[Editor: These items, regarding Aborigines attacking settlers, are extracts from the “Country post” section published in The Hobart Town Courier (Hobart Town, Tas.), 1 November 1828.]
Country post.
Oatlands, 28th Oct. 1828. — A Coroner’s Inquest was held on the 24th instant, on the body of John Langford, the boy lately killed in Dysart parish, Green Ponds by the black natives. The verdict returned was similar to that brought in on Ann Geary and Alicia Gough, recently murdered at the Big Lagoon, Oatlands.
It appears by the evidence given before the Coroner, that the deceased boy had received several spear wounds in the groin, in the neck and the right arm. The spear which had caused the wound in the arm must have been thrown with great force, for it very nearly penetrated through the arm and broke the bone.
On the arrival of Dr. Gorringe, the boy was found not quite dead, but totally insensible, and continued in that state till he expired the following morning.
Mrs. Langford received a spear wound in her breast, and her little daughter a severe one in her neck.
It is very probable that the savage ferocity of the natives would have speedily accomplished the murder of the whole family, had not a man of the name of Michael Hanlow been at work on Langford’s land, and happily heard the shrieks of the woman and children. On his appearance the blacks made off.
As usual, the invaders took with them what blankets they could find, with some flour, bread and potatoes; and that they did not carry away other articles, must be ascribed to the sudden appearance of Hanlow.
Mrs. Langford’s fortitude deserves the highest praise, for although she was closely pursued by the blacks, and herself received a wound, she possessed sufficient presence of mind to extricate the spear from the neck of her daughter, and three spears from her little boy.
Immediately after the outrageous proceeding was made known in the neighbouring places, Zachariah Chaffey, a free man, native born, and a sawyer by trade, who is in the employ of Mrs. Ransom, with some more men, went in pursuit of the natives. Some of them fell in about 11 o’clock at night with a tribe near Cockatoo’s Valley. They instantly fled, and left behind them five blankets, some knives, blades of sheep shears, dampers, flour and potatoes, which were secured. A number of spears and waddies were also taken, some of the former with marks of blood on them. The most remarkable circumstance is, that the party found several glass bottles full of water with strings tied round their necks.
Zachariah Chaffey did not appear at the Inquest until the verdict was returned, and then he deposed to the above before the Police Magistrate, with the additional curious fact, that the blacks are accompanied by a white man of the name of Green, who was formerly a fellow-servant of Chaffey’s father, in the service of Mr. Edward Lord. Chaffey had no doubt that Green was the man he had seen with the natives, but he declined swearing positively to him. The man was blackened in the face. His only article of dress was a striped shirt, below which his white legs were plainly seen. Zachariah Chaffey swore positively that he was a white man, for he approached close to the horde the next morning.
Mrs. Gough, who has been mentioned in the last week’s Courier as one of the unfortunate victims that were wounded near the Big Lagoon is not likely to survive the effects of her wounds. Dr. Hudspeth has considerable doubts of her recovery.
The most vigorous measures are now adopted here to secure the quiet and safety of the inhabitants against the attacks of the natives. Directions have been despatched to the Chief District, Division, Field Police, and Special Constables, requiring them to refer to the Government Proclamation of the 15th of April last, and to act up with vigour and vigilance to the various clauses contained in the Proclamation, and all other aid and assistance which may be deemed necessary will be granted.
We are greatly in hope that by acting up to the letter and spirit of this Proclamation, the forcible expulsion of the natives from this District may be effected.
Chaffey’s party were close to the natives the morning after the murder at Langford’s, and saw the white legs of the disguised man most distinctly.
28th Oct. — I regret to add that Dr. Hudspeth has just informed me that poor Mrs. Gough, who was speared by the natives at the Big Lagoon, died of her wounds this morning.
Bothwell, 28th Oct. 1828. — On Friday the party of natives, supposed to be the same that murdered Langford’s child, attacked two men belonging to Mr. McNeilly of Abyssinia Marsh within 50 yards of the house, one of whom they speared in the thigh, but he is recovering.
Next day the same party attacked Mr. Synnott’s stock hut at the River Ouse, and speared an assigned servant of his in the bowels.
They also made their appearance at Captain Wood’s hut at Abyssinia, but the soldiers prevented them doing any mischief, although they did not fire on them.
Source:
The Hobart Town Courier (Hobart Town, Tas.), 1 November 1828, p. 2
Also published in:
Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (Sydney, NSW), 24 November 1828, p. 3 [the text up to “will be granted” was published]
Editor’s notes:
assigned servant = (also known as an “assignee”) a convict who was assigned or allotted to a free settler, to work as a servant
expired = a euphemism for “died”
River Ouse = A river in central Tasmania
See: 1) “Map of River Ouse, TAS”, Bonzle.com
2) “River Ouse, State of Tasmania, Australia”, Mindat.org
See also: “Ouse, Tasmania”, Wikipedia
waddies = [see: “waddy”]
waddy = a wooden club used by Australian Aborigines (also known as a “nulla nulla”) (plural: “waddies”)
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs. The paragraphs of different subject matter have been separated by the insertion of rows of asterisks (* * * * * * *) which did not appear in the original.]
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