The Argus at KellyGang 19/11/1879 (2)
STICKING UP THE STATION
Captain Moonlite
The following are the facts as they occurred -On Friday night, about 8 o'clock, a man presented himself at the station kitchen and asked for the manager. He was told to wait, as the manager was having his dinner, he having just returned home from a very hard day's work in the saddle. After dinner Mr Baynes (the manager) came out to see what was wanted. The man applied for work. He was informed that no hands were required on the station. The man became abusive, but subsequently went away. Nothing else occurred to break the harmony of the quiet-going station hands that night.
The bailing up was commenced next day (Saturday), the 15th inst, when about half past 3 six men came to the station. They were all on foot. They entered by the backgate, and walking up to the station im mediately covered the servants in charge with the arms in their possession, and ordered them to bail up. At this time there were present at the homestead a man and his wife and a groom. The former acted as a station useful hand, and his wife as cook. Their names are Mr and Mrs M'Miles and Lindon. These were ordered to at once deliver up all the firearms in the homestead, the alternative being that with non compliance their lives would be forfeited. Correct information of all the doings of the absentees was also demanded on the same conditions. The bushrangers then asked for food and dinner. The manager had locked up the store previous to his departure for the day, but the men presented revolvers at the heads of the servants, and eventually forced them to break open the storeroom door. One of the bushrangers produced a sledge hammer, which M'Miles was forced to use. The store being opened, the men helped themselves freel, but none of the bushrangers drank to excess.
The visitors first to arrive upon the scene were Mr Weir, of Eurongilly, and with him a gentleman whose name could not be ascerained, but who is a schoolmaster. The latter was an elderly man, and it was upon him that the first outrage was committed. He was commanded to dismount but on refusing so to do was fired at by one of the gang. "Moonlite, to save him dragged him from his horse, telling him at the same time he was an old fool to resist. These two, being captured, were marched into the diningroom and there im prisoned with the servants who had pre viously been placed there, two armed men being, put on guard. Shortly after two fencers carne up and were subjected to the same treatment. About dusk Mr Baynes the manager of the station arrived at the station back gate. He was employed shifting prize sheep from a paddock to the one the fencers had that day completed wiring. On arrival at the gate he, as was his custom, called for the groom to open it. He was replied to by M'Miles who in formed him Lindon was down the paddock M'Miles was at this time acting under orders from the bushrangers, but could not convey the fact to Mr Baynes.
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