FRONTIER CONFLICT AND THE NATIVE MOUNTED POLICE IN QUEENSLAND Events Event name Day and month Year Nature of event Description Tools Attack on Europeans/others - unnamed Scottish woman at Tarewinnabar (29 May 1856) 29 May 1856 Attack on Europeans/others;Attack on stock/property "Gentlemen—The following outrage was committed at one of my sheep stations a 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 16 matching entries Events Event name Day and month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools others broke open and ransacked her boxes. " (North Australian, Ipswich and General Advertiser, 15 July 1856, p3). Attack on property - Westaway's hut on the North Pine River (near Brisbane) (6 October 1856) 6 October 1856 Attack on stock/property "THE BLACKS AGAIN.— We learn from a report which appears in the 'Moreton Bay 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 - William Thomas Elliott, Bellfield and 7 Aboriginal men at Windmere, Nine Mile waterhole on Canooona Run (January 1856) January 1856 Attack on Europeans/others 'A gentleman just arrived from the Burnett district informs us that a few days before he left, a rush was made upon the station of 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 - Glastonbury run (February- March 1856) February- March 1856 Attack on stock/property ‘Commissioner of Crown Lands Halloran had received 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools Presumed attack on Europeans/others - Nine Mile waterhole, on Canooona Run, above Yaamba (January 1856) January 1856 Attack on Europeans/others '... On the day after the moonlight assault a somewhat amusing a air occurred. About twenty of 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 - A.C. Gregory and party, Leichhardt River (5 September 1856) 5 September 1856 Attack on Europeans/others 'ATTACK BY THE NATIVES. 5th September. At daybreak we heard the 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 Young's station on Pine River near Brisbane (September 1856) September 1856 Attack on stock/property "STATION ATTACKED BY BLACKS.—Intelligence was brought into town yesterday 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools perfect concealment for their booty." (Empire, 20 September 1856, p6). Attack on Europeans/others - German woman at an outstation of Juandah, Dawson River (c30 July 1856) c30 July 1856 Attack on Europeans/others 'MURDER BY THE BLACKS.— To ll up the chapter of horrors with which our columns are crowded this 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 - Billy Lolly and either Kitty or Polly at Maryborough (April or May? 1856) April or May? 1856 Attack on Aboriginal people "Lieutenant Traine [sic; should be Irving], in charge of a detachment of the 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools 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 month Year Nature of event Description Tools "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