PALMER RIVER GOLDFIELDS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 657, 20 November 1874, Page 3

PALMER RIVER GOLDFIELDS.

—o— The Palmer correspondent of the Cooktown O-.nrier gives the following interesting particulars of that field : It would almost appear that the very enterprising merchants of Cooktown had conspired together to draw the entire digging population of tho Palmer to the port, by stopping the suppl’es ; otherwise why have not arrangements been made for adequately provisioning these diggings? Paris was scarcely worse off during the latter days of the siege than the Palmer is at the present moment, except in the matterof beef, which, at Is a pound, is the only cheap thing we have on the diggings, and the only thing that keeps body and soul together. Flour (when obtainable) is per lb, 3s 6d to 4s ; damper (to travellers) per lb, 4s ; beef. Is ; tea, fis ; sugar, 3s 9d ; tobacco, 12s ; rice, 4s ; English potatoes, per lb, 3s (on Stony Creek, 4s fid per lb) pickles, per bottle, 4s ; jams, per tin, 3s Cd ; blucher boots (aocording to quantity on diggings), 25s to 45s per pair ; brandy, per bottle, 20s ; porter, 10s ; vinegar, 20s ; salt, per lb, 3s : candles, per ib, 5s ; apples, per lb. 3s 9d ; preserved potatoes, per lb, 3s fid ; oatmeal, pT lb, 3s 9d ; horse shoeing, 30s ; and other goods at correspondingly crushing prices.

At Pine Creek the blacks made a reconnaissance in force recently, and commenced spearing horses in every direction, until they were right in the midst of the tents, where at least eight horses were seen to fall at their bands. The blacks were supposed to number no less than 200 or 300, and on more than one occasion men in search of horses were encountered by them, and compelled to run for their lives. Things began to look serious, and diggers were naturally apprehensive that at any moment a reaular raid might bo made on the camp. At last, when it was known beyond tho shadow of a doubt that at least 50 horses had been aoearod, it was resolved to put a stop to this wholesale massacre if possible. With this object. 22 diggers, well armed, mustered one evening, and proceeded np the creek in quest of the blaohfollows’ camp. After travelling nearly all night, their fires were at last sighted, and the avengers dividing into two parties, and posting themselves conveniently for the work of dispersion, waited patiently for tho dawn. When at last day broke, something like 200 blacks were seen squatting about the fires. The white men soon made their presence known, and in a moment the yelling of the blacks, thus taken by surprise, was horrible. . . They did not show fight, but ran in the direction where the second party, who had not yet shown themselves, were posted. .

. . . In the eamp were found the skeletons of 14 horses, the flesh of which had been eaten, and tho bones cleared as artistically as Jack Edwards himself could have dona it. There were also two or three broken guns, miners’ dishes, and other tools. Crimean shirts, and heaps of other articles taken from murdered white men, or stolen from diggers’ tents. There were also about 20 mat coffins full of human bones, which they at first attempted to take with them, hut gave up tho attempt very quickly. The exclamation “ whitefellow ” was frequently used amongst the blacks when running away; and it is thought very probable that Dumaresq’s black troopers, four or five of whom bolted same time ago, were amongst them, and directing their movements. Robberies of gold, and other crimes punishable by law, are mattem of daily and nightly occurrence on the diggings ; but not one man in a hundred would go to the expense, trouble, and loss of time involved in a prosecution, let tho robbery be what it nrght, or whatever tho nature of the crime. I have only heard of one case, so far, where the scrv'ccs of Judge Lynch were called into requisition. This was at Stony Creek> where a man was robbed of 12oz. in one of those detestable shanties that crop up everywhere, and Muspicion falling on a fellow who was loafing about, there was a rollup of diggers, and the supposed thief was taken into custody, 'ihe evidence against him was held to be sufficient, and a rope having been passed round his neck in true Calcraft stylo, he was about to be strung up, when he disgorged three ounces and promised to make up the rest, at the same time protesting his innocence. The poor fellow was so terrified by the fearful peril from which he had escaped, that during the whole night he kept roaring like a mad bull. There are no police within 25 miles of the place. Recent prospesting parties have divooveied the existence of black sand, with a high per centage of tin No machinery for quartz crushing has yet reached Cooktown, which will have the effect of throwing back the reefs considerably.