Massacre at Crescent Lagoon

Date: 5 Aug 1875 – 15 Aug 1875
Place: Crescent Lagoon
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
See also Mount McMinn, Harris Lagoon, Calder Range and Mole Hill massacres. A range of sources (see below) detail these massacres. Following the killing of Charles Henry Johnston at Roper Bar on 29 June 1875 by Mangarrayi warriors, two reprisal parties, one led by Corporal George Montagu comprising 10 men and the other, also of 10 men led by senior telegraph officer, Jonathan Little, and brother-in-law of Johnston, arrived at Roper Bar on 2 August and buried Johnston's remains. On 5 August, the two parties started up the Roper River to Crescent Lagoon and returned on 15 August. It is estimated that 40 Mangarrayi people were slaughtered. This is the second massacre in the Mole Hill series.
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Mangarrayi
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 40

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Crescent Lagoon
    5 Aug 1875 – 15 Aug 1875 — Crescent Lagoon — massacre
    See also Mount McMinn, Harris Lagoon, Calder Range and Mole Hill massacres. A range of sources (see below) detail these massacres. Following the killing of Charles Henry Johnston at Roper Bar on 29 June 1875 by Mangarrayi warriors, two reprisal parties, one led by Corporal George Montagu comprising 10 men and the other, also of 10 men led by senior telegraph officer, Jonathan Little, and brother-in-law of Johnston, arrived at Roper Bar on 2 August and buried Johnston's remains. On 5 August, the two parties started up the Roper River to Crescent Lagoon and returned on 15 August. It is estimated that 40 Mangarrayi people were slaughtered. This is the second massacre in the Mole Hill series.
    Source: NTTG, September 18, 1875, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3144448 1875, p 2; December 4, 1875, p 2 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3144612; December 25, 1875, p 2 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3144666; Wilson, 2000, pp 221-222; Roper River Police Station Heritage Assessment Report, 2015, pp 9-11; Toohey, Roper Bar Land Claim Report, 1982, p 3; Austin, 1992, pp 15-16; Roberts 2005, pp 116-122.