Jan 27 2008
Glenrowan Questions
What really took place during those days of the siege at Glenrowan?
Was this the time the Kellys had planned the “Rise”, the declaration, the start of the fight for the “Republic of the North-East’? There is much talk in Glenrowan still, that Kelly Gang sympathisers had planned to ride to Melbourne and kidnap the Governor, the Marquis of Normanby.
That June weekend of 1880 saw a full, fat moon, a time for action traditionally favoured by the Irish rural rebels of the past.
The train, loaded with police, made its way up from Melbourne. It whistled as it approached the bend a few miles out of Glenrowan. And, in the scrub, men set fire to signal rockets and groups of armed horsemen moved in the bush - the Kellys were not alone at Glenrowan.
Did they plan to derail the police train? To hold hostages as bargaining chips for the release of Ellen Kelly, the outlaw’s mother?
As the outlaws’ plan began to go wrong, a wounded Ned Kelly rode through police ranks to turn back his followers.
In a few short hours the Siege of Glenrowan was over.
Like to shout me a cold beer?
