A Horrible Death. SAD FATE OF AN AUCKLANDEK.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 246, 14 March 1888, Page 7

A Horrible Death. SAD FATE OF AN AUCKLANDEK.

On January 10th an attack was made by a party of blacks on Me&sis Alfred Wright, of Auckland, and John Cairigan, of Strathlcvan Station, Palmersville, Queensland, and resulted in the death of the former. Wiight, who was 23 year- of age, was the youngest brother of Mr C S. Wiight, of this city. We cull the following 1 account from the "Cook town Courier" :—-" From Mr John Carrigan, who was with Mr Wright at tho time of the attack by the blacks, and who barely managed to escape with hi 9 life, "we have received some particulars which may prove of interest to the public. Ib seem.s that Wright, who was a "colonial experience " young man oi 23 years of age, and Carrigan, a stockman, were enjoying v, smoke and rest in the shade at 3 o'clock in I the. afternoon. They wcie, untoi fcunately, i nearly 100 yards away irom their tent, "whero the firearms were, and their horses were unsaddled and hobbled out about a i stone's throw from where the un&uspectj ing men were chatting. Little did | they imagine the immediate proximity of the black and blood-thirsty devils ; and, no doubt, as they merrily talked together no subject was so tar from their imagination as that of a cruel and hoirible death at the hands of savages. But the murderous bcoundrels were now within a few feet of them and preparing for the combined attack. A rustling was heard, and a thud as of something heavy having been thrown, and then the two white man leali&ed the terrible fact that they were meant for slaughter by their dusky enemies. Sad to I realise, there was no time or opportunity ! for them to reach the firearms, as the attack of the live stalwart villains was so sudden, and they intercepted the way between bhe tent and the unfortunate Wright and Carrigan. Springing to their feet at once when they caught sight of the assailants, the unarmed men made off in different directions, evidently seized with nodesire but that of safety from the niggers. Two of the attacking party vigorously assailed poor. Wright, and the remaining three confined their objectionable attentions to Carrigan, who was the biggei man of the two, and the more experienced. How long poor Wright survivfcd the assaults of the natives will never be known, as Carrigan was too mucti engaged in endeavouring to save his own life to | think of or witness anything else. He heard Wright ejaculate "Oh "just before they started to run, and thinks that mut>t have been when he received the first spear wound. Canigan ran as fast as he could, and was spearea twice in the arm and once in the small of the back, when he turned and hurled a spear at the pursuing blacks, who appeared to have exhausted their supply of weapons. This caused them to hesitate somewhat in their chase, and Carrigan managed to get one of the horses, which he. hastily unhobbled and mounted without bridle or saddle. This, however, did not improve matters very much, as the horse showed a decided inclination to "make tracks" and "play up" a little. The blacks again got up to Carrigan, and rendered matters very lively by the facility with which they sent their spears at him. [ Ultimately, however, he managed to get his horse into a gallop, and put several miles of country between him and his black foes. t Although the scene of the attack was not more than three-quarters of a mile from the head station, communication with ib was impossible, owing to the swollen state of the river, and through the long and weary wet night poor Carrigan had to sit on his tired horse at the foot of a tree, not knowing whether the blackness of darkness which surrounded him was sufficient to prevent his whereabouts being discovered by his savage pursuers. When the first streaks of dawn appeared he made his way to the manager's house, and having reported the attack, was attended to and had his wounds dressed. No time was lost in endeavouring to ascertain the fate of poor Wright, and all doubt as to that was soon set at rest by the discovery of his body in bhe river by the manager. The poor young fellow had been foully murderod and mutilated. There were seven or eight spear wounds in his body, and, his throat had been cut from ear to ear with his own knife. There were also two gashes made by a tomahawk behind one of his ears, and the savages had been unnecessarily cruel in their resolve to finish their unfortunate victim. The body was decently buried, and all present at bhe rural intermenb^felb that by bhe death of Wright they had** lost- the friendship of a "real ..white man." An investigation showed that the camp had been looted and, all •'■ the .firearms taken away. Parrigan is vapidly recovering from his wounds, but will never- forget until his dying day the narrow escape he had on this ' occasion of losing"" his life. Information was v given to the native police officer as soon as < possible.' i' ■ '>• ' ■ " •> ■ f

! A disco\-;eny; of .gold, v is' reported .fifteen.^ jnilea from .^Washington, P.C' ? near the old* Alanor.