CHASE AFTER ABORIGINAL CRIMINALS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 225, 27 February 1875, Page 3

CHASE AFTER ABORIGINAL CRIMINALS.

A correspondent of the Wide Bay News (Victoria) gives the following account of a chase after aboriginal criminals : —“ The afternoon selected by the Maryborough, Tiaro, and Gympie blackfellows for a review and sham fight, so far as the weather went, was all that could be desired. The Maryborough blacks took up a position on high ground close to the bank of the river, while the opposing forces selected a rising slope of about a quarter of a mile further inland. The fore part of the day was spent in painting. The usual preliminaries were gone through, and challenges given ; still there was an evident dislike on the part of the Maryborough to get into a general encounter, alleging that their numbers were too few, still it was evident from the advances of the opposite force that they intended fighting, and that the Maryborough tribe would either have to fight or run. However, an unexpected enemy to both sides suddenly put in an appearance, in the shape of two or three mounted constables, in charge of Sub inspector Moore, in search of a black fellow named Sambo, suspected of robbing Finch, a carrier, while camped at the White Swan, on the Gayndah road. Sambo, along with three or four others, got scent, although the constables were in plain clothes, and having 150 yards start, rushed swift as the wind along the bank of the river, hotly pursued both by man and horse, until coming to a clear space they each took a beautiful ‘ header’ and made for the opposite shore. Whiz, whiz, went the bullets, and one’s heart almost stood still at the sight whilst they were within range; but they all reached the opposite bank. Sambo is a noted scoundrel, and has been badly wanted for many a month for more than one robbery. I need hardly say that after the smell of powder and shot, although ths remainder of the blacks seemed not to heed it, a damper was put on the battle, and fighting postponed till a future period. The empty pouch that the stolen money was in was the only vestige of the stolen property recovered.”