Massacre at The 'Sperwer', Prince of Wales Island, Torres Strait

Date: 1 Jun 1869 – 30 Jun 1869
Place: The 'Sperwer', Prince of Wales Island, Torres Strait
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
The brig 'Sperwer' founded on a reef off Prince of Wales Island in June 1869. The 14 Javanese crew members came on shore at Prince of Wales Island to collect wood and fish for food. The master, Captain Gascoigne and possibly his wife and child and the 14 crew were killed by the Torres Strait Islander people on Prince of Wales Island. The bodies of the master and the woman and her child were found two months later, along with the bodies of the 14 crew members. There is no first hand account of exactly what happened.
Notes:
CorroborationRating: **
Victims: Colonists
VictimsDead: 17

People involved

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Sources

Event mentions

  • Massacre at The 'Sperwer', Prince of Wales Island, Torres Strait
    1 Jun 1869 – 30 Jun 1869 — The 'Sperwer', Prince of Wales Island, Torres Strait — massacre
    The brig 'Sperwer' founded on a reef off Prince of Wales Island in June 1869. The 14 Javanese crew members came on shore at Prince of Wales Island to collect wood and fish for food. The master, Captain Gascoigne and possibly his wife and child and the 14 crew were killed by the Torres Strait Islander people on Prince of Wales Island. The bodies of the master and the woman and her child were found two months later, along with the bodies of the 14 crew members. There is no first hand account of exactly what happened.
    Source: SMH December 3, 1869: 5 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13196353; Inquirer and Commercial News, (Perth WA), January 5, 1870: 3 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66033796.