A Struggle for Life.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 248, 21 March 1888, Page 4

A Struggle for Life.

On the 4th of January, at the Upper Camp, Russell River Diggings, Queensland, two young fellows, named Robinson and Anderson, while working in their claim were at* tacked by two black fellows, who came to the workings about four o'clock in the afternoon. The diggers were in an open cutting, they having paddocked along the side of a spur on which their claim is situated, taking out the wash towards the spot where their sluice-boxes ai*e placed. As it was near knocking-off time, Anderson went down to the creek for water for tea, leaving Robinson and the blacks in the cutting, not anticipating any danger from the presence of the latter, as they had visited the camp on several previous occasions. It seems that this confidence was misplaced, and that the blacks had arranged to murder the men for the sake of the small stock of rations they possessed. While Robinson was in the act of laying down a sleeper in the continuation of a tram road that the mates were using, one of the blacks, who had a bowie knife in his hand, sprang at his legs and tried to throw him over, while the other black scrambled on to tho top of the bank to look out for Anderson. Robinson was a little too active for his assailant, whom he managed to throw. While keeping the black fellow down, i Robinson made great efforts to get his revolver from his belt, which he at last succeeded in doing, but in endeavouring to use the weapon he found that it would not gooff. All this time the black was calling

out to his mate, who clutched Robinson by both wrists, and held him with , viceliko strength, preventing him > fiom reaching the knife which was in his belt. Kb last the howling of the black fellow attracted Andersons attention, who immediately ran to the rescue of his mate. As fboon as Anderson arrived at the scene of the struggle, the disengaged black cleared off. Anderson had "his revolver ready to use in the interests of his mate,, who was engaged with the black fellow, but lie had to withhold his fire. Presently the black fellow released his hold, but,, quick as lightning, he seized a tomahawk that was lying clone by, hit Robinson a blow with it that felled him to his knees,, and then flung it with tremendous force at Andexson. Fortunately the head flew off, and the handle only reached its mark. Seeing his mate's desperate condition, andnot knowing how much further the determined black fellow might indulge in his blood thii sty propensities, Anderson tired,, and the black fellow fell. Kobinson is now ljing in bed in a ciitical state, having completely lo«t the power of speech. The wound that he received is .situated near the left temple. It is 12 inches long, and' lias caused a great bhock to his nervoussystem.