1856 Events.pdf - Gilburri

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FRONTIER CONFLICT AND THE NATIVE MOUNTED POLICE IN QUEENSLAND Events Events 16 matching entries Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month Attack on Europeans/others 29 May 1856 Attack on "Gentlemen—The following - unnamed Scottish woman Europeans/others;Attack outrage was committed at at Tarewinnabar (29 May on stock/property one of my sheep stations a 1856) few days ago (Thursday, 29th May). Six blacks of the Barwin tribe, and, I believe discarded policemen from the Burnett district, passed here en route for their native country. They went to a sheep station on the roadside, and remained during the night encamped a short distance from the hut, at which a newly-arrived couple were employed, the husband as shepherd and Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month the wife acting as hutkeeper. As soon as the shepherd had gone o the following morning with his sheep, these six "poor blacks" went to the hut and dragged the woman (only recently con ned) from her bed, and trailed her by the heels to the creek, a distance of thr… hundred yards, after having near killed her, and threatened her with instant death if she stirred from the spot. They returned to the hut, and threw, to commence with, a large bed on the top of the infant (it is a miracle it waa not smothered) ; they then broke open and wil-fully destroyed the boxes, taking what they could conveniently carry, and destroying the remainder, their gins lending a willing hand. The poor woman is in a very weak state, and it is doubtful if she will recover. " (Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 19 June 1856, p4). "At one of the Larawinba stations they dreadfully ill- used a poor woman who had only recently been con ned, dragged her some distance from the hut, and whilst one of these miscreants brandished a tomahawk over her head the Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month others broke open and ransacked her boxes. " (North Australian, Ipswich and General Advertiser, 15 July 1856, p3). Attack on property - 6 October 1856 Attack on stock/property "THE BLACKS AGAIN.— We Westaway's hut on the learn from a report which North Pine River (near appears in the 'Moreton Bay Brisbane) (6 October 1856) Courier' of Saturday, that the blacks attacked Mr. Westaway's station, on the North Pine River, on the 6th instant, and plun-dered the hut of nearly all the property in it. The natives belonging to the coast tribes were concerned in this outrage; and Mr. Westaway and his servant, who tried to deter them on this occasion, consider themselves fortunate that they managed to escape with their lives. " (North Australian, Ipswich and General Advertiser, 14 October 1856, p3). Attack on Europeans/others January 1856 Attack on 'A gentleman just arrived - William Thomas Elliott, Europeans/others from the Burnett district Bellfield and 7 Aboriginal informs us that a few days men at Windmere, Nine Mile before he left, a rush was waterhole on Canooona made upon the station of Run (January 1856) the Messrs. Elliott, on the Fitzroy River, by a numerous body of natives. A shepherd on the run was killed, and Mr. W. Elliott received ve spear wounds in various parts of his person, from which fatal e ects were anticipated. Happily, there were three or four of the Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month native police at hand, and their appearance prevented the massacre of all residing on the station, although their force was so small as to preclude the possibility of any energetic proceedings against the marauders. ... An excellent plan has been adopted by the Messrs. Hay at their station at Rannes, in the Leichhardt district, and it would be well if others followed their example. They have organized a private force of watchmen, composed of trusty black fellows, and they maintain them not so much for the protection of their stock, but in order to prevent the otherwise inevitable massacre of every inhabitant upon the station.' (Empire, 18 February 1856, p3; The North Australian, Ipswich and General Advertiser 19 February 1856, p2) ''THE BLACKS. WE are sorry to have to report another of these unhappy occurrences which have, unfortunately, been of late so frequent. The scene of this last attack was Mr. Elliott's head station on the Fitz-Roy river. Upon which, a large number of Blacks came down in great force, and, we regret to say, killed one poor fellow who was engaged shepherding on the station; and in icted, Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month very serious injury upon Mr. Elliott himself. Within the last few days a report has reached us that poor Mr. Elliott has since died of the wounds he received, but we sincerely hope this is not really the case, though the source through which the report comes, together with the character of the information previously received, gives us too much reason to fear that it may be found correct. We understand Mr. Elliott himself, together with his German servants, behaved very bravely on the occasion, and did very much to prevent the further destruction of life and property, but that the English servants were so much alarmed and terri ed, that they could do nothing, but actually went into their huts to escape the danger which others were so nobly incurring for the common safety.' (Moreton Bay Courier, 16 February 1856, p2) '... About six -weeks after we had established ourselves at Gracemere, Mr Elliott, who had taken up Canoona Run, which was on the far side of the river, above Yaamba, camped at the Nine-mile Waterhole. Mr. Elliot's brother fell sick, and came Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month to Gracemere to try and get to Gladstone for medical assistance ... Mr. Elliott's people had no houses, but only grass gunyahs. The blacks here, unlike those in the Brisbane and Wide Bay Districts, were not afraid to go out at night. They made their attacks at night, when the moon was at the full. It was at full moon, in January following the dispersal at Nankin Creek, that a great mob of natives, including women and children, surrounded Elliott's camp, shouting and yelling. The wearied shearers and others had just gone to rest, and were aroused by the shouts, and by the blackfellows thrusting their spears into the gunyahs. They red out at random. Mr. Elliott, roused from his sleep, seized his revolver, and, going out of his grass hut, saw the men's gunyahs surrounded by a crowd of natives. Fearlessly he rushed forward, ring right and left with his revolver. All the barrels went o — the only time they ever did so. This scared the assailants, and they gave way, and when the men came out ring, they ed. One man was seen running holding his helamon or shield over the back of his neck. One of the boys let y at him, and next day we got Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month the shield with a hole right in the centre, where the handle was. It was calculated there were about 200 natives, and there were upwards of twenty white men, including shearers. Two of the latter were wounded. Next day I went over with men and horses, and followed the tracks of the blacks to the Eight-Mile Island, where they had crossed the river. Three days after the attack, when Mr. Archer and the troopers came back, they made up a party and went o in pursuit. They found seven dead natives on biers or platforms on the north side of the river, at Eight-Mile Island and one of them had a hole through his left hand and his neck, so that his shield had proved a poor protection.' (The Capricornian, 19 December 1885, p25) 'The Messrs. Elliott Brothers, who were the rst to follow the Archers into the new country, had made a temporary camp at Windmere, or Lower Gracemere, till some buildings were erected at Canoona, the run the Elliotts had taken up. The Elliotts only had four employees, and one day the blacks attacked the camp in force, one of the men named Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month Bel eld was killed by a spear —the rst death of a white man in the district. There was desperate ghting, and one of the Elliotts was severely wounded by spears, one of which struck the unfortunate man In the mouth and went through the cheek. Just as the blacks seemed to have won the victory. Lieutenant Walker appeared on the scene with his native troopers, and drove the blacks o , thus undoubtedly saving the lives of the whites.' (Morning Bulletin, 7 October 1924, p11) 'On the Messrs. Elliott's station, a temporary one on Mr. Archer's run, only three miles distant, there were frequent collisions which I must in some degree attribute to the circumstance that both the Messrs. Elliott were men of easy indolent disposition who could exercise no moral control over their servants, either black or white, and that consequently there were frequent quarrels with the Natives who came about the Station. At least one attack on the Station was made on one moonlight night by a very numerous Force accompanied by their gins carrying dillies in which to carry o the booty they Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month made sure of securing. However they were mistaken; as they were driven o by the very spirited behaviour of Mr. William Elliott and two or three of his German Shepherds, but not before they had killed one shearer, none of whose companions attempted to protect him, or defend themselves, and not till they had wounded in ve or six places by spears and had broken the jaw of Mr. William Elliott who stood amongst them ring his revolver with a coolness and courage most remarkable. This outrage however was not committed by the Tribe at Gracemere but by that inhabiting the Trans-Fitzroy country, a tribe which appears to have been oppressing the former one, which claimed as their Territory this side of the River.' (Wiseman, Commissioner of Crown Lands, cited in Skinner 1975:214) '2 December, 1856 William Thomas. Elliott, Esq., of Fitzroy River, Port Curtis District, called in, and examined:— 1. By the Chairman: You reside in the Port Curtis District? Yes. 2. You formerly resided in the Wide Bay and Burnett Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month District? Yes. 8. How many years, altogether? Since June, 1861. 4. You have been engaged in pastoral pursuits all that time? Yes. 5. Have you had much experience amongst the blacks? Not till latterly. 6. Not in the Burnett District? No; I was amongst the quiet blacks there. 7. You have had a great deal of experience amongst them recently in the outlying district you are now in? Since I have been out — fourteen months — I have had almost constant experience. 8. In what part of the Port Curtis District? In the counties of Palmerston and Liebig, on the FitzRoy River. 9. Have you been much exposed to the depredations of the blacks out there? Yes, a good deal. 10. Have you su ered any loss of men? I have had one man killed, and two attacks made upon me. 11. Have you su ered any loss of stock? An attempt was once made by the blacks to take some stock away, but they were unsuccessful. 12. You narrowly escaped yourself on one occasion, report says? Yes; we were attacked in the night. Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month 13. By a large body of the blacks? About one hundred. 14. Where were the Native Police at that time? At Rannes, fty miles distant. 15. Do you consider the number of Police in the Leichhardt District su cient to protect it? Certainly not. … 25. In your own case, when you were attacked in the night, I suppose the attack was owing to the absence of the Native Police? Not a doubt of it. 26. Have you heard of any other case of depredation in the Leichhardt District? One of the most serious attacks was made on Mr. Young's station, when every one on the station was killed. 27. How many murders took place on that occasion? Five; four men and one woman. 28. Where were the Native Police then? There was a small party at Gladstone. 29. What distance? Twenty miles, I think. … 52. By Mr. Holt: Have you a station near Port Curtis? About ninety miles from Port Curtis. 53. Near Rannes? Seventy miles from Rannes. 54. Have you been at all troubled with the blacks? I have. 55. Have you lost any men? I lost one man. Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month 56. By Mr. Forster: You were speared yourself, were you not? I was.' (William Thomas Elliott 2 December 1856, NSW Legislative Assembly 1857 NATIVE POLICE FORCE. REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE NATIVE POLICE FORCE; TOGETHER WITH THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE, MINUTES OF EVIDENCE:online) Attack on stock - February- 1856 Attack on stock/property ‘Commissioner of Crown Glastonbury run (February- March Lands Halloran had received March 1856) complaints dated 16 February 1856 and 18 March 1856 respectively from Frederick R. Hutchinson of Widgee Widgee station and William Powell of Walooga. The former had written of the loss of nearly eight hundred cattle from Glastonbury, one of the blocks connected with Widgee Widgee. Aborigines had killed some of the cattle but most had been frightened o leaving only eight on the block.’ (Akinner 1975:220) Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month Presumed attack on January 1856 Attack on '... On the day after the Europeans/others - Nine Europeans/others moonlight assault a Mile waterhole, on somewhat amusing a air Canooona Run, above occurred. About twenty of Yaamba (January 1856) the Gracemere blacks, who were friendly, and were allowed in and about the station, had been out hunting about the Lion Mountain and in coming back went near Elliott's camp. When the men saw them, they cried, "Here's the blacks back again!' and began ring at them. They ed towards Gracemere in terror. One of them was shot dead.' (The Capricornian 19 December 1885, p25) Attack on Europeans/others 5 1856 Attack on 'ATTACK BY THE NATIVES. - A.C. Gregory and party, September Europeans/others 5th September. Leichhardt River (5 At daybreak we heard the September 1856) blacks making a great noise up the river, and while the horses were being brought in nineteen blacks came to the camp, all armed with clubs and spears. They did not make any hostile demonstration, and the approach of the horses appeared to keep them in check; and a person unacquainted with the treacherous character of the Australian might have thought them friendly. When we started at 6.50 a.m. they followed the party to the bank of the river, and began to ship their spears, and Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month when we were crossing a deep ravine made a rush on us with their spears poised ready to throw them at us, hoping to take advantage of our position; but just as their leader was in the act of throwing his spear he received a charge of small shot. This checked them, and we charged them on horseback, and with a few shots from our revolvers put them to ight, except one man, who climbed a tree, where we left him, as our object was only to procure our own safety, and that with as little injury to the blacks as possible. We did not pursue our advantage; by following the fugitives. ... Latitude by Vega 18 degrees 7 minutes 45 seconds.' (Gregory and Gregory 1884, online) Attack on stock - Josiah September 1856 Attack on stock/property "STATION ATTACKED BY Young's station on Pine BLACKS.—Intelligence was River near Brisbane brought into town yesterday (September 1856) that a body of blacks, numbering nearly two hundred, had made a descent on Mr. Young's station, on the Pine River, that morning, and plundered whatever they could lay hands on, besides spearing a few head of cattle. The chief constable immediately despatched all his available force, two mounted troopers, to Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month disperse the vagabonds, and take the ringleader if possible. Mr. Young was in Brisbane when the attack was made, and the a air was so sudden and well planned that those left on the station had no opportunity to resist. We don't want native police in these districts—oh no!—Free Press, Sept 15." (Moreton Bay Courier, 20 September 1856, p2). "WHOLESALE PLUNDER BY BLACKS.—Information was brought into town on Sunday last, that the cattle station of Mr. Young, about 14 miles from Brisbane, on the South Pine River, had been surrounded with black- fellows. The dwelling-house, in which at the time only a moan and woman servants were inmates (Mr. Young being in Brisbane), was besieged, the store broken open, and a quantity of our, tea, sugar, &c., taken therefrom. The chief constable started o without loss of time, upon receiving the particulars, with the two mounted policemen under his control, Mr. Young accompanying them ; but little can such a small force do in the apprehension of these denizens of the forest, the dense scrub on the river's borders furnishing a Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month perfect concealment for their booty." (Empire, 20 September 1856, p6). Attack on Europeans/others c30 July 1856 Attack on 'MURDER BY THE BLACKS.— - German woman at an Europeans/others To ll up the chapter of outstation of Juandah, horrors with which our Dawson River (c30 July columns are crowded this 1856) week, we regret that it is our melancholy duty to record another diabolical outrage committed by the blacks at Juandah, the station of Messrs. Boyds, on the Dawson River, on or about the 30th ultimo, information of which reached us by the overland mail on Saturday last. It appears that the blacks for the purpose of plunder, visited one of the out-stations where there was a German and his wife, and during the absence of the former with his ock, the scoundrels rushed into the hut, killed the unfortunate woman by battering her head with waddies and tomahawks, and then decamped, after sacking the hut of everything it contained. When the wretched husband returned home in the evening, he found the mangled remains of his wife at the door of his dwelling, and managed shortly after to appraise Messrs. Boyds of what had occurred. Those gentlemen immediately despatched a messenger for the native Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month police, two of whom reached the station on the following day; but with this small force pursuit was impracticable, and the villains got clear o with their ill-gotten booty.' (The Northern Australia, Ipswich and General Advertiser, 12 August 1856, p3) "The North Australian of yesterday contains the de tails of another atrocious murder committed by the blacks at Juandah, the station of the Messrs. Royds, on the Dawson River, on or about the 30th ultimo. The victim of the savages on this occasion was the wife of a German, who, with her husband, lived at an out- station. While the latter was out with his ock they appear to have visited the hut for purposes of plunder, as it was completely sacked of everything portable. On his return in the evening the husband found the dead body of his wife at the door of the hut, her head dreadfully battered, apparently by waddies and tomahawks. The proprietors of the station were speedily apprised of the awful occurrence, and a messenger having been despatched for the native police, two troopers arrived on the following day. With Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month such a small force, however, pursuit was considered useless, and there is little or no chance that the villains will ever be brought to justice. The frequent recurrence of these horrifying murders will surely at last convince the most sceptical that the reduction of the native police was a most ill-advised measure, and that protection must be provided at whatever expense for those residing in the wild districts of the interior." (Sydney Morning Herald, 18 August 1856, p8). Attack on Aboriginal people April or 1856 Attack on Aboriginal "Lieutenant Traine [sic; - Billy Lolly and either Kitty May? people should be Irving], in charge or Polly at Maryborough of a detachment of the (April or May? 1856) native police, apprehended ve aborigines for stealing potatoes from a garden in the vicinity of Maryborough, but, on the way to that township, whither the native police were conducting them by water in a boat, two of them e ected their escape by jumping out of the boat and swimming ashore. The other three, named Billy Lolly, Kitty, and and Polly, were handed over to the Maryborough police, and the evidence of the robbery before the Bench not being complete, the blackfellow and the two gins were remanded to the lock-up for Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month eight days. Whilst a constable, named Heywood, was escorting the blacks and two white men to the lock- up, it appears the blackfellow Billy Lolly, threw sticks at the constable who, irritated at those proceedings, red his piece twice, he says, once at the blackfellows head to intimidate him ; but, on discharging his musket the third time, loaded with ball, the shot struck the blackfellow, passed through the unfortunate fellow and lodged in the black woman next to him; both, subsequently, died of their wounds. The blacks, it appears, were secured by their legs to a chain, so as to prevent escape being possible. Why the constable red at all appears at present mysterious. The matter, I believe, was investigated before the Mary-borough Bench, and the proceedings are to be submitted to the Attorney- General. In the meantime, the constable is at large ; but it is hoped the matter will undergo a thorough investigation before the proper authorities at head- quarters, so that a full explanation of the cause of this extraordinary slaughter may be made manifest." (Empire, 26 May 1856, p5). Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month "Sir—In one of the recent numbers of your journal appeared a very partial version of an occurrence which took place here, and as it bears unfairly on the individual alluded to, I now furnish you with a statement, which I assure you is correct. Some months since, and shortly after the murders of poor Furber and his son-in- law, the blacks cleared out for the Bunga Bunga feast, (a sort of nut which grows in great abundance in various localities in this district,) and left us for a time uncursed by their presence, but as winter approached, and more pro table quarters were desirable, they returned, and signalised their arrival by visiting Mr. Cleary's garden, and stealing therefrom a large quantity … potatoes and other edibles : fortunately, Lieutenant Irving, of the Native police, with his troop, arrived the same night—was quickly on their trail, and succeeded in capturing some four or ve, besides recover-ing most of the stolen produce. They were handed over to the police, and as Constable Harwood was escorting two from the court to the look- up, having two other pri- soners in his charge, the Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month blacks, cheered on by some at a distance, coming to some sticks, suddenly seized thom, and began a furious assault on the constable. After trying to keep them o , he red, the shot taking a double e ect. Now, sir, the matter was inquired into, and the constable, who was fully borne out in his state- ment by the other prisonors whom he had in charge, was considered to be fully justi ed in what he had done, as he had no alternative between letting the prisoners escape, or perhaps losing his life. But it does appear to me that there is a large class living at a distance, and knowing nothing of the toils, privations, and dangers of the set-tlers in these far away districts, keep their indignation snugly bottled up at any aggressions by the "poor" blacks, but ready to burst forth at any appearance of retaliation by the whites. " (Empire, 24 June 1856, p5). Attack on Europeans/others 28 April 1856 Attack on 'All remained quiet for the - Rannes station (28 April Europeans/others night and the whole of the 1856) next day; but about three o'clock in the morning of the following day the inmates of the hut were aroused by the terri c yells of the blacks, who had surrounded the place, and seemed bent on Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month mischief. No sooner was the door opened by the parties inside than two of the gins belonging to the civilised blacks rushed into the house for protection, having escaped from the wretches who were now within a dozen paces of the spot. A carbine having been discharged, the blacks precipitately retreated, one of them before he went away, throwing a nullah nullah at the white persons at the door of the hut, but which fortunately missed the mark. The blacks then went to the sheep yards and turned out one of the ocks, which they drove away; and although an attempt was made to deter them, it was unsuccessful, and they got clear o in the dark. At day- light, the depredators were pursued for about six miles, to the edge of a scrub, where it was discovered that they had killed thirty sheep for breakfast, having partaken of which they had decamped, and were again tracked about three miles further, when the pursuers came to a large scrub, which the scoundrels, were skirting. On observing the horsemen, the blacks abandoned the sheep and rushed into the thick bush, from which they did not deem it prudent to emerge Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month for the purpose of showing ght, when the remainder of the sheep they had driven away were immediately recovered. The native police were on the alert, and it is to be hoped they will be able to check, if they cannot put down, further outrages.— North Australian.’ (Moreton Bay Courier, 31 May 1856, p2; Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 7 June 1856, p6) Attack on Europeans/others 27 April 1856 Attack on ‘PORT CURTIS.—THE BLACKS - Rannes station (27 April Europeans/others AGAIN.-—Information 1856) reached town yesterday that the blacks had attacked the station of the Messrs. Hay in the Port Curtis District, on the 27th of last month, and had not only succeeded in carrying o a number of sheep, but had speared three civilised natives employed on the station. It appears that the savage marauders were discovered a day or two previous to the attack lurking about the head station, by one of the black boys, and that one of them had been chased about two hours after dusk, but had e ected his escape. On the following day the civilised natives were sent in search of the blacks, and while they were absent Mr. Marshall and the native police arrived most opportunely at the station. Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month They had not been there more than a hour before one of the boys came back to the hut, hardly able to stand from the e ect of spear wounds through his arm and the palm of his hand, and with a dreadful gash on his head, in icted by a tomahawk. About two hours after the arrival of this poor fellow, the two other boys came home, one of them very badly speared in the back, the weapon having entered his side about two inches from the middle of the back and six inches from the point protruding on the opposite side of the spine. Thus two black boys out of three were disabled, leaving a very weak protection for the station. ....—North Australian.’ (Moreton Bay Courier 31 May 1856, p2; Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 7 June 1856, p6) Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month Attack on Europeans/others Before 10 1856 Attack on 'On 7 December 1856, Sub- - Andrew Volk at November Europeans/others Lieutenant Thomas Ross at Euroombah station, Upper Palm Tree Creek wrote to Dawson (before 10 Second Lieutenant Ferguson November 1856) at Wondai Gumbal after receiving information on 10 November that Aborigines had murdered one of Cardew's shepherds, Andrew Volk, about twenty- four years old, a native of Germany. A "terrible wound in his forehead had been apparently in icted with a tomahawk''.' (Skinner 1975:231) Attack on Aboriginal people Before 10 1856 Attack on Aboriginal 'Thomas R. Boulton, - head of Palm Tree Ck? November people superintendent of (before 10 November 1856) Eurombah station, had rst given information of the murder to Corporal Robin Hood and had also informed him of the direction the Aborigines had taken after committing the deed. Robin Hood accompanied Boulton and several of the neighbouring settlers in quest of the Aborigines. On the second day the pursuers saw camp smoke and on the third day succeeded in coming up with the Aborigines just as they were drawing out of camp. The Aborigines perceived the party advancing when about one hundred yards distant and immediately ran away. The police party pursued them and, as they would not stop when called upon to do Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month so, red upon them. By the party's re eight Aborigines were killed or wounded. The murdered man's clothes were found in the Aborigines' camp as well as sundry articles taken by Aborigines from the shepherd's tent. Robin Hood later informed Ross that it would have been useless following the Aborigines any further. By reason of the very rough nature of the country at the head of Palm Tree Creek they would be able to travel much faster than he could. On 11 November 1856, Ross joined Robin Hood and they patrolled the country lying between Juandah and the heads of Horse Creek, Owens Creek, and the Dawson but saw no traces whatever of Aborigines with the exception of one track. Ross returned to Palm Tree Creek on 2 December 1856. There he established his headquarters on a site between Eurombah and Miller and Turnbull's station Kinnoul.' (Skinner 1975:231) Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month Attack on Europeans/others 'a very 1856 Attack on 'A very short time after - Mrs Fraser, Hornet Bank short time Europeans/others [Andrew Volk's death on station ('a very short time after' 10 Eurombah sometime before after' 10th November 1856) November 10th November 1856], they attempted to "bail up" the head-station of Hornet Bank, the adult males of the family and establishment at the time having been, with one exception, out on the run. For this man, who was at work some distance from the house, Mrs. Fraser sent one of her children. The man came in at once and loaded the reams, which, the blacks seeing, had the e ect of intimidating them, and for the time preventing outrage.' (North Australian, Ipswich and General Advertiser 12 January 1858, p3) Attack on Aboriginal people 1856 Attack on Aboriginal 'Associated with the name of - Donga Creek, 30km SE of people Matthew Goggs is a Werribone (1856) memorable con ict which took place on Donga Creek between the blacks and our party from Surat, or Yalcal, as it was then called. Goggs was on the look-out for new country, and while staying a few days with us at Surat one of his stockmen came in on foot—his horse had knocked up a few miles out —with word of the blacks gathering on Donga Creek with the object of attacking Wirabone Station. They had already slaughtered a number of Gogg's cattle. Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month With little delay a well- equipped party, consisting of Sergeant Graham and black police, Dick Walker— once an o cer in the English army—James Norman, Matthew Goggs, Harry Whitty and myself, was soon riding hard through sand and mulga toward the east. On the evening of the second day we came to the banks of Donga Creek. There, camped on both sides of the stream, was a mob of fully four-hundred blacks. It was apparent some move was afoot. Commotion stirred the camp. Shouting picaninnies scampered here and there, gins in groups clamoured and gesticulated, and most signi cant of all, the men were armed and ready to march. With our rearms resting on our thighs we rode up. As we turned a comer in the broken scrub they saw us. For a moment they stared, surprised. "A shot or two in the air", said Whitty. " Bang! Bang!" in half a dozen places. A chorus of savage yells and a host of ying spears replied. We paused. The yells increased; the spears mingled with boomerangs fell thicker. Whitty changed his mind. "Nothing for it—must go at them", he said, and Graham led the way. We rode Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month through them pell-mell, and returning went through them again and again—with little good e ect. Though confused, they stubbornly held their ground. Into the thick of them we emptied our pieces. Their tactics became warlike. In a short time we were almost surrounded. Compelled to fall back we separated and from behind trees cut gaps in their numbers with our ri es. Still their determination never lessened. Some of our party were wounded—myself among the number. A spear pierced my thigh and pinned me to the saddle, but fortunately passed through no blood veins. Fair in the face of powder and ball rushed two or three daring fellows making for Dick Walker. Only one reached him—a tall, muscular man. With a shout of triumph he seized the bridle-reins. Walker jumped out of the saddle, and dropping his ri e, closed with the naked man. A desperate struggle! Walker made several e orts to use his revolver, but the black struck it with his tomahawk and rendered it useless. They fell, rolled, struggled in the grass, came to their feet again. Now the, tomahawk uplifted—now the revolver Event name Day and Year Nature of event Description Tools month butt. We could do nothing but check the advance of others. A moment more and one or the other must go under. Walker dropped his revolver. His hand went quickly to his side, and the next instant the naked man was ripped from the lower part of his abdomen to his brisket.' (Recollections of Thomas Davis c1902, np) Attack on Aboriginal people 1856 Attack on Aboriginal 'The blacks had been chased - Lion Mountain, near people across the Fitzroy by Rockhampton (1856) Inspector Murray, and a number of them were "dispersed" at Nankin Creek, now a picturesque picnic ground. The blacks who escaped followed the ranges, crossed the river at the Nine-mile, and attacked Elliott's camp, killing a man named Bel eld and wounding Phillip Elliott, who died at Gracemere later from the e ects of the wounds. A notable warrior named King John was at the head of that tribe, and only for the timely appearance of Lieutenant Powell and his troopers Elliott's party would have been wiped out. Sub inspector Carr and party followed the blacks to Lion Mountain, where King John and a number of his tribe were sent to the happy hunting grounds.’ (Queenslander 14 April 1932, p4)