| Narrative | A gold rush between 1871 and 1895 resulted in miners murdering Aboriginal people. The situation was often discussed in letters to the editor. For example: 'On Sunday evening, the 14th, three blacks came round the Princess Louise camp at dark, but finding they were discovered, they made "tracks" in a hurry, with a few shots after them. During the same afternoon several niggers visited Newman's battery, and on Monday morning a lot of tools were missing. The matter is becoming serious, and before long I fear there will be a collision of a more serious nature. The various camps are making arrangements to signal each other, and each party of men will have firearms in case of need. You will notice that the provocation is entirely on the side of the niggers, as they are continually told to go away, but unless they see a revolver they refuse to do so' (cited in NTTG, 26 Dec 1873, p 4). And a response: 'There may be occasions on which firmness is absolutely necessary with the natives, when they must be taught that the whitefellow is master and not to be trifled with; but to hunt them down to endeavor to make them prisoners; to break their jaws with the fist of a giant; to wound them in the shoulders with bullets from a revolver, and then let them escape into the bush to suffer pain and agony for weeks is the very way to make them troublesome and dangerous in the bush and on the road (WSN cited in, NTTG 30 Jan 1874, p 3). And this: 'The niggers are still prowling and crawling about and around the camps. Even at nights they are to be met with; it is not safe to go to the swamp for water to work on the claims; or to stop to mind the tents singly without being fully armed and prepared for an attack from them; and this state of things is likely to remain until someone is murdered by them, and the miners —in defiance of their sympathiser at Pine Creek—are driven to take the law in their own hands, and effectually hunt them down' (Correspondent cited in NTTG 19 Jun 1874, p 3). This was written in 1878: 'I should not be surprised if there is a little more shooting before long, but whatever is done I trust that the parties concerned will not blow about their exploits but hold their tongues "Speech is silver, but silence is gold!"' (NTTG 13 Apr 1878, p 2). |
