lll;iiilyy in Wellington. 'i'o those uiiaeC)iininlet! wit!)' its history its inclusion union jj; mere interesting 100-.iii;.’, things from ell poets ot _ the v.'ei’.d would seem t.o he inexplicable, but it has a most thrilling history. h was part of the woman’s scarf that brought the Kelly gang to a timely end.' Si was this way. him last ret in the drama ol the Kelly gang, eras the “sticking up” of (lienrowan. They took charge ot the railway station', and put everybody in the t;wn;.;hip under guard in Mrs Jones s hot- !. * Among those imprisoned were vj’r Tom Curiiow. the local schoolmaster and his wife. in the afternoon Mr Curnow prevailed on Ned ..veils to a 1 !o\v him «uul i 1« \\ J: oto go .101 ao, on account of his wile’s hcalt.i. Kelly consented reluctantly and t.Jd Mr Curnow tliat if he tried to leave his house he would bo shot. Ihe yang knew that news of the uiurdei >f Sherritt just before their descent an Glcurowa n would be sent to Melbourne, and guessed taat police oi troops would lie despatched by i r.il. They therefore compelled some platelayers to damage the line near the station so that when the train came in it would be wrecked. Mr Curnow ;.;new of this, and when lie heard the train in the distance resolved to stop it. Ho seized a buggy lamp and a red scarf belonging to bis wile, and crept out of his house towards the railway line, knowing tluiu at an.s moment a bullet might reach linn. Vs the train approched lie stood in the middle of the track and made a danger signal out of the lantern and the'scarf'. The driver saw it, toe train was quickly pulled up, and the situation explained to those on board. Tl lo gang were surrounded, and what banponed subsequently is well known. The “bit of red” in Captain Hannah’s collection came from the scan, nd was given to him by Mr Curnow, ■bo is aii old friend. Mr Curnow is still teaching in Ballarat —“one of be most modest of men, and yet -.-hat a hero! Does Australia know a ■letter, 1 wonder?”