SPEARED BY BLACKS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 78, 23 November 1931, Page 7

SPEARED BY BLACKS

LONELY PROSPECTOR DONE TO DEATH BY TRE ACHEROU S NATIYES. NORTH AUSTRALIA TRAGEDY. PORT DARWIN, Nov. 7. I News has just reached Darwin from Daly River of the murder by blacks of a mining prospector, Herbert Watts, formerly employed at Burvey camps. The tragedy is supposed to have taken place six weeks ago at Hermit Hill, 150 miles west of Port Darwin. was sneared bv aboriginals

in the arm, neck, and head. It is believed that "Mounted Con- , stable William McCann, in eharge of the police station at Daly River, is investigating the matter. According to an eye-witness, Watts was alone and asleep under the mosquito net when the blacks approaehed in three directionsv They threw spears under the cover of trees. Several spears pierced Watts, who replied with a revolver. Watts had only three cartridges, and when these were *fired the blacks rushed in with waddies. They looted the camp, and made off into the swamp fastness near the coast. : . l4lii Spies Were Busy. Black (spies learned that Watts had only three cartridges for his .22 cailbre revolver. He wore round his waist a belt containing many .44 calibre cartridges, thinking that by doing so he could overawe the blacks. The spy had had experience with firearms, and he knew that the large cartridges were usless. Attackers rushed in without fear when they Had counted three shots. j The eye-witness returned to the spot* three dayis later, and the body had .by then disappeared. Tracks indicated that the body had been dragged into a nearby lagoon, where it had probably been devoured by alligators. Fears for Chinese. Fears are expressed about the safety of a lone Chinese prospector at Fletcher's Gully, but his- wife is an aboriginal member .of the mafauding tribe, and she guards her husband with dingo cunning and Yerocity, and his financial backers are not worrying.