STRINGYBARK CREEK

STRINGYBARK CREEK MURDERS. 26 Oct 1878

Ned & Dan Kelly, Steve Hart & Joe Byrne were hiding in the bush
working their twenty acres of cleared land (growing barley & gold
working) when they learned that there were two or three police search
parties out looking for them. (the groups of police were starting from
different localities to confuse the 'bush telegraphs' ) One of the
police parties in search of the men came very close to their hideout.

One of the policeman (McIntyre) shot at a couple of parrots which
gave away their position. Ned believed that the police had superior
weapons and he needed them so they decided to take the search
party head on. This party had come from Mansfield and consisted
of Sgt Kennedy, Const Scanlon, Lonigan and McIntyre.
Sgt Kennedy and Const Scanlon went out on patrol leaving Const
McIntyre and Lonigan at camp. The Kelly's Byrne & Hart crept up
on the two remaining police and yelled "bail up". Lonigan grabbed
for his gun and jumped behind a log, when he lifted his head he
was killed almost immediately. The unarmed McIntyre stood frozen.

What happened next depends upon which version you accept, Ned's
or McIntyre's. (McIntyre being the only surviving witness from the
police side) When Sergeant Kennedy and Constable Scanlon returned
they too were called to surrender by McIntyre but thought it was a joke
at first and did not comply. A fight ensued and both were killed. In the
heat of battle McIntyre mounted Kennedys horse as it ran by startled.

Whether or not the police were specifically out to kill, or whether
or not it was self-defence was now irrelevant as three police lay
dead.

The end result for the Kelly's would be a final one, they would die
for what they had done at Stringy Bark Creek.

A 'mock' photo of Sgt Kennedy's body.