MURDER BY THE BLACKS IN QUEENSLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 36, 11 February 1878, Page 4

MURDER BY THE BLACKS IN QUEEN SLAND.

A correspondent of the Brisbane Conner writes from Earpentaria under date December 20: — "A horrible murder by the blacks bas juat been reported. The unfortunate victim, Mr William Batten, was travelling with horses from the Calvert river, where, with his partner, Mr Delatour, be had been mustering horses. The party, consisting of the above named gentlemao, a stockman, and a black boy, separated at Settlement Creek, about fifty miles west of the Nicholson river Mr Batten, and the stockman, Aitken, pushing on for Normanton wiih about sixty head of horaes, while Mr Dslatour and the black boy remained behind. The two former reached the Nicholson river at daylight on the 2nd instant, having travelled all night. On their arrival they found a large number of blacks, amongst whom Mr Batten distributed rations and several other small articles. The blacks then crossed the river, down which Aitken went three or four hundred yards to fish. Af'er fuhing for about an hour, he saw Mr Batten lying on the ground, and six or seven blacks beating him over the bead with nullahnuHahs. Aitken fired a shot from a small Ueringer that he fortunately had in his belt, which had the effect of bringing four of tbe blacks towards him end the next shot telling on one of his assailants, they all retired, after throwing their nullahnullahs at him, happily without effect. He found poor Batten with his skull beaten in, just alive, but insensible The poor fellow continued to breathe for an hour or two, and when all was over, Aitken rolled him up in his blankets, and to save his own life had to stait away for Norraanton, which he reached after a lonely ride of enht day.. From the fact that Mr Ba ten's Suider carbine and revolver, though close to where be was lying, were untouched, it is supposed that he mua. have gone lo sleep, and thus fell an easy victim to tbe treacherous ravages whom a little while belore ho bad Ted irom his scanty stock of provisions, 'lha eceue of the murder is ouly about thirty. live or forty miles from the M-.tsis Wuisou'a stan'on, on the Grreory from which sia'.ion it is slated that the murdeiers hud been diiveu lor speariD^ cattle."