Massacre at Argument Flat
Protector of Aborigines, Dr Robert Morice wrote in the SA Evening Journal (June 4. 1885, p 3) that three teamsters claimed to have shot some Aborigines in self-defence following Aboriginal visitors to their camp the night before who, upon learning there were no police in the group, returned the next day, armed, and demanded food. The carters defended themselves and reported the matter. This occurred around the same time as the Daly River massacre:
"While this was going on, and before the Inspector of Police had returned from the Daly River, three teamsters reported that they had been attacked by the natives at Argument Flat, about twenty miles from Southport. According to their account the natives flourished their spears and demanded tucker; the teamsters resisted, and shot five or six of them. There were three weak points about this tale. None of the teamsters were wounded; it is unusual for natives to attack in the bold way described and, lastly, it was admitted that there were women with the natives (one of the killed was a lubra, I think). Now it is well known that the natives when they mean mischief always keep their women out of the way." (Evening Journal, 4 June 1885, p3)
"While this was going on, and before the Inspector of Police had returned from the Daly River, three teamsters reported that they had been attacked by the natives at Argument Flat, about twenty miles from Southport. According to their account the natives flourished their spears and demanded tucker; the teamsters resisted, and shot five or six of them. There were three weak points about this tale. None of the teamsters were wounded; it is unusual for natives to attack in the bold way described and, lastly, it was admitted that there were women with the natives (one of the killed was a lubra, I think). Now it is well known that the natives when they mean mischief always keep their women out of the way." (Evening Journal, 4 June 1885, p3)
Notes:
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Ngan'gikurrunggurr
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 6
CorroborationRating: ***
LanguageGroup: Ngan'gikurrunggurr
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 6
People involved
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Sources
- Austin, 1992; SA Evening Journal, 4 June 1885, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198397078/22398064; SA Register, February 12, 1886 p 6 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50184608; NTTG 4 Oct 1884 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3156540; Reid, 2020, p 70; Government Resident's Quarterly Report on the NT, Quarter ending 30 Sept 1884, pp13-14;
Event mentions
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Massacre at Argument Flat27 Sep 1884 — Argument Flat — massacreProtector of Aborigines, Dr Robert Morice wrote in the SA Evening Journal (June 4. 1885, p 3) that three teamsters claimed to have shot some Aborigines in self-defence following Aboriginal visitors to their camp the night before who, upon learning there were no police in the group, returned the next day, armed, and demanded food. The carters defended themselves and reported the matter. This occurred around the same time as the Daly River massacre:
"While this was going on, and before the Inspector of Police had returned from the Daly River, three teamsters reported that they had been attacked by the natives at Argument Flat, about twenty miles from Southport. According to their account the natives flourished their spears and demanded tucker; the teamsters resisted, and shot five or six of them. There were three weak points about this tale. None of the teamsters were wounded; it is unusual for natives to attack in the bold way described and, lastly, it was admitted that there were women with the natives (one of the killed was a lubra, I think). Now it is well known that the natives when they mean mischief always keep their women out of the way." (Evening Journal, 4 June 1885, p3)Source: Austin, 1992; SA Evening Journal, 4 June 1885, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198397078/22398064; SA Register, February 12, 1886 p 6 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50184608; NTTG 4 Oct 1884 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3156540; Reid, 2020, p 70; Government Resident's Quarterly Report on the NT, Quarter ending 30 Sept 1884, pp13-14;