Description
In August 1883 Native Police Officers Frederick Clerk and Alfred Smart killed Kalkadoon people camped on the Coolulla Run after hearing a rumour that two prospectors had been killed (Marr, 2023 pp 356-357). The prospectors were later found to be alive.
Mr Ernest Henry telegraphed from Cloncurry that he had not reported that the two prospectors were killed, and that 'the only tragedy he has lately heard of in that neighbourhood was perpetrated by the native police' (Queenslander, 27 Oct 1883, p 669).
The following year a correspondent calling themself 'Drover' gave a full account of the incident:
'On 4th August last year I was camped on the Leichardt River, a little above the junction of it and the Cabbage Tree Creek.
About half a mile higher up, on the opposite side of the river, on a high bank, were camped 28 or 30 natives (men, women and children). The previous day I was on the Dougal River, when, at Granada run, I heard a report that two white prospectors had been killed by the natives, but my informant (who was a very old resident there) told me the reports were so conflicting he did not believe them, but thought that they referred to the killing of Beresford seven or eight months previous. About two hours before sunset on the day I write of, a sub-inspector of police (native mounted police) accompanied by a body of police, rode up and asked me where the blacks were camped, as he heard I was a good deal in the ranges.
I told him of their exact position, as the paper tree obstructed the position of their camp from where we were. Being an old Crown officer, I took it for granted the police were going to secure the head men amongst them, which, with the force the sub-inspector had under command, he could easily have done; and I suggested a division of the men, and I showed him a plan by which he might take the lot; but no, that was not the course to suit the sub-inspector, so, under cover of a bend in the river, they crossed, full gallop, and straight at the unfortunates they went. The moment the natives saw them they jumped up from their camp fires and plunged into the large water hole they were camped on.
The police surrounded the hole and shot every one of them except four women and I think four children. After the battle was over the women were divided as follows:��� one to a stockman who came up, one taken to a man on the Dougal, one claimed by the police, and the fourth, being old and ugly, after being knocked down by the sub-inspector of police with the butt of his rifle, was sent with the children into the ranges to fare the best way they could. The police then came over the river, and camped for the night near me.
Next morning they went off (as the sub-inspector informed me), to inquire into the reported killing of the two whites. So ended the earthly career of these unfortunate blacks, dying, they know not what for, and dying with a most damning opinion of the white men. I denounced the conduct of the police as I do now denounce the Government that allows such wholesale murders to be committed by its officers; and further allow me to inform you that the two men, who were reported to be killed, are now prospecting in the McKinlay Ranges, at least they were so when I left, well knowing the Gulf district, viz., Sam the Tracker and Cooper' (The Leader, 30 August 1884, p 35).
