A DESERT MASSACRE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 86, 2 October 1911, Page 7

A DESERT MASSACRE

. . THREE MEN MURDERED. " ATTACKED BY NATIVES WHILE .... ASLEEP. News of a massacre by blacks in the desert country, and Hall's Creek, in Kimberlev'j West Australia, has been brought to Wiluna by stockmen, travelling over ! the stock route opened four years ago by Surveyor Canning, from East Kimberley 'to the goldfiolds. The victims, three in number, were bringing the first drove of cattle from Hall's Creek, and at Well No. 37, north of Wiluna, they were evidently surprised asleep at night and murdered. The police telegram states that the murdered men were J. C. Thompson, formerly a constable at Wiluna, and son-in-law of Mr. Lueanus, a local publican; George Shoesmith, and a native boy, brought from Hall's Creek. The camels and horses of the party were killed, the cattle scattered, and the bodies of the victims rudely buried near the well, which is 50 miles from the place where Stephen Tobin, one of Canning's survey party, was killed by a black, who was afterwards shot, nearly four years ago. i The West Australian Premier (Mr. Frank Wilson) received from Wiluna the following report of the tragedy:—"Cole and Pcnnefather arrived herefrom Hall's Crock, and report discovering 011 June. 2!), at No. 37 Wdl, about 450 miles north of Wiluna, the bodies of James Thompson, George Shoesmith, and an employee, who left Hall's Creek in January with a small mob of cattle. The bodies were found within a radius of 100 yards of 1 the well, partly buried. Thompson's skull had been smashed in with a heavy weapon, Shoesmith's skull was fractured on the left side. There was a spear wound in the neck, and the body had been cut in halves. The third body was found buried ten yards from Shoesmith's. All three were fully dressed, with the exception of shoes, having apparently been murdered while asleep. Thompson's diary was'found on June 28, ten miles further north 011 the stock route, the last entry being dated April 25. Shoesmith's diary was picked up in fragments at the scene of the tragedy. The firearms, horses and camels were taken by the natives. The camels were apparently used till knocked up, and then shot. One rifle, badly damaged, was picked up near the scene of the murder. Cole and Pcnnefather, in coming down from Hall's Creek, saw natives wearing European clothing fully 100 miles north of-Well No. 37, near which Tobin, of Canning's survey party, was ' fatally speared by a native in 1907. Apparently the natives of this district are most treacherous, and a great menace to persons using Canning's track . We suggest that immediate steps should be taken by the Government to bring the murderers to justice." The Commissioner of Police is arranging for a Btrong party of police and bushmen to proceed to the scene of the tragedy.