Did Dan and Steve Escape Glenrowan?

re: Dan Kelly and Steve Hart
From: Lola Rowe nee Lloyd [lola@winnet.com.au] 25 Sep 02
Carlotta Mitoli, you ask the question, who identified the two bodies of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart. They were identified by Richard Hart, Steve's Father and Thomas Peter Lloyd. A close first cousin of Dan's, later to become the brother in law of Steve. I have witnessed the death certificate and both these men have signed the certificate.

Dan Kelly and Steve Hart
From: Carlotta Mitoli [gmitoli@hotmail] 21 Sep 02
As I have become very interested in the history of the Kelly gang I have a question. Who identified the two bodies as those of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart at the Jones' Hotel after the fire at Glenrowan? I hope you can help me on this.

The immortal Dan and Steve
From: Marian Matta [mandpmatta@yahoo.com.au] 20 Sep 02
None of us want our heroes to die but in this case, they did. To anyone out there who even half believes the tales of Dan and Steve escaping from Glenrowan, let me say READ THE EVIDENCE!! There were no strangers in the Glenrowan Inn and all the “prisoners” there knew everyone else either directly or via other people. They also knew the gang, one way or another. Constable Dwyer saw the two boys' bodies after they were dead (or near enough to it) but before they were burned beyond recognition. There was no handy cellar for them to duck into, there were no convenient strangers to die in their place, there was a rough ring of police around the inn, it was broad daylight, there was no major conspiracy between police and locals to hide the truth. Dan and Steve died - end of story.

The Terrible Truth
From: Bronwyn Jarman [bkke38@yahoo.com.au] 19 Sep 02
I would like to put forward the assumption that Ned, Joe, Dan and Steve hope to have their souls judged on the facts of the events surrounding their lives. This being the case, why is it necessary for certain individuals to continue perpetrating theories based on pure myth? The result from these myths being accepted in general as fact, is that the truth behind the Kelly saga becomes even more convoluted. I am open to any opinion that a person has regarding the history of Ned and the boys, so long as that opinion is at the very least based on the facts presented through countless historical documents and records. Ned, Joe, Dan and Steve are not a commodity to be conveniently repackaged by souless individuals who believe they can jusitfy their actions under the banner of “truth”. Let our hearts be brave and face the terrible truth over the beautiful lies.

“Burnt to a Cinder was I?”
From: Noeleen Lloyd [noeleenlloyd@hotmail.com] 17 Sep 02
It is not very often that I am rendered speechless. Congratulations to Vince and Carolyn Allen — you have achieved it. Upon reading the excerpts of this novel I have become lost for words, and not in a positive way. I am truly unable to understand if these and other authors who proclaim "to know the truth" really believe what they are writing. Taking away the emotional connection and examining from a purely historical context, I am astounded that this book passes even a cursory glance. At least Carey's novel admits to to being fictional, obscure though this reference is. I encourage all to read and further their understanding of the story as a whole, forming an educated and informed opinion. However, I am well aware that our society lends itself to the sensational and scandal and that unfortunately this appears to be what “Joe Citizen” wants. Ned and the boys story is not a “myth” (an invented story), or “legend” (a non historical or unverifiable story handed down from earlier times and popularly accepted as historical), but a series of events that can be historically and undisputedly verified by the documents and records that have been preserved. Note: I am taking my definitions from the Macquarie Dictionary. What these authors do is comletely ignore what is fact and pass fiction as a poor substitute.

“Burnt to a Cinder was I?”
From: Lola Rowe nee Lloyd [lola@winnet.com.au] 14 Sep 02
Why do we have people like Vince and Carolyn Allen, writing and publishing books that are such drivel? There is always some poor unenlightened person that believe these FICTIONAL STORIES. The story of Ned is a rivetting and true story without embellishments. Having a ROYAL COMMISSION on a particular matter makes it truthful and INTERESTING. I suppose these people want to make that extra money, but why not read a good TRUTHFUL STORY? You hit the nail right on the head. Money! Money! Money!

Dan Kelly lived
From: Fiona [starandgarter@xtra.co.nz] 14 Sep 02
I've tried passing on this hot tip to anyone who wants to search the old shipping records but they didn't want to know. The accepted "truth" is that Dan's charred body was found in the remains of the fire. It was not his. He ducked out the back when firing started and made his way to Darwin where he jumped on a ship and spent the next twenty years as a sailor. I know this because one Christmas Eve early in the nineteenth century he berthed on the west Coast in New Zealand and went to visit a relative in Ingahua. My mother-in-law was a little girl listening at the door as he mother welcomed this impressive guest. She was so shocked to know there were outlaws in the family that she kept it a secret for another sixty years. Dan did not die except in the myth.