Saturday, April 14, 2012

Black Creek News - 1843


The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser Saturday 11 February 1843

On Saturday morning last, between eight and nine o'clock, two aboriginals called at an out station of Mr. R. Scott's, of Glendon, about seven miles from the house, and enquired for the shepherd ; on being told by the watchman that he was after the sheep on the mountain, they asked the watchman whether he came to the colony an immigrant, or a prisoner, and when he replied that he came as a prisoner they said it was well for him, as prisoners were obliged to come here against their will, but the immigrants came of their own accord, to rob the black man of his land and gave him no food, and that they would pay them (the immigrants) off for it.

They then took whatever they could carry off in the hut; and said they would have the women who were there. Whilst the two black fellows were talking to the watchman the women made their escape, out of the back of the hut and ran towards the bush to conceal themselves; each of the women having an infant in her arms. When the blacks missed them they went in pursuit, and soon overtook one of the women, and were going to spear her, when she cried out, "There are two horsemen coming after some cattle,” which just then appeared insight.

The blacks stopped to look, and the woman fortunately escaped to the mountain. They soon afterwards came up with the other woman, whose name is Keoghue, and who had a child with her about three months old, and gave her several blows with a waddy, which left two deep wounds on her head and one on the neck. She fell senseless to the ground, and they mangled in a dreadful manner her child and a boy about nine years old named Cavanagh, who happened to be at the station on a visit for a few days. Their mangled remains were interred at Black Creek on the following day.

The poor woman was conveyed to Glendon, where every attention has been paid her by Dr. Glennie, and she now appears to be in a fair way of recovering from the murderous attack.
The blacks, after this deed of blood, examined the mountain in every direction in search of the shepherd, who heard them cooeying for him not a hundred yards off, and who knew nothing of what had happened.

One of the murderers is supposed to be the same who killed Mulcahey's children some time ago. The Glendon tribes are very indignant at the shocking affair, and are preparing to go in pursuit of these bloodthirsty savages; and we sincerely hope that we shall before long hear that the villians have been captured.

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