The Wanganui Herald

October 2, 1880

(courtesy of The National Library of New Zealand)


In connection with the Kelly gang extermination, we regret to learn
that Superintendent Hare has suffered very much from the wound he
received in his arm. Lately the symptoms are very unfavourable, the
splints and shattered bones not all having come away, and fears were
entertained that the hand would have to be amputated! A consultation
was held by Drs Youl, Ryan and Fitzgerald, who determined to perform
an operation. The arm was cut open, numerous pieces of bone and
splints were removed, the shattered bones were chiselled smoothly, and
any destroyed bones also removed.  All the bones of the arm were found
to be shattered by the rifle ball, which entered on the outside and
passed slanting right through the bones and flesh. Hope's are now
entertained that the hand will not have to be amputated.


The Wanganui Herald

July 27, 1881

(courtesy of The National Library of New Zealand)

It will be remembered that in the  encounter with the Kelly gang at
Glenrowan Hotel, Superintendent Hare, of the Victorian police force,
got wounded in the wrist. We have not heard that the Kellys used
poisoned bullets, but the wound to Mr Hare's wrist seems to have been
of a most mysterious character, seeing that it has cost the Victorian
Government 620 pounds for medical attendance! Dr Ryan, a young
Victorian, who was an army surgeon in the Turko-Russian war, and
therefore was deemed a high authority on wrists wounded by bullets,
got 63 pounds for going to Benalla to look at Mr Hare's wrist, and
�252 for two dozen visits of inspection to the wrist at Sunbury. The
wrist and its owner were then removed to Richmond, and Dr Ryan
inspected it 150 times there, and received 157 pounds 10s for his
trouble. Notwithstanding the army experience of Dr Ryan, the wrist
seems to have been too much for him, for Dr Fitzgerald was called in
to assist in treating it, and received 157 pounds
2s 6d. However, the combined skill of Drs Ryan and Fitzgerald would
appear to have been insufficient for this wonderful limb, for we find
that Dr Youl sent in a bill for 28 pounds 7s for attending it. In
addition to the sum paid to these learned members of the medical
profession, there were other medical charges amounting to 21 pounds
10s 6d.

(Thanks Sharon Hollingsworth for this)