A CHINESE AMBUSCADE ON THE PALMER.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 83, 19 October 1877, Page 2

A CHINESE AMBUSCADE ON THE PALMER.

The Golden Age of the llth instant relates the following :— On Thursday afternoon, ss Mr Wilson-, manager for Mr George Tough, was ranking his customary weekly trip with gold from Stony Creek to May town, and when near Purdy's Camp, he was startled with the report of two rifles, the balls from which struck the ground in front of his horse. As he approached an old building, formerly occupied by M'Kenzie Brothers as a store, he found it in possession of a number of Chinamen, who, ' on seeing him, commenced a regular , fusilade from guns and rifles, but fortunately none of the shots proved fatal. Mr Wilson, noticing a chinaman lying* in ambush close to a dray, and in the ac of raising a rifle to take deliberate aim, fired at him, and from tbe sudden movement of the Chinkie it is inferred y that the ball must cither have taken f effect or been too close to be pleasant for John- The narrow escape whicb Mr Wilson had may be judged from tho circumstance that one bill glanced off his revolver, which he held in his hand ready for further defence, while another whizzed close to his ear. Mr Wilson seeing the number of his assailants, deemed it prudent to beat a retreat as quickly as possible. There can be little doubt tbat this attempt at assassination and robbery was premeditated, aa Mr Wihon is a large buyer of gold at the various Chinese stores in. the district, and it was generally known that be was coming in on the day named to bank it. His usual contribution ■is from 400 to 500 ounces per week, but on the present ocoassion he had a smaller quantity than usual— lso ounces with cash amounting fto nearly £2000. /*'