MADMAN RUNS AMOK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 889, 5 February 1930, Page 9

MADMAN RUNS AMOK

KILLS SON AND DAUGHTER; THEN IS SHOT TRAGEDY OFF AUSTRALIA BRISBANE, Tuesday. A terrible tragedy has occurred at Fantome Island, near Palm Island, off the coast of North Queensland. The superintendent, Mr. R. H. Currie, who recently lost his wife, became demented, and ran amok with a revolver. He then went to Fantome Island, and killed his daughter, aged 20, and his son, aged 10, and burned their home. When the demented man returned to Palm Island the natives shot him dead while he was landing. The bodies of the daughter and son were found in the ruins of the home on the adjoining island Mr. Currie had evidently been grealty v.-orried by complaints of his treatment of the natives. Earlier mesages stated that two black “boys” rowed from Palm Island, near Townsville, to the mainland, and reported that Dr. Maitland Patterson, medical officer in charge of the native hospital, had been shot in the thigh, and Mrs. Patterson, acting-matron of the hospital, had been shot through the neck. Both were in a serious condition. FOOD CUT OFF According to the information brought to the police by the black boys, after shooting Dr. and Mrs. Patterson, Mr. Currie set fire to the stores and offices in the quarters of the superintendent and his assistant, which were completely destroyed. He burned a motor-boat belonging to the settlement, and escaped in another craft to an adjacent island. With all their food supplies gone, • the 900 aborigines resident on Palm Island are in sad straits, and the serious condition of the wounded officials made the situation criticaL The native crew therefore undertook the hazardous journey to the mainland, which was safely accomplished in spite of the heavy sea.s. Police and medical aid have been sent to the island.

The police have returned from Palm Island with Dr. Patterson and his wife. She is able to v.-alk. They had a terrifying experience.

The “Palm Island” referred to in the cablegram is the main island of a group known as the Palm Islands, which lie about 30 miles of? the Queensland coast, and about the same distance north of Townsv.lle. It is known locally as Great Palm Island. On one end is a settlement of Australian aborigines, who are under Government supervision. It was presumably these natives who shot Mr. Currie.