| Narrative | According to W.H. Suttor, 'a foreigner named Antonio [Josea Antonio Roderigo, former assigned servant to William Cox], had cultivated a patch of land [100 acres at Bila Wambuul flats] on the Macquarie River, opposite the town of Bathurst. Among other things he grew some potatoes. One day, as a large number of the black tribe [Wiradjuri] of the place came by, Antonio, moved by the spirit of good nature, gave some of his tubers to these people. Next day, they having appreciated the gift, appeared at the potato field and commenced to help themselves. This was not to Antonio's liking, who roused the people from the settlement on his behalf. They rushed down and attacked the blacks, some of whom were killed and others maimed.' (Suttor 1887, p.44) Stephen Gapps considers the Wiradjuri Camp [in Birch Close, Kelso] to be the massacre site (Gapps 2021, p.136). |
