Search By Military for Native Murderers

As there has been so much misconception about the murder of Rolles Biddle and his employes, it will be wise to publish the following letter from Dr. J. B. Harvey, the coroner, and also Mr. C. Driver's report to the Colonial Secretary in full. It will be noticed that Dr. Harvey's method, of spelling the names of the two victims is Fastins and Tubbs, whereas the Government Resident spells the latter as Stubbs, which I think is a mistake. The evidence al-so explodes the idea of the superhuman crawl by Tubbs to the neighboring station, and reveals that the two shepherds after arrival home went with the information. It is also evident that Mr. Driver was not at White's station when the news of the murders arrived. It was the Messrs White who went back to the station, and arranged the bodies on stretchers. It is most probable that they took Tubbs back with them to their own station. Later on it will be seen that the Whites were related to Biddle. There is nothing in the evidence at the inquest to indicate that the victims were cut about by sheep shears or hatchet. Dr. Harvey's letter is as follows : —

PORT LINCOLN, April 1, 1842. Sir. — I have the melancholy duty to inform you of the murder by natives of Rolles Biddle Esq., James Fastins his man and Elizabeth Tubbs his housekeeper, also of the dangerous state in which Mr. Tubbs (the husband of the housekeeper) now lies, he having been left for dead but recovered. On the 30th March (Wednesday last) I received a letter from S. White Esq. informing me of the above murder and I lost no time in despatching the police force with a cart to bring the bodies into town, where they arrived about 12 o'clock the same night. I have this day held the adjourned inquest upon the bodies, when a verdict of "Wilful murder against some native or natives at present unknown" was returned. I have subjoined the principal part of the evidence.

EVIDENCE OF TUBBS

Charles Tubbs, the survivor who stated that on Tuesday last (March 29) "I was at my master's sheep station at Long Pond together with my master (Mr. Biddle), my wife, and James Fastins, that about 12 or 1 o'clock in the day a number of blacks were heard and one, or two seen within 30 or 40 yards of the hut, when Fastins went towards them and had three spears thrown at him. He returned towards the hut, the blacks continuing to throw spears to the number of about fifteen which Mr. Biddle broke and threw into the pond. Fastins then went out and flung a loaf of bread to them, which they took with a quantity of potatoes they had previously dug. They then went away for about an hour. They then returned and surrounded the hut throwing spears from every quarter. Fastins was the first person wounded, in the leg. Mr Biddle then fired on the blacks, who instantly rushed in a body and compelled us to take refuge in the hut, when they commenced breaking down the wall and flinging spears from the breach as well as through the windows. I then fired two shots and I suppose that both hit the blacks. They overpowered us and made a rush, beating us down. They killed master, my wife, and Fastins, leaving me for dead also. It might be about 3 or 4 o'clock p.m. that I recovered my senses, when I found the fence on fire as well as the roof of the hut. I drew two buckets of water and pulled away part of the fence. I then drew the dead bodies out of the hut so that they should not be burnt. I also took the spears out of the bodies except one in Fastins' arm. About sundown the shepherds came home and rendered me every assistance.

FINDING OF BODIES

Wm. Young deposed to finding the bodies of the above mentioned, he as well as the other shepherd went over to Mr. White's station for assistance when Messrs. White went to them and placed the bodies upon stretchers.["] Mr. Biddle's head and face were much cut about and he had nearly a dozen wounds in the back and breast, all made by spears. Mrs. Tubbs was speared in the left breast also in the arm, her face was much bruised. Fastins had (23) twenty three spear wounds in various parts of his body and one above his eye, his head was cut open and his jaw fractured. I performed the last duties of burial over the bodies of Fastins and Mrs. Tubbs. Mr. Biddle was buried in the spot set apart for the Friends' burial place. Messrs. White and all the inhabitants of Port Lincoln were present at the funeral which took place at dusk yesterday evening. I have, etc., (Sgd.) J. B. HARVEY, Coroner. To His Honor , the Government Resident.

In the above it is not clear where Young's deposition finished and Dr. Harvey's remarks began. I would suggest that Young's evidence finished at ''stretchers." Tubbs's evidence at the Supreme Court is very different from that tendered at the inquest, and McEllister's evidence, as regards how the bodies lay when he arrived at the scene, differs from Young's evidence. This letter of Dr. Harvey's fixes the date of the murder as March 29. If Tolmer has copied the deposition at the Supreme Court correctly, then Tubbs's date of March 28 and McEllister's March 26 both must be wrong.

MR. DRIVER'S LETTER

The Government Resident's letter to the Colonial Secretary, of April 4 shows what action he immediately took : — I beg leave to acquaint you for the information of His Excellency that on Tuesday, March 29th Mr. Rolles Biddle and his servants Mrs. Stubbs and James Fastins were massacred at Mr. Biddle's station by the blacks. The enclosed copy of a statement from the coroner will explain particulars of this atrocious deed.

On Saturday the 2nd instant I succeeded in raising a body of seven mounted and armed men including three policemen and went out in pursuit of the murderers. Mr. Schurman accompanied us with six friendly blacks as guides, and within three miles of the scene of their cruelties, we came upon the tribe surrounded with their booty. On our approach they dispersed, throwing spears at us from behind trees. They were fired upon but as no bodies were found it is presumed none were killed, nor were any made prisoners. Proceeding to Mr. Biddle's station with the retaken articles which required four horses to carry, we found the huts rifled, every box and drawer broken open and the country round strewed with the wreck of valuables, destroyed in the most wanton manner. A variety of grain thrown together in heaps, mixed up with the contents of a large medicine chest, sheep wash, tobacco, corrosive sublimate, etc. Mr. Biddle was a large sheep holder and cultivator. His nearest of kin in this district are Messrs. Samuel and Frederick White and at Adelaide Mr. Samuel Alexander. The Messrs. White, have at my request taken charge of the sheep (about 1,100) and a dray with the police party is gone to fetch in the other effects, inventory of which will be forwarded by the next vessel — in the meanwhile the effects will remain in the custody of this court until instructions for their disposal are received from you. I have, etc., (Sgd.) CHAS. DRIVER, J.P.

Mr. Driver on the same day addressed another letter to the Colonial Secretary on the condition of affairs at Port Lincoln as a result of the blacks' hostilities. The context of that letter is that the Governor should have been apprised of the unrest earlier, the neglect of which was doubtless the five murders in the bush.

"MURDERS DUE TO NEGLECT"

"These murders originated in no particular feeling of ill towards the parties," he said,"but are a natural termination of the game that has been playing the last year and a half — petty thefts, downright robberies and even murders have been repeatedly committed with perfect impunity, and such was the feeling of security (on the black's part) after Mr. Biddle's murder that with the stolen property itself, the blacks were forming a sort of permanent winter's encampment within three miles of the scene of violence. The trivial check they received on Saturday last is allowed by the settlers to be the severest that has yet been inflicted."

Owing to these outrages the settlers are "excessively alarmed," flocking into the town with their families, some even going to Boston Island for greater security. Agricultural operations that should have been carried on were suspended. Stations were deserted and all the sheep brought into the neighborhood (six or seven miles) of Port Lincoln. To keep the retainer, the employes had been more than quadrupled to persuade them to stop, and whatever wage a man might ask for, had to be granted. The cattle stations were deserted and the cattle running wild in the bush. Property not easily moved was left to the mercy of the blacks. Applications without number were made to the Government Resident for advice and assistance, the latter he could not render, the former when tendered was not listened to "from the paralyzing effects of the general panic."

A subscription was raised to hire a boat to transmit the news to Adelaide. It was suggested that an efficient force be speedily placed at my disposal for a short period to enable us to make an example of the murderers and leave a wholesome impression in the minds of the natives.''

As seen in the previous article a deputation waited on the Governor on April 11, so it is possible that some of the members of that deputation went from Port Lincoln in the same boat as that which carried the Government Resident's letters. A copy of the memorial has not been seen, and it is evident it did not go through Mr. Driver's hands. In the article referred to it was shown how promptly His Excellency acceded to the request for assistance. By April 14 Lieut. Hugonin and party had left Adelaide for Port Lincoln, just 10 days after Mr. Driver penned his request.

MILITARY REPORT

The next official report is one from Lieutenant Hugonin. The letter is dated "Encampment Panlana, 16 miles N.W. of Port Lincoln, April 24, 1842." This would be in the vicinity of Fountain Springs and may have been the spring itself, as recorded by McLean. The lieutenant states in his letter to the Government Resident, that the morning after landing the detachment (he arrived on the night of April 17) he proceeded with his own man, four mounted police, Mr. Schurmann, two Hawsons and some natives as guides, to Biddle's station, remaining there until Monday, April 21 (?) but apparently no natives were about. The three Adelaide natives also accompanied the party. McLean gives an account of a lot of work done on this expedition, but according to Hugonin's account nothing was done, no traces were seen of the natives and the native guide apparently suggested they had gone towards Coffin's Bay. The next move is not at all clear for Lieut. Hugonin said, "I started on April 23 and arrived here at night." He may have returned to Port Lincoln (which I think is most likely), and started out again, or he may have cut across country from Biddle's station to Panlana in the day. However, arriving at the site of his pro-posed encampment, he found it occupied by blacks. He attempted to surround them, but the noise on the limestone rocks, gave warning, and the natives escaped. Next day he followed native foot tracks till night, then owing to the distressed condition of the horses, the party had to return to camp. At 2 o'clock next morning be made another attempt to surprise the natives with a party of his men, but again unsuccessfully.

IMPRACTICABLE TASK

He then decided to take the whole of his available force at his disposal, on foot, with several days' provisions, and to penetrate into the Coffin's Bay country, his information leading him to believe that the murderers were mixed up with the tribe of that district. So far as concerns his operations against the natives, that in all that is contained in that letter of April 23, but he took advantage of the opportunity to voice the difficulties with which he was faced. Hugonin found the horses nearly useless, not being equal to any hard work, with no food to give them, and not even good grass that they could procure. He gave great credit to Mr. Schumann and the two Hawsons for their assistance. He considered that without their aid he could have done nothing. He then goes on to say :

"The nature of the country is such that foot soldiers with heavy fire locks and belts have little chance of coming up with the natives. Their accoutrements also make the attempt to surprise at night almost a certain failure, and should I be unsuccessful in the now proposed push into the heart of their country, I much regret to state that it is my opinion that a military force, except employed as a guard at the outstations of the settlers, is at present totally useless in this settlement."

Hugonin returned to Port Lincoln on April 25, leaving the party at Panlana, and Mr. Driver sent the report to Adelaide the same day without any comments.

(Another instalment Next Week.)