First Port Lincoln Murder

In approaching the subject of murders on Eyre Peninsula, we must keep in mind two or three thoughts previously quoted. For instance the prognostication by the "Perth Gazette," referring to the outrages committed by the lawless white whalers and sealers said, "Future settlers in the neighborhood of Port Lincoln will be made to expiate the crimes and outrages of these lawless assassins"; also we should think of the lines used by Fitchett : "For murder stroke a murder stroke be paid ; Who smite, must smart."

The Colonization Commissioners in their first report to the British Government said, "In dealing with the aborigines, the following objects should be aimed at ; to guard them against personal outrage and violence ; to protect them in the undisturbed enjoyment of their proprietary rights to the soil, wherever such rights may be found to exist ; to make it an unvariable and cardinal condition in all bargains, and treaties made with the natives for the cession of lands possessed by them, in occupation or enjoyment, that permanent subsistence shall be supplied to them from some other source."

In reading Eyre Peninsula history it cannot be asserted that the blacks committed any murder in retaliation for the ill deeds previously done to the native tribes by the newcomers. Most of the murders were done on the spur of the moment, a sudden impulse and the deed was done. A few were doubtless premeditated, but in such cases the preliminaries could not have occupied any length of time, say a day or two at the outside.

E. J. Eyre, in summing up after a lengthy review of the wrongs of and on the natives, wrote: "I trust I have sufficiently shewn the character of the Australian natives has been greatly misrepresented and maligned, that they are not naturally more irreclaimably vicious, revengeful, or treacherous than other nations, but on the contrary, that their position with regard to Europeans, places them under so many disadvantages, subjects them to so many injuries, irritates them with so many annoyances, and tempts them with so many provocations, that it is a matter of surprise, not that they sometimes are guilty of crime, but that they commit it so rarely."

"NATIVES TREATED UNJUSTLY"

Were the natives in Australia treated with justice? Capt. (afterwards Sir) George Grey was decidedly of the opinion that they were not. The law of England was that every man was entitled to be tried by his peers, and so Capt. Grey wrote : "It must also be borne in mind, that the natives are not tried by a jury of their peers, but by a jury having interests directly opposed to their own and who can scarcely avoid being in some degree prejudiced against native offenders."

In the early days every conceivable barrier was raised to prevent the natives being treated similarly to a white, although acknowledged as British subjects. In many cases the Biblical behest "an eye for an eye," even was not carried out, rather many eyes were required for one eye. History does not relate the sum total of deaths or injuries inflicted in the raids after each succession of murders. Mention has been made of the arrival in the Abeona of Henry Hawson, his wife and family. This worthy couple had 13 children, and presumably had them all at Port Lincoln, but they could ill afford to lose even one of these. In this article we are only concerned with two of the children, although our sympathy goes out to the whole family for the very trying time they endured.

Edward Cowell and Francis Tapley were the two children vitally concerned and were living at the time at an outstation at Little Swamp. The rest of the family were living at Kirton Point. The principal tale of the disaster is told by Dr. Harvey, the man who played so many parts in the early days of Port Lincoln.

The murder took place on October 5, 1840, and the doctor's report to his Excellency the Governor was written two days later. Although the details of this murder have been frequently told, to make this history complete it is necessary to tell it again. Before giving the report it is necessary to digress for a moment. Whether arising out of this murder or not is not recorded, but Dr. Harvey had a trying experience at this time. In the South Australian Archives is a book containing records of all criminal cases tried at Port Lincoln. From this book we learn that on Monday, October 12, 1840, J. B. Harvey and Thomas Hanlin were charged with feloniously letting prisoners out of gaol. The case apparently did not get beyond the local court, but they were both bound over to appear again.

NATIVE PRISONERS RELEASED

The case of Hanlin, who was a constable was evidently referred to the Commissioner of Police, Adelaide. It was the clerk of the peace (J. E. Barnard) who charged the two with having released from prison nine aborigines ordered into custody by him. The Commissioner of Police said, "It appears to me that Thomas Hanlin considered himself erroneously bound to obey the orders of Mr. Harvey." It was error of judgment and not an intentional crime, and Hanlin was only severely censured. What happened to the doctor is not recorded. It would be most interesting to know the full details. No doubt Matthew Smith, the resident magistrate, was a way in pursuit of the natives, and that Dr. Harvey was therefore in charge of the settlement.

The doctor's report of October 7, 1840, was as follows: — "As the 'Emu' is waiting only for Mr. Eyre's despatches and it is uncertain if you will be able to hear from the resident magistrate by this mail, I consider it my duty to forward the present communication to you."

"Yesterday morning, I was called about two o'clock to attend Mr. Hawson's son, who had just arrived from the bush, where Mr. Hawson has a sheep station, having been speared by the natives."

"I found him with two spears in the chest — both of which he said were barbed, and one of which had passed through to the back. I of course saw that death would instantly follow the withdrawn of them. I therefore thought it better to request the attendance of the surgeon of the ship L'Aglae, who gave the same opinion — we were under the painful necessity of permitting him to die a lingering but not a painful death, in preference to a hasty but a violent one. I have remained with him until now, and I am writing this in Mr. Hawson's house, the boy (ten years old) not yet having breathed his last. He lies without pain, mortification having taken place several hours — and he will soon reach the period of dissolution."

"NOT AFRAID TO DIE"

"The poor boy has borne this heavy affliction with the greatest fortitude, assuring us that he is not afraid to die. He says that on Monday (fifth) he was left in the station hut whilst his brother came to town, and that about ten o'clock a party of ten or eleven natives surrounded his hut, and wished for something to eat. He gave them bread and rice — all he had, and as they endeavoured to force themselves into his hut, he went out and fastened the door, standing on the outside with his gun by his side and a sword in his hand, which he held up for the purpose of frightening them. He did not make any signs of using them. One of the children gave him a spear to throw, and while in the act of throwing it, he received the two spears in his chest — he did not fall ; he took up the gun and shot one native, who fell but got up again and ran away. They all fled but returned, and shewed signs of throwing another spear, when he lifted the gun a second time, upon which they all made off."

"He remained with the two spears seven feet long, sticking in his breast. He tried to cut and saw them without effect ; he also tried to walk home, but could not ; he then sat upon the ground and put the ends of the spears in the fire to try to burn them off and in this position he was found at ten o'clock at night, upon the return of his brother Edward (having been speared eleven hours). He immediately sawed the ends of the spears off, and placed him on horseback and brought him into town, when I saw him."

"Mr. Smith (with the police force) has gone in search of the natives — one of whom can be identified as having thrown a spear at the boy — he having a piece of red flannel tied round his beard."

"This circumstance has thrown the settlement into great distress. The German missionary, Rev. Mr. Schurmann, has gone with Mr. Smith, I understand that the natives had been fired at from some of the stations; I hope this is not the case. The Rev. Mr. Schurmann says that Mr. Ed. Hawson told him, that he shot after some a short time ago to frighten them, after they had stolen something from the same hut where they had speared his brother. This is denied by the family ; but I will ascertain the truth upon the return of the party ; Mr. E. Hawson having accompanied them."

"Seven o'clock p.m. — Mr. Barnard has just returned and brought word that Mr. Smith and the force have gone to Coffin's Bay. Mr. Barnard will take a party to the head of Port Lincoln this evening, in search of the natives ; some fires having been seen in that direction. "I am sorry to say that the poor boy still lingers in a semi-comatose state." This report was published in the Government Gazette for the information of the public.

(Another Instalment Next Week.)