1855 Events.pdf - Gilburri

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FRONTIER CONFLICT AND THE NATIVE MOUNTED POLICE IN QUEENSLAND Events Events 24 matching entries Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Attack on Europeans/others - May? 1855 Attack on "Walla unnamed Chinese man, Gin Europeans/others Lr Burnett Gin (May? 1855) 19th June 1855 To The Commandant Native Police Sir In reply to your inquiry about the Blacks who attacked the Chinaman, & also those that Beat[?] Mr Evans[?] I have the Honor to state that the outrage on the Chinaman took place when I was absent on Patrol. Mr Brown went in pursuit of the Blacks with Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event one of their own Blacks as tracker, immediately when the event took place, but could make nothing of them. I returned with the party on Patrol about eight days afterwards (during which time Rain had fallen consequently obliterating any tracks there might be left). I went all over the Country where they were supposed to be and down to the Salt Water, I then proceeded up by “Westholme” Mr W. Landsborough’s station but could nd none; on my return past Gin Gin Mr Browns station he told me he had a Black fellow would take me to where they were. I returned to Walla got fresh horses and started o again but the man Mr B gave me as guide knew nothing whatever of their whereabouts, I beat about the Bush for three days more & made one of the Police climb up in to One of the highest Trees to look out for Smoke but there was no… I then returned to Walla. There were four Blacks only who were present when the Chinaman was beaten—He was as I am informed in a very bad state previous to this & not expected to live he was not killed at the time but lived[?] several days afterwards." (QSA86138 1855 Letter from William Fortescue to Commandant 19 June [2], Papers re work of Native Police in the Waller District including Maryborough, M lm Z2433) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Attack on Aboriginal people - before 19 1855 Attack on "With regard to the Blacks that near Gin Gin and Walla June Aboriginal people Beat Mr Evans[?], I have the (before 19 June 1855) Honor to report that I went after them at once although at the time I was very unwell & hardly able to sit on my horse from Ague & fever. After three days we came up with them, they ran away and one Black was killed, the Country was very Bad indeed where we found them & almost impossible to follow them & as I was myself so ill I went to Mr. Blackmans Station. In fact I was so unwell as to be obliged every mile or two to get o my Horse and lie down for a few minutes." (QSA86138 1855 Letter from William Fortescue to Commandant 19 June [2], Papers re work of Native Police in the Waller District including Maryborough, M lm Z2433) Attack on property - E.B. Uhr's 21 1855 Attack on "December ... 21 Mr Uhr's store store, Maryborough (21 December stock/property attempted to be broken into" December 1855) (QSL 1855 Letter from Arthur Halloran to Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands 28 December, NSW Colonial Secretary Letters Relating to Moreton Bay and Queensland 1822–1860, Reel A2.35) Attack on Europeans/others - 5 1855 Attack on 'It is with feelings of pain and George Furber and Joseph December Europeans/others indignation that I have to record Wilmshurst at Tenanna two diabolical murders (Tinana) Creek, 12 miles from committed in this district, on the Maryborough (5 December persons of Mr. George Furber, 1855) and his son-in-law, Mr. Joseph Wilmshurst, under the following circumstances. They were engaged cutting timber about twelve miles distant from here, at Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event a place called Tenanna Creek; in the party with them, though working separately, were two sawyers named Crudden and Boldery. On Wednesday, the 5th instant, the two last named, on going to the tent to their dinner, as usual, and nding that Furber and Wilmshurst did not make their appearance, became somewhat alarmed, and in consequence of several indications of bad feeling on the part of the blacks previously shown, proceeded in the direction where they had been working, and it would appear that they had been decoyed by the blacks to some distance on the pretext of showing them some large timber. On reaching the spot they were horri ed to nd the bodies of both horribly mangled; Furber's head being literally clove in two, and it would appear that he had had a hard struggle with his murderers before receiving the fatal blow. Wilmshurst appeared to have been killed instanter. The bodies were brought into town, and after a magisterial inquiry, were consigned to their untimely grave, amidst the general sympathy of the whole of the inhabitants. Mr Furber was one of the rst pioneers in this district, and had just commenced a large clearing on the opposite side of the river, and in fact was procuring the timber for building.' (North Australian, Ipswich and General Advertiser 1 January 1856, p3) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event 'To show how little the Blacks here can be depended upon, I may state, that the important men named in the margin, whose murders I reported to you as having taken place near my own residence, on the 5th instant were murdered by three Blacks in the employ of the deceased, by whom they were fed and kindly treated. After murdering these men they battered the face of Wilmshurst to pieces with an iron wedge & split the head of Furber nearly into pieces with a broad axe.' (QSA2969646 1855 Letter from Arthur Halloran to Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands 28 December, Correspondence of Colonial Secretary's Department, NSW, extracted from micro lm (Reel A2-35) held at State Library of Queensland) "I believe it was in 1856 that poor Furber had lost the rations he had purchased to take with him in the bush where he was getting timber, with his son-in-law, who had arrived a few weeks previous. The blacks were seen landing on the opposite bank of the river from the town, and Furber and his son-in-law followed them and came upon their camp. Not being there I cannot tell what was done. They however, returned. A week after this, Furber started in company with two others, for a scrub on Tinana Creek ; two powerful darkies accompanying them — Mine-mine and Jackey- Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Jackey. These two, who were considered good workers, were accustomed to work for Furber who had been warned to be careful of them ; but he always said that no blacks could kill him while he had his pistol. But strange to say, when leaving his family, which consisted at the time of two daughters, he turned back twice to kiss them and say good bye. About four days after, one of the company came into town, as it was beginning to be called, with the sad news of their death. It appeared after they got to the scrub the blacks worked well for a short time, but I believe on the third morning the blacks sent away their gins, and refused their food and tobacco, which was a sure sign of mischief. The son- in-law, alarmed, refused to leave the camp to go to work with them on that account, until the father- in-law challenged him with cowardice, and after this he went, but very reluctantly, with him and the two blacks ; the other two men going to fell timber a short distance away in another direction, leaving a man as cook at the tent. This man I had forgotten to mention before. Dinner being ready, the cook cooeyed, but no answer came. The two, thinking Furber and his son-in-law wanted to nish a cut, waited a short time, and then the stoutest went to look after them. Going to the log where he expected to nd them — I give it as near as I can recollect in his Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event own words — "I was so horror struck that I could neither move nor call to my mates. The father was lying on one side of the log with his head nearly cut o and opened on one side with an axe, the son-in-law also dead, apparently killed with a wedge, thus showing that both must have been killed at the same time. It appeared, that the log being high and di cult to cut, that the blacks must have feigned they were unable to cut it o , and Furber and his soil then commenced to do so, the blacks looking on, and, as they were working with their heads down, the blacks must have struck father and sou dead at one and the same time, as there was scarcely any trace of a struggle. Strange to say that the men who came away to report, on their return, found that all the tools belonging to the murdered men were missing, but not an article of the other men. On receipt of the sad news, of course, the inhabitants turned out, but the murderers were never taken. " (Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, 16 April 1870, p2) "One of the most prominent of the few remaining head stones, is that of George Furber, who in 1847 came overland from Ipswich, and settled on that part of Tinana now known as Rose Hill farm, opposite Baddow. He had his skull nearly cleft in two by a blackfellow, and performed a Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event wonderful ride to Brisbane for medical assistance. He recovered, but only to be " tommahawked" and killed a year or two later by the blacks. He was buried in the spot now under notice, and the inscription on the tomb-stone to this day bears testimony to the violence of the aboriginals in those days, and the great dangers the pioneers of Maryborough had to incur in laying the foundations of our town. " (Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, 22 September 1896, p3) "Four years later the blacks succeeded in killing Furber and his son-in- law, who was working with him at the time. They were cutting timber in the scrub on Tinana creek when the blacks killed them and thus ended the vendetta that had lasted for seven years." (Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, 31 January 1922, p3) Attack on Europeans/others - 27 1855 Attack on ‘Some of these [tribes around George Smelt, John Murray, December Europeans/others Rannes and on the Mackenzie James Foran, Margaret Foran and Fitzroy] have been probably and Peter Blackboy at Mount engaged in the frightful slaughter Larcomb station (27 which occurred [p 136] on 27th December 1855) December last, fatal season of rejoicing to them, at Mr Young’s Station about 70 miles direct from here between Mt Larcomb [as it is – also spelt Larcom] & Dividing Range, when 3 white men, 1 woman & 2 civilized aborigines were murdered. I am more induced to think so as when I was Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event encamped on the head of the Goganzo waters [as it is – Gogango?] (which is the route some would take on their way back to the McKenzie in endeavouring to escape the Police) on the 29th December I saw two or three smokes of natives very near me but not being then aware of the commission of this murder I did not go to examine their camps.’ (QSA7203 1856 W.H. Wiseman to Commissioner of Crown Lands 5 January, Letters relating to Moreton Bay & Queensland, Reel A2.35). See also W.H. Wiseman's annual report for 1856 on the Aboriginal population of the Leichhardt district, reel A2/38, COL, OL;Mayne/Murray, 14 August 1856, 56 /118 , NMP, Res. 10, QSA. ‘Case of Drowning, and Murder by the Blacks.—We regret to hear that a young man, named John F. Coles, a native of Dorset, England, who came to this colony in the Marchioness of Londonderry, in 1853, was accidentally drowned whilst bathing in a creek on the station of Mr. Young's at Mount Larcombe, Gladstone, of which station the unfortunate young man was the superintendent. It appears he was seized with cramp, and before any assistance arrived he was no more. As soon as the body was found Mr. Young rode into the township to report the melancholy circumstance; and on the same evening, during his Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event absence, the blacks came and murdered every person on the establishment—three men and two women, besides some other blacks which Mr. Young had on the place. These are the only particulars we are in possession of at present, and the letter which furnishes these does not mention the date of the outrage.—Herald. Feb. 18’ (Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser 20 February 1856, p3) ‘DREADFUL MASSACRE BY THE BLACKS AT PORT CURTIS. A gentleman just arrived from Port Curtis has favoured us with the following particulars of some recent murderous perpetrations by the blacks in that locality. On the 27th December, a large party of these rascals made a rush upon Mr Young's station, and killed a white man who was engaged in slaughtering a sheep, following up two others who attempted to escape to the hut, and spearing them through the body. Another white man and his wife retreated to a gunyah, where they for some time withstood most determinedly the attacks of their besiegers. Ultimately, however, the natives tore down the bark at the back of the gunyah, and the besieged couple fell beneath the repeated blows of their murderers. It is even a fact that the diabolical wretches attempted to violate the woman after they had accomplished her death. Two civilized blacks who Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event were about the station, were also murdered. The news of this horrible tragedy reached Mr. Young's ears on his return from Gladstone—whither he had gone for the transaction of business— his informant being a black boy attached to the station. The wretchedly inadequate remains of the native police force, under Lieutenant Murray, immediately want in pursuit, but on coming up with the natives, they found them assembled in such large numbers, and so well prepared for a hostile demonstration, that Lieutenant Murray deemed it advisable to con ne his operations to watching their movements. As may well be imagined, the inhabitants of Port Curtis are in a fearful state of suspense, and very justly anticipate that the blacks, growing bolder and bolder from the inadequacy of the force brought against them, will extend their ravages, and even make an attack upon the township itself; In this fear the people are strengthened by the remembrance of the fact that the blacks are still unpunished for recent atrocities, and that, from this circumstance, they will prosecute with impunity any villanous designs they may have in contemplation.’ (Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, 2 February 1856, p2) "Another Fearful Massacre By The Blacks.— Information has just been brought to Brisbane by a Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event gentleman from Port Curtis, of another dreadful slaughter of seven persons by the blacks at that locality. The particulars of the murders as far as I can gather are as follows:—On the 27th December last, a large party of these savages made a rush upon the men at Mr. Young's station, killing one poor fellow who was employed slaughtering a sheep, and spearing to death two others who attempted to reach a gunyah, wherein was another white man and his wife. These poor unfortunates kept the rascals at bay for some time, but the devils at length tore away a sheet of bark at the back of the gunyah, and speedily dispatched them with their tomahawks. It is reported that the person of the unfortunate woman was treated by the black scoundrels with indignity after her death. Two black fellows' belonging to the station were also speared, making a total of seven murders in the whole! Lieutenant Murray, with his small party of native police, went in pursuit as soon as intelligence reached him of the outrage ; but upon reaching the scene of butchery he found the scoundrels in such force, and so well prepared to receive his attack, that he was compelled to con ne his operations to watching them until he could receive reinforcements. Comment upon this outrage would be super uous; something must be done to protect our frontier, or all Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event the out-stations to the northward of Wide Bay must be abandoned, or be each converted into armed garrisons. We may in a measure attribute these outrages to the false economy of the Government in curtailing, as they did, the e ective force of that useful body of men the native police, they are rendered worse than useless from the smallness of their numbers : and the aboriginals to the northward grow bolder by the successes which have hitherto attended their butcheries, and subsequent escape from detection. The residents at "Gladstone" are, fearful that the blacks will ultimately assemble in overwhelming numbers and rush the township itself —From the Empire Correspondent [The poor blacks'.]" (People's Advocate and New South Wales Vindicator, 2 February 1856, p7). ‘A correspondent of the Free Press, writing from Gayndah, 15th ultimo, gives some further particulars respecting the late outrages by the blacks in that locality. "The unfortunates were in the employ of Mr. William Young, late storekeeper of Gayndah, who, some twelve months ago, went northward to squat, with near 6000 sheep, &c. The rst report we had here of this murderous outrage was, that three white men, one white woman, one black man, and a white child were murdered, and all the sheep stolen or lost. Since Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event then, the report is that only two white men, one white women, and two blacks are murdered, and only 500 sheep lost. However, whichever report may be correct, it is su ciently dreadful to appall the most odious. The promoters of the abolition of the Native Police ought for ever to hold their peace in shame ; for there is not a doubt but that the murderers are either ex-policemen or savages led on by them. Having been driven away by the populace in Wide Bay, they have gone seaward to Port Curtis, and, in its unprotected state, attacked and murdered the rst at hand.’ (Empire 4 February 1856, p2) ‘News had arrived at Moreton Bay, that two white men, one white woman, and two domesticated blacks have been murdered at the station, northward of Gayndah belonging to Mr. W. Young, formerly storekeeper Gayndah, and 500 sheep lost.’ (Empire 21 February 1856, p2) 'THE BLACK MURDERS.— Since our last publication, we learn from the Brisbane papers that the murderous outrages in the Leichhardt district we recorded took place at Mr. Young's station. It appears that a large mob of blacks rushed upon one of the men while engaged in killing a sheep, speared him, and afterwards two other men Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event through the body. Another white man and his wife, who witnessed those murders, then retreated to a gunyah, which, however, a orded them protection for a short time only, as the savages immediately stripped it of its bark and struck down the inmates, not withstanding a most determined resistance, with their clubs and spears. ... The blacks got clear o with a large quantity of stores, and from 600 to 800 sheep, no portion of which has been discovered. It is stated, that Lieutenant Murray, with the miserable remnant of his native police, went in Immediate pursuit, but on coming up with the depredators, deemed it imprudent to attack them, and con ned himself to watching their movements with the view of recovering part of the stolen property.' (North Australian, Ipswich and General Advertiser 29 January 1856, p3) 'Yes; that was John Murray and his black troopers. It was in December, 1855, the natives, who had been allowed to come in about Mount Larcom station, occupied by Mr. Young, made a preconcerted and ruthless attack upon the white people. The whole of the latter were struck down where they stood, and only a little boy, who happened to be away from the station, escaped to tell the tale.'' (Capricornian, 19 December 1885, p25) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event 'IN THE EARLY FIFTIES. INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH MR. JOHN S. BELL. THE OLDEST SETTLER. ... "Were you ever molested by the blacks?" "I was never once disturbed by them. You see we never encouraged them to stay on the place, and they never stayed. But Mr. Young, of Mount Larcombe, was cleared out twice by them—on the rst occasion on the 27th of December, 1855, Young had been into Gladstone to spend Christmas with a friend, and, coming on to Stowe on the 26lth of December, stayed there the night. He was saddling up the next morning to go home when one of his blackboys — one of two that he had brought with him from Gayndah—arrived with the news that a mob of blacks had attacked the station, They were all living in gunyahs on Mount Larcombe in those days; there was not a hut on the place. The story told by the boy was that they had had breakfast and he was out with the sheep when he saw a mob of blacks come down. He had his carbine and he ed, intending to make for Stowe, which was fteen miles away. He got away and crossed the river near Stowe, carrying his carbine over with him. And he must have travelled pretty rapidly because he reached Stowe about ten o'clock in the morning. When Mr Young got the news he was for starting o at once : but I said to him "I do not know what you Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event think: but my idea is that there is not a soul alive on Mount Larcombe. Don't go back alone. If you do at all, get some of the native police to accompany you." He was in bad odour with the native police just then, and would not hear of it. Then I said 'If you'll not do it. I will. Don't go back alone. It will drive you crazy if you nd the place, as I believe you will, a complete wreck and everyone killed. You see he used to allow the blacks a great deal too much liberty. He used to let them go anywhere they liked. He took my advice in this matter and rode back to the police camp, three miles from Gladstone, and saw Mr. Murray, who was in charge. Mr. Murray sent men on to Mount Larcombe with him. I was one of the party. We found all the gunyahs standing; but all the stores and rations — tons of them Mr. Young said— were gone. In fact, the blacks had carried away everything that they were able to carry. They had also driven o the 500 sheep Mr. Young had on the place. They had also killed a white woman, three white men, and a blackboy. The woman and her husband had been on the place only a fortnight; they had come from Maitland. The blackboy that was killed was one of the two Mr. Young had brought from Gayndah, and it was clear that he had fought like a tiger."' (Capricornian 16 October 1909, p9) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event 'There were hundreds of blacks about in those days, and on Christmas Day in 1855 they came down and killed all the people on Mr. Young's station at Mount Larcom. Some of those who were murdered arrived only the day before. They went up the Calliope and got there at night, but not one was alive to see the sunrise.' (Morning Bulletin, 12 July 1913, p9) ‘On New Year's Eve in 1855 the Mount Larcom murder occurred. Wm. Young, the owner of Mount Larcom, had spent his Christmas holidays in Gladstone, and on the return journey stayed at Stowe one night. The next day—New Year's Day—a black boy named Charlie brought the tidings of the Mount Larcom murder to Stowe. Mr. Young was very excited, and wanted to make straight for Mount Larcom on his own. Messrs. Robert and John Bell, however, persuaded him to stay until they sent for the black police in charge of Lieutenant John Murray. The police and a party of civilians including my father, Jas. Boles, R. R. Wear, and Constable James Thibold, went to the scene of the outrage. We found two women and ve men murdered. The bodies were buried, and we then went in pursuit of the blacks. We eventually came across the tribe with about 400 or 500 sheep in their possession. Several of the aboriginals were shot—the exact Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event number will probably never be known—and the remainder escaped.’ (Queenslander 19 September 1914, p29) ‘MOUNT LARCOMBE MURDERS. News reached the Archers, Gracemere, at Christmas, 1855, that all hand at Mount Larcombe Station, about twenty- ve miles from Gladstone, on the Rockhampton-road, had been killed by the blacks, a few days before. There were no newspapers north of Brisbane at that period, and the writer has forgotten all details if any were known except that the owner of the station Mr. Young, was away on a holiday in Gladstone at the time. Apparently the blacks had watched Mr. Young ride away and had known that those at the station were in a manner defenceless. The people at the station consisted of ve, a man and his wife, probably in charge, and three single men. No doubt the blacks stole on them treacherously and slaughtered the whole ve. It was a great shock to all the station people round about, and no doubt prompt action was taken to punish the barbarous murderers.’ (Morning Bulletin 11 August 1924, p14) ‘One very old hardwood building roofed with weather-beaten shingles attracted my attention as here I was informed that at the time of the massacre of all hands Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event at the station by the blacks in 1855 the only woman in the party of six ed pursued by the savages and was overtaken near this building and, like the others, killed. The graves of the ve men and this poor woman are still to be seen not far from the homestead. Mr. Young, the then owner, who had not long before taken up the run, was lucky in being absent at the time in Gladstone celebrating the Christmas holidays or a seventh victim would have been added to the list.’ (Morning Bulletin 4 November 1924, p11) ‘All that remains of the graves of a white woman and four white men who were murdered by the blacks at Mount Larcombe Station at Christmastime, 1855.’ [Photograph] (Capricornian 13 June 1925, p32) 'Murray, accompanied by Young and ve troopers, started the same evening for Mt. Larcom station, arriving on the morning of 27 December. There he found the bodies of three white men, one white woman, and one Aboriginal boy, all of whom evidently had been attacked and murdered on the previous morning. Their names were George Smelt, John Murray, James Foran, Margaret Foran, and Peter Blackboy.' (Skinner 1975:209) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Attack on property - Powell's July? 1855 Attack on "A short time since, or rather we hut at Dry Creek (July? 1855) stock/property should say, about two months ago, a squatter of the name af Powell, whose station is upon Dry Creek, while absent for a few hours from his station, a party of aborigines attacked his hut keeper, and looked him in one part of the hut, while they ransacked the store of all they could lay their hands upon, such as tobacco, slops, and as much our as they could carry." (Sydney Morning Herald, 11 September 1855, p3). Attack on property - Mr 7 1855 Attack on "7. The annexed is a list of all White's house, Maryborough November stock/property depredations and outrages (7 November 1855) committed by the Aborigines during the last two months that have been reported to me. ... Nov 7 Mr Whites house robbed of a quantity of our" (QSL 1855 Letter from Arthur Halloran to Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands 28 December, NSW Colonial Secretary Letters Relating to Moreton Bay and Queensland 1822–1860, Reel A2.35) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Attack on property - Douzer 7 1855 Attack on "7. The annexed is a list of all and Palin's store, December stock/property depredations and outrages Maryborough (7 December committed by the Aborigines 1855) during the last two months that have been reported to me. ... 7 Douzer & Palin's store broken into & robbed" (QSL 1855 Letter from Arthur Halloran to Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands 28 December, NSW Colonial Secretary Letters Relating to Moreton Bay and Queensland 1822–1860, Reel A2.35) Attack on property - A.W. 6 1855 Attack on "Incredible as it may appear, and Melville's house, December stock/property as if to show their utter contempt Maryborough (6 December of us, on the night they left in the 1855) boats in search, the blacks entered the house of Mr. Melville, in this township, and although three parties were sleeping in the room, took amidst them all the tea, sugar, and our in the place, and decamped." (Moreton Bay Courier, 29 December 1855, p2) Attack on stock - sheep at 1855 Attack on Rannes station (1855) stock/property Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Attack on property - Edmund 7 or 8 1855 Attack on "4. ... and since the murders ... Mr Uhr's garden, Maryborough (7 December stock/property Uhr’s house & garden & my own or 8 December 1855) garden have been also[?] robbed" (QSA2969645 1855 Letter from Arthur Halloran to Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands 13 December, NSW Colonial Secretary Letters Relating to Moreton Bay and Queensland 1822–1860, Reel A2.34) "On the following night they visited Mr. Uhr's establishment, clearing out his safe, and likewise his garden of all the vegetable productions growing therein." (Moreton Bay Courier 29 December 1855, p2) Attack on property - Arthur 9 1855 Attack on "... since the murders ... Mr Uhr’s Halloran's garden, Tinana (9 December stock/property house & garden & my own garden December, 1855) have been also[?] robbed" (QSA2969645 1855 Letter from Arthur Halloran to Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands 13 December, NSW Colonial Secretary Letters Relating to Moreton Bay and Queensland 1822–1860, Reel A2.34) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Attack on property - Messrs 8 1855 Attack on "4. In addition to these murders, Herbert's dray, Maryborough December stock/property ... since the murders ... a dray (8 December 1855) belonging to the Messrs Herbert, whilst camped in the Town on the night of the 8th Inst, was plundered of eight bags of sugar, and two bags of our." (QSA2969645 1855 Letter from Arthur Halloran to Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands 13 December, NSW Colonial Secretary Letters Relating to Moreton Bay and Queensland 1822–1860, Reel A2.34) "The following night a dray, encamped at this township, was robbed of eight bags of sugar, three of our, besides several minor matters." (Moreton Bay Courier, 29 December 1855, p2) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Attack on Europeans/others - Before 13 1855 Attack on "Further—a few days previous to unnamed sawyers, Six Mile December Europeans/others the above, two men sawing about Ck, Maryborough (before 13 six miles from Maryborough, at a December 1855) place known as the "Six Mile Creek” were attacked. The man at the top of the pit received a blow and bolted; his mate got up to see the cause, and received a dangerous spear wound, and there are great doubts as to his recovery. So much for the natives up here." (Moreton Bay Courier 29 December 1855, p2) "4. In addition to these murders, within the last few days, two men have been speared & one knocked down with a large stone & severely injured" (QSA2969645 1855 Letter from Arthur Halloran to Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands 13 December, NSW Colonial Secretary Letters Relating to Moreton Bay and Queensland 1822–1860, Reel A2.34) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Attack on stock - Whiteside c19 1855 Attack on "About a week or ten days ago, station, Pine River (c19 September stock/property intelligence reached town that the September 1855) blacks were spearing cattle on the run of Mrs. GRIFFIN, at Whitesides, on the Pine River. As is usual in such cases, the depredators were not contented with slaughtering a beast for their own use. They had constructed a system of barricades in the dry bed of a creek, into which they drove the cattle, spearing them, and leaving the remainder of the carcases to rot, after they had helped themselves to what meat they wanted. In order to check this wanton destruction of property, the o cer of the Native Police proceeded at once to the spot, with his small detachment; but, not having succeeded in making any captures, he returned to Brisbane, to await a more favourable occasion." (Moreton Bay Courier 29 September 1855, p2) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Attack on Aboriginal people - After 27 1855 Attack on 'The place has a history, for it is Sneaker Creek, near Mount December Aboriginal people here that thirty or forty years ago Larcomb (after 27 December the aborigines who had been 1855) marauding in the pastures below made their last stand, and were shot down by their pursuers. The position seems strong enough to enable the party in possession to hold it easily against an advancing foe, but spears and boomerangs after all could do little against the carbines of the relentless trackers, and bleached skulls and bones still bear evidence that the story is more than legendary.' (Morning Bulletin 9 December 1893, p5) '... others were shot down elsewhere, notably near Sneaker's Creek, on the slopes of Mount Larcombe.' (Capricornian 5 September 1925, p60) Possible attack on Aboriginal After 27 1855 Attack on ‘Rosebank has a frontage to the people - Wilmot Lagoon, near December Aboriginal people main Rockhampton – Gladstone Mount Larcomb (after 27 road of four and a-half miles, December 1855) running from about a mile out of Mount Larcom township right to Mount Larcombe Creek, to which it has a frontage of a mile, besides which there is a frontage to another good water supply, namely, Wilmot Lagoon, which, even in the disastrous drought of 1902, had 23 ft. of water on its deepest part. It was here, on the bank of this ne lagoon bounding the property, that a large number of the black murderers of the unfortunate Mount Larcombe Station folk were shot down on Christmas Day, 1855, whilst Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event getting ready for a barbaric feast of mutton roasted in the wool from a large number of the squatter's sheep which had been thrown into huge bon res made for the purpose.’ (Capricornian 19 September 1925, p59). 'A big party was soon organised to go out and bury the victims and punish the o enders. It included Captain O'Connell, Lieutenant John Murray, Orderly- sergeant Boles (Mr. Bole's father), Sergeant Horrigan, and Constables Donald M'Donald, Thribble. and several other constables besides a white sergeant of the Native Police and about a dozen black troopers and some civilians. ... One party was easily followed, as it had taken with it a ock of sheep, and besides leaving a broad trail, could only advance slowly. It was overtaken about four miles away, on the bank of a big lagoon afterwards known as Wilmot Lagoon, called after Mr. Wilmot, one of the very early hotelkeepers of Gladstone, who had a big ock of sheep depasturing close to it. The blacks were very busily engaged in preparing for a huge banquet, the chief item of which was to be roast mutton, for they had made a number of very large bon res into which they had cast a great many sheep, wool and all. There was no di culty in surrounding the revellers, and not many escaped from the weapons of the avengers. Over 100 blacks Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event paid the penalty out of this contingent, and others were shot down elsewhere, notably near Sneaker's Creek, on the slopes of Mount Larcombe.' (Capricornian 5 September 1925, p60) Attack on Aboriginal people - 28? 1855 Attack on 'When the murderous blacks Nankin Creek, or December Aboriginal people retreated, they made for the Broadmount/Broadmeadows, other side of the river. They across the Fitzroy beyond crossed the Fitzroy at Archer's Archer's Crossing (28? Crossing, and camped at Nankin December 1855) creek. Murray and his troopers came on to Gracemere, and after resting there they got the cutter, and went down the river at night. Next morning, at daybreak, they had the camp at Nankin Creek surrounded, and, as soon as it was light, they gave the tribe a terrible punishment. It was in retaliation for that a air the blacks attacked the camp at the Nine-Mile Waterhole' (Capricornian, 19 December 1885, p25) 'IN THE EARLY FIFTIES. INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH MR. JOHN S. BELL. THE OLDEST SETTLER. ... We could not see a sign of a blackfellow about the place [Mt Larcomb]. However, we went in search. We soon picked up their tracks, and then found that they had cut a lane through the scrub to drive the sheep in, intending, no doubt, to keep them, killing them as they wanted food. We followed the lane along, and, after a ride of about three miles, came on the sheep in a nice little open Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event plain in the centre of the scrub where they had plenty of feed and an ample supply of water. The blacks saw us coming and scattered into the scrub like rabbits. We did not have any trouble with them. We took the sheep and drove them back to the station. They went through the lane single le, like soldiers and they did not, strange to say, eat a blade of grass until they got clear of the scrub. Before we started the sheep out of the plain Mr. Murray placed two troopers near the opening of the lane thinking the blacks might follow us, and sure enough, three niggers came out. One of the troopers red, going at full gallop, and brought down this man; but the fellow got away, being shot only on the third nger of the right hand. We got word of him four years afterwards on the Callide. He had two gins with him — one watching while the other slept: but the police got him at daylight and shot him like a crow. And why shouldn't they? Any man who had seen the way the poor woman at Mount Larcombe was knocked about would have sworn vengeance on the blacks as long as he lived. Before I nish telling you about the rst attack on Mount Larcombe let me say that Mr Young got back all his sheep except about twenty or thirty, and he recovered the skins of these twenty or thirty."' (Capricornian 16 October 1909, p9) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event MASSACRE ON STATION.. "On Christmas Day, 1855, the blacks killed all the people on Young's station. Mount Larcombe, near Gladstone. Mr. Young was in Gladstone at the time. Mr. John Murray, who was in charge of the native police at Gladstone, followed the blacks up here, and procuring the loan of our boat, rowed across the river after them, and gave them a good dressing. In revenge for this the Blacks attacked Mr. Elliott's camp when it was full moon in January, 1856, and killed one man and wounded. Mr. Elliott and two of the men.' (Morning Bulletin, 25 August 1931, p2, Our early days, naming Rockhampton, settling at Gracemere [recollections of Charles Archer]) 'Murray started on 30 December to recover the sheep. He came up with a party of Aborigines in a dense scrub about fteen miles from Young's and succeeded in retaking ve hundred sheep together with a large quantity of blankets and clothing. He delivered the sheep to Young and took a few hours' rest. He then started with ve troopers and District Constable Horrigan in the direction the Aborigines had taken. His party came up with the Aborigines twice, the rst time about thirty miles from the station and the second time beyond the FitzRoy River. Murray's party had crossed the FitzRoy River by the Elida which Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Charles Archer had placed at their disposal. Accompanying Murray across the river was the chief or principal ghting man called Harold of a tribe which Charles Archer had allowed to remain encamped close to his cottage at Gracemere. Harold had given truthful and valuable information to Murray concerning the murders at Young's Mt. Larcom station which was situated about forty miles from Gracemere. Harold with a few of his ghting men led the police to the camping ground of the murderers. In the ght which ensued Harold was active in assisting the police. During the two collisions as reported by Murray, eleven of the Aborigines who had participated in the murders at Young's were shot by the police and three others were severely if not mortally wounded.' (Skinner 1975:210) ‘On New Year's Eve in 1855 the Mount Larcom murder occurred. Wm. Young, the owner of Mount Larcom, had spent his Christmas holidays in Gladstone, and on the return journey stayed at Stowe one night. The next day—New Year's Day—a black boy named Charlie brought the tidings of the Mount Larcom murder to Stowe. Mr. Young was very excited, and wanted to make straight for Mount Larcom on his own. Messrs. Robert and John Bell, however, persuaded him to stay until they sent for the black police Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event in charge of Lieutenant John Murray. The police and a party of civilians including my father, Jas. Boles, R. R. Wear, and Constable James Thibold, went to the scene of the outrage. We found two women and ve men murdered. The bodies were buried, and we then went in pursuit of the blacks. We eventually came across the tribe with about 400 or 500 sheep in their possession. Several of the aboriginals were shot—the exact number will probably never be known—and the remainder escaped.’ (Queenslander 19 September 1914, p29) Attack on NMP detachment - 23 1855 Attack on NMP 'MORTON [sic] BAY [FROM OUR Combo James, Colin and September detachment OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Hamlet at Rannes station, Intelligence has been received by opposite side of the creek to the overland mail from Gayndah the headstation (23 of a murderous attack having September 1855) lately been made by the blacks upon the native police guard, at the Rannes station, in the Port Curtis (or Leichhardt) District. The details of the outrage have not yet been communicated; the following particulars are all that is at present known, being the substance of a letter received by Mr. Leith Hay from a party who had been informed by a witness of the a ray. It appears that the aborigines in the neighbourhood of the Rannes station, belonging to Messrs. Leith Hay, surprised the native police camp in the night, and so violently assaulted them with a series of simultaneous blows as to kill three on the spot, and to wound Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event two others, one of whom died on the following day; and the other, who managed to crawl to the nearest station (a few hundred yards from the spot) was not expected to live, when the messenger left. These ve constitute the entire guard, and a messenger was at once sent for assistance to the head quarters of the native police at Traylan; the shearers, who had abandoned their work through fright, having in the mean time to mount patrol. The blacks had been for a considerable time gathering round the station, which is situated about ninety miles to the west of Port Curtis, and had been committing continual depredations on the ocks. It is believed that they had, by some means or other, been informed of the reduction which took place in the native police some three or four months since, and had calculated that they could easily overpower the guard and thereby, continue their depredations unmolested. No provocation seems to have instigated this act of brutal barbarity; it is, on the contrary, stated that these aborigines, who belong to one of the most ferocious tribes, had been treated with kindness by the people on the station. There can be no doubt that the savages would follow up their outrage by possessing themselves of the ocks, unless there was a su cient force to prevent them. Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event The locality of this outrage may be considered one of the frontiers of civilisation, and the enterprising pioneers naturally expect that the Government should a ord them full protection against savage violence in the pursuit of an occupation to which it has given its sanction.' (Empire, 15 October 1855, p5) "MORETON BAY. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Brisbane. October 31. 1855. The accounts received within the last few days from the Leichhardt District, con rm the former statements of the murderous attacks made upon the native police guard, on one of the frontier sheep stations by a tribe of ferocious aborigines. The later advices, however, state that no further outrages have been committed by the blacks, but who still remain in the locality, and may be watching for another opportunity of savage violence. Four out of the ve constituting the native force fell victims to the vengeance of their countrymen ; the fth was wounded, but though he was still lingering when the letter was written, the injury was of such a nature as to preclude hope of recovery. Four nativa troopers have been sent in the place of those murdered, but two of them being raw recruits, it is feared they will not be able to o er much assistance in case of danger. The operations of the station have been renewed." Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event (Empire, 5 November 1855, p5). 'For instance, at Rannes, the station of the Messrs. Hay, in the Leichhardt district, a slaughter took place which alone was su cient to rouse the indignation of the Northeners. One day in September the blacks gathered in great numbers and intimidated the shepherds. Another mob attacked ve native troopers who were encamped about 200 yards from the head station. Two were killed on the spot, two died the following morning, and the other a day or two later.' (Queenslander, 10 December 1892, p1130) 'We returned by the same track, and were not altogether astonished on nearing Rawbelle at being overtaken by a messenger from Rannes, who gave us the bad news that the native police had been attacked … night Rannes, and ve of the six troopers killed, the sixth being desperately wounded. It was supposed that the native troopers had been decoyed to their fate by some of the black gins. Marshall, if I recollect right, was the inspector, and no doubt had been saved by his camping at the head station. This slaughter created a great stir in the newly-formed district, and other police, then sent for, no doubt made the wild blacks pay for it. But the cause was a want of management, as the blacks had been unwisely Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event employed, and thereby got to know the daily habits of both station hands and police, which they had unfortunately turned to advantage. I shall have occasion later on to allude to some other massacres by blacks which, like this one, denoted the folly of not keeping the wild blacks at arm's length for some years, at any rate, after the rst settlement of the country.' (De Satge 1901:57-58). 'Soon after our arrival at Camboon [in 1855] the blacks attacked the native police camp at Rannes, killing a trooper and wounding several others severely. This happened when the troopers were sleeping at night. The lieutenant (Mr. H. Walker) was sleeping at the station over the creek and so escaped.' (Capricornian 10 April 1909, p41) 'There were twelve native troopers stationed at Rannes under Sergeant Walker at the time of the party's arrival. Mr. Phillipi remained on Rannes for some time, occupying a hut on the left bank of the Don, near where the troopers were camped. On Christmas Eve of that year Sergeant Walker decided that his troopers should celebrate Yuletide, and, with a couple of bottles of liquor, the men soon made themselves quite happy. About two or three o'clock in the afternoon a black gin came and told them that the Dawson blacks were coming to kill them. The Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event troopers took no notice of the threat, and about one o'clock on Christmas morning three of the troopers were done to death and two others crippled, while all their carbines and some of their accoutrements were thrown into the river. That the blacks had no feeling against the white men was evidenced by the fact that a shepherd named "Happy Tom,'' who was in a hut close by, was not interfered with. Neither were those at the station that night, and who included Mr. W. H. Wiseman, the Crown Land Commissioner.' (Morning Bulletin, 23 November 1912, p9) 'Up at Rannes on one night they killed twelve native police. It was shearing time, and there were blackfellows all about. The native police ??? there, and some trouble arose between them and the wild blacks over their womenfolk. About two or three hundred yards from where the men were murdered there was a camp of seventeen white men; but by the time there was not a wild black to be seen anywhere. Out at Banana they could only get Chinamen to do the shepherding in those days, and on one occasion, he remembered the blacks killed the police there as well as seven Chinamen, and took away a thousand sheep. Then at another time only a few miles from the station they killed seven Germans.' (Capricornian, 19 July 1913, p5) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event 'At top: 55/5152 Police Letter forwarding following statements: 1 On morning of 23rd September last Blacks numbering about 200 ghting men surprised & attacked Native Police stationed here, while asleep, murdering two of them & severely wounding the rest ... 4 Blacks by whom deed was perpetrated from districts of Burnett, Upper Dawson, & Port Curtis, aided by large tribes from Northward & Westward where extremely numerous' (Letter from Leith Hay and Holt to Private Secretary Govt House 17 October 1855, Letters relating to Moreton Bay & Queensland: A2 series – Reel A2.34) Event name Day and Year Nature of Description Tools month event Attack on Europeans/others - October? 1855 Attack on 'A landing was subsequently crew of the Reindeer, Cape Europeans/others made about Cape Grafton, a few Grafton (October?1855) miles to the north of where the shipwrecked passengers by the brig Maria got ashore about seventeen years later. The whole party went on shore, and were met by a number of blacks, but nothing to eat or drink could be obtained. Two of the crew said they were going with the blacks and would gradually work their way south. The captain warned them of their danger, and told them to be back at a certain time, or they would be left behind. The boat was got a oat soon after, and Powell, looking through a glass along the shore, saw some distance o that the blacks had attacked the two men, who were running into the sea to get away. Several men with muskets went to the rescue of their shipmates, and by ring, frightened the blacks away. The natives had attacked the men because they would not give up their clothes, just as Mr. Ingham was attacked years later. The men had been battered about a good deal, but were not seriously injured, and were glad enough to get back to the overloaded boat.' (Capricornian, 5 January 1907, p45 )