• Title
  Thomas Curnow - a portrait of Curnow; &, a sample of the red fabric from his sister's scarf (held over a candle to signal the special police train sent after the Kelly Gang), ca. 1880
• Call number
  PXB 439
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  ca. 1880
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Photographs, Objects
• Reference code
  447312
• Physical Description
  Photographs - 1 carte de visite (with red border) - 10.3 x 6.2 cm.
  Objects - 1 piece red fabric, mounted on card, with mss note - fabric 3 x 6 cm. , card 16.7 x 20.8 cm.
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  "... I quietly prepared everything including a red lama [sic] scarf, a candle, and matches to go to Benalla ... I heard the train coming in the distance. I immediately caught up the scarf, candle and matches and ran down the line to meet the train. On reaching a straight part of the line where those in the train would be able to see the danger signal for some distance, I lit the candle and held it behind the red scarf. While I was holding up the danger signal I was in great fear of being shot before those in the train would be able to see the red light, and of thus uselessly sacrificing my life. The train, which proved to be a pilot engine, came on and stopped a little apast me: and I gave the alarm by informing those in it of the line being torn up just beyond the Station, and of the Kelly gang lying in wait at the station for the special train of Police. On being told by the guard that he would go back and stop the special which was coming on, and seeing him do it, I ran home to appease my wife's anxiety and terror, and to protect them as far as I could. We had not the least hope of an escape from being shot dead for we felt certain that the outlaws must have heard the whistling and stoppage of the pilot engine near our place, and would divine that I was stopping the train as we were the only ones liberated to our knowledge. We therefore felt sure that at least one of them would ride down and take revenge for my betrayal. Though I represented myself to Edward Kelly as a sympathiser, my sole motive in doing so was to save life, uphold justice and of course to secure as far as possible the safety of my family." -- Source: VPRS 4965 Consignment P0 Unit 1 Item 1 Record 1 Document Statement to Police, 21 July 1880 : Thomas Curnow re Kelly attempt to ambush police (online website)
  For a full account of Thomas Curnow's role in the Ned Kelly story, see: Ned Kelly : the authentic illustrated history. South Yarra, Vic. : Hardie Grant, 2001 (p.189)
• Scope and Content
  1. Thomas Curnow - carte de visite portrait, ca. 1880 / G.Richards, Ballarat
  2. Piece of fabric from Curnow's sister's red lama scarf, mounted on card, with mss note in R.J. Mathew's hand
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• General note
  
  Digital order no:Album ID : 971247
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  "Enclosed is a photo of Mr Curnow, who was instrumental / in capturing the Kelly gang and a genuine piece of / his sister's red shawl which was used to give a / warning signal to a police train. / Mr Curnow was a personal friend of my father for / many years. / R.J. Mathew" -- mss notes
  "Tom Curnow" -- in ink on the lower edge of the carte
• Creator/Author/Artist
  Mathew, R. J.
  Richards, George E.
  
• Name
  Curnow, Thomas
  Kelly, Ned, 1855-1880
  
• Subject
  Adult Males
  
• Topic
  fabrics
  portraits
  railway signals
  teachers
  
• Exhibited in
  
  Gold ! - the goldrush days in Australia, from the earliest discoveries to the 1930's - State Library of New South Wales (5 December, 1980 - 26 July, 1981)
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE3235273

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