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The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843-1893) (about)
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Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article710136
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BRUTAL MURDERS AND OTHER
OUTRAGES BY THE BLACKS AT
WIDE BAY.
(From a correspondent of the Empire.)
It ia with reelings of pain and indignation that I have to record two diabolical murder« committed in this district, on the persons of Mr. George Furber, and his «on-in-law, Mr. Joieph Wilowhurst, under the following cir
cumstances. They were engaged cutting timber about twelve miles distant from here,
at u place called Tenanna Creek ; in the - party with them, though woiking sepa- rately, were two sawyers, named Crudden and Boldery. On Wednesday, the 5th hist., the two last named, on going to the tent to their dinner, us usual, and finding that Fur- ber 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 tbe directi-m where they had been working, and it would appear that they had been decoyed by the blacks to some distance, on the pretext of shewing thetn some large timber.
On reaching the spot they were horrified to find the bodies of both horribly mangled ; Furber'« 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 enquiry, were consigned to their untimely grave, amidst the general sympathy ol the whole of the inhabitant«. Mr. Furber was one of the first pioneers in this district, and had just commenced a large clearing on the opposite side of the river, und in fact was procuring the timber for building his house when this occurred. Temperate, active, and intelligent, he was just the material for a new settlement, and his life to the district was worth that of a legion of his brutal usSHSsins. He will be well known to most of the Hunter River people, having been one of the earliest inhabitants of Maitland. Mr. Wilmshurst had scarcely been two months in the district, having only arrived here per first trip of the Yarra Yarra, from the Hunter. He was much respected, and a young wife and child are lett unprotected through this most melancholy affair. The cnuse of the murders may perhaps be traced to the fact of Mr. Furber'« tent, in the very township, a few weeks since being robbed by the blacks. Having entered in the dead of the night, while Mr. Furber and his man were soundly sleeping, they took therefrom a bag of flour, sugar, &c, and then taking Mr. Furber's boat they crossed the river, and took the Articles to their camp.
As soon as Mr. Furber woke, at daylight, missing his property, with the assistance of his son-in-law be tracked them to their camp, and after pursuing them for a conside- rable distance, he recovered most of his lost property, and there can be but little doubt that because he would not tamely submit to be robbed that himself and fellow sufferer have been the victims. Two partie« have gone out in quest of the murderers, but have
not returned.
A week or two since, two sawyers, named M'Carty and Dowdell, in the employ of A B. Spark, Esq., of Sydney, were engaged at their work ; M'Carty who was on the top was suddenly knocked off by a great stone which struck him on the back, and Dowdell, who rushed from the pit, was speared in the back, and is still unable to work-they, however, made their escape before any further damage was done personally. The blacks then robbed the place of everything available. Another instance is that of a woman who, in the absence of the people from the hut where she was staying, in the outskirts of the township, was attacked by the blacks, thrown down, her mouth filled with dirt, and there is no knowing to what extremes they might have gone, had not the screams of a child who was about the place, aroused the attention of u man named Small, who rushed to the rescue, but being seen by the cowardly ruffians, they immediately de- camped, fortunately without doing any mischief. Another old man, named Sundy M'Pherson; in the employ of Mr. Hugh Graham, a short time since was attacked, his place robbed, and himself violently nssaulted and left in a helpless state-having crammed his mouth with sheep dung, unable to help himself, he would assuredly have lost his life, but for being discovered and relieved. As for the robberies of every grade, from the dray oft times, even vigilantly watched-the humble hut, or more strongly built store, down chimneys, and through apertures deemed too small for any possible purposes of ingress or egrcs», are all alike to them ; and should their almost noiseless movements disturb your vigils, it is next to impossible to ii et a shot at the nimble footed sable
scoundrels.
Since writing the above, the parlies men- tioned as having gone in quest of the mur- derers have returned, I regret to suy, with indifferent success, as the white man stands but little chance with his wily foe amid the thickets and scrubs of this locality. Incre- dible as it may appear, and as if to show their utter contempt of us, on the night the party left in the boats in search, the black9 entered the house of Mr. Melville, in this township, and although three parlies were sleeping in the room, took from amidst them all the tea, sugar, and flour in the place, and decamped. On the following night they visited Mr. Uhr'« establishment, clearing out his safe, and likewise his garden of all the vegetable productions growing therein. The following night a druy, encamped nt this township, was robbed of eight bags of sugar, three of flour, besides several minor mullers.
Now, sir, these things have been done while the whole of our community has been on the qui vive for the purpose of detecting the scoundrels; but acting on the principle of " no catchee no havee," they deemed themselves perfectly safe, and which the re- sult indeed proved-the only force that can compete with them in strategy is the native police, and which, under judicious manage- ment might be made a most effective one. There are several matters which I might di- late upon, but having trespassed so much on your space, in consequence (to us) of the importance of the subject of this commu cation, and apologising for the same.
Captain Hoodie's Gunfire Subscription. To the Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald Sir-May I trouble you to express, throngh yonr columns, the sincere satisfaction 1 felt in being presented with a purse of money, col- lected from the inhabitants of Sydney by 6d. subscriptions, this morning. I know not how I nava deserved this especial mark of their favour, but I assure you it is at all times a great satisfaction to me to announce good news, and if I do some times arouse the good citizens of Sydney from their slumbers, by the noise of my reports, I assure them, I will never do so unless I have something pleasing to communi- cate, and then they will pardon this trifling infraction of the law. I am, Sir, yours &o, R. T. Moodie. City of Sydney, Deoember 12,
1855 -Herald.
Albury.-b'rora all we can hear the cereal gathering fully or more than equals previons years, and in some instances exceeds in pro- ductiveness anything ever seen in this distriot Competent judges have estimated the yield this year at 40,0.00 bushels-should such happily be the case, we shall have enough corn and to spare, and instead of sending our money into Egypt to buy, we shall be in a position to supply our less fortunate neighbours.-Herald Correspondent.
Gold.-By the Yarra Yarra steamship, which arrived from Melbourne to-day, 2301 £ ounces of gold dust have been received. Whilst the price of gold at Melbourne continues to be quoted at £3 15s. per ounce, and the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint is giving £4 to £4 3s. per ounce (as we had occasion, yesterday, to draw attention to), it is not surprising that the weekly receipts at the Mint of gold from the Victoria district are now averaging 12,000 ounces.-Herald. Dec.
17.
Floor at Adelaide.-We have been fa- voured by a Sydney house with the follow- ing extract from a letter received (rom their constituents at Adelaide. The letter bears date the lilli December, 1855:-"In handing the enclosed duplicate, we take the opportunity to state that as the new crop come« to market, the wheat and flour are falling day by day. Tbe former i« very un
steady to-day, at 9s. to 9s. 6d. ; while fine flour of best brands is offered by the millers , for delivery to-day, at £33, or for delivery on the 15th at £30. Our surplus stock of flour for export will be 20,000 to 25,000 tons." -Empire, Dec. 19.
Mr. Wentworth.-A letter received by the Red Jacket from a gentleman, a well known colonist, who met with Mr. Went- worth at the Pari« Exhibition, gives some particulars of the late member fur Sydney which will be interesting to that gentleman's friends. Mr. Wentworth appeared to be in excellent health, and looked remarkably well. He said he had no intention of
returning to the colony for «even or eight yeurs to come, even if he ever returned. In n somewhat lengthy conversation on Austra- lian politics, Mr. Wentworth «aid the Con- stitution Act as it had been mutilated in England was not his constitution at all, and he was not sanguine of its working well. Empire, Dec. 19
Accidental Drowning.-An inquest wes held yesterday before the coroner, at Mr. Parkinson's, the Wellington Inn, George street south, touching the death of a married man named George Wells, aged about 43 years. It appeared from the evidence that he was steward on board the Breadalbane, steamer, now lying at Napier's, formerly Struth's Wharf. On Saturday night last, shortly after ten o'clock, he lett the vessel, intending to proceed to a neighbouring public house, to procure some beer, aud was never afterwards seen alive. While crossing the plank, he missed his footing, and in the tall struck against an iron holt, and was drowned. On the following morning (Sun ¡ day) his body was found floating under the ! bows of the vessel, and was removed by the
police to the Infirmary. He was a mun of temperate habits, and was much respected. Verdict «. Accidental drowning "-Herald,
Dec. l8.
Highway Robbery. - Last Thursday week, a man named C. Tunny, who was returning with his wife and family from the Ovens digging«, encamped for the night near Bogalong. He was bailed up by two mounted robbers, who robbed him of money in bank notes to the amount of £350. One £50 note can be identified-it is No. 22,675. One man is known by the soubriquet of " Old Jack :" be lived some time ago al Mr. Davis'», of Yass Plains ; he is about 5 feet 5 inches in height, had a black eye, and wa« mounted on a grey mare, branded HT. The other man's name is not known; he is about 5 feet 8inches in stature, fresh complexioned,
and stated that he is a stonemason. He rode a chesnut horse, with white face, and one hind fetlock white, also branded HT. Tunny ha« offered a reward of £40 for the ap- prehension of the two meo. - Goulburn Herald, Dec. 15.
Wollongong.-The Weather. - Since our last publication up to Thursday evening the weather was everything that the most fastidious farmer could wish for harvest pur- poses. It began to rain at that time, and continued, with trifling intermissions, until Saturday morning, and a few showers fell throughout that day. Should the rain keep up, nothing can hinder the harvest opera- tions being brought to a satisfactory close. The southerly mail, which was due at half
| past ten on Saturday, owing to ths flooded | state of the rivers in that direction did not
arrive till noon yesterday.-Illawarra Mer- cury, Dec. 17.
Shoalhaven.-Since our last the weather has been dry and warm, consequently the wheat crop has ripened fast, and reaping has very generally commenced ; in many parts of the river indeed reaping has been finished. The wheat crop this year is good, and an unusually large quantity of land was sown with that necessary article. The excessive heat of the present weather is almost hurt- ful to the potato crop, being very apt to generate a fly which iii many cases has al- ready proved most destructive -Illawarra Mercury, Dec. 17.
Kiama. - The Weather. - During the early part of this week the weather was serene and warm ; but to-day, and part of yesterday, there was a continuous mild rain, which will, while it lasts, prevent the ope- ration of the sickle. - Illawarra Mercury,
Dec. 17.
Goulburn. - The Weather and the Crops.-Last Thursday was a remarkably sultry day, and towards evening the thunder clouds began to mingle in masses, and a slight fall of rain took place, while the re- verberations of the distant thunder proved that a storm was venting its fury at a short distance from Goulburn. In fact, a few miles from the township, on the Bungonia road, a heavy storm of thunder, lightning, aud rain occurred. On last Monday, a tremendous storm of thunder, lightning, and great hail broke over the vicinity of Bungonia, and did great damage to the crops in some places. We regret to hear that Dr. Strang's wheat crop, which promised a rich harvest, was literally cut to pieces by the hail. The sky is still overcast, and at this moment (Friday) the appearances of the clouds prognosticate a succession of wet and stormy weather.
Hail Storm.-We regret to learn that Mr. Joseph West, whose splendid crop of wheat we mentioned in our last issue, has suffered considerably by a hail storm on Mond H y ulternoon last, which took a portion of Macquarie Plains, the Dirty Swamp, and Fish River in its course. Report variously estimates the amount of damage-some set- ting down the loss as high as 10 bushels to the acre. We hope however the latter state- ment is an exaggerated one.- Bathurst Free Free Pressf Dec. 15.
Election Meeting in Goulburn.-The Goulburn papers of Saturday last report fully the proceedings of au election meeting, held there on Munday, the 10th, to enable Mr. Murray to nddress the electors of the Southern Boroughs. Mr. Murray princi- pally devoted himself in his speech to re- moving misconceptions as to his opinion«. As to the new Constitution he bad always opposed the nominee element, but would prefer giving it a fair trial now it was the law of the land before making necessary alteration«. On the lund question he avowed himself favorable to revised regulations throwing open the land to actual settlers ; and would if required willingly give up bis own pre-emptive rights ; the squatting leases he held could not now be repudiated, but at the termination of each lease the land com- prised in it might be re-rented, or thrown open for sale, as appeared best at the time.