Site NameMission Beach (1), Sabben Expedition
This massacre is part of a group of massacres
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name
Language Group, Nation or PeopleDjiru
Present State/TerritoryQLD
Colony/State/Territory at the timeQLD
Police DistrictCardwell
Latitude-17.858
Longitude146.116
Date6 Mar 1872
Attack TimeDay
VictimsAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
Victim Descriptions
Victims Killed8
Victims Killed Notes8 dead and 8 wounded
AttackersColonists
Attacker DescriptionsMilitary
Attackers Killed0
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportHorse
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedFirearm(s), Carbine(s)
NarrativeSailors led by Lt Sabben RN and another officer were sent with a detachment of sailors from Brisbane to Mission Beach to recover any survivors of the brig Maria which had been wrecked on Bramble reef on 26 February 1872. Some survivors had reached the British settlement at Cardwell but the captain and 13 crew were killed by Djiru people at present day Mission Beach. Sabben and his men landed at Clump Point, Mission Beach and were confronted by about 120 Djiru people. 'Whilst engaged in cooking we were suddenly surprised by a terrific yell from about 120 natives who rushed out from the mangrove bushes, 300 yards from the boat, with the intention of capturing her. This, however, was frustrated by my crew getting there first, and when the nearest of the natives were within eighty yards I opened fire on them, but at the first volley three of the six rifles missed fire, and on examination it was found all the powder had got wet, as it had rained a great deal during the morning, and we had also shipped some water in the boat on our way up. We had now only our own three Sniders to trust to. Our first volley was returned by the natives (who were each armed with a sword, shield, and boomerang) with a volley of stones, which they kept up to the end of the fight with great rapidity, but, strange to say, not a stone struck any of us, though there were several narrow escapes. After half-an-hour's fighting the blacks retreated into the scrub, leaving behind them eight killed and eight wounded.' (Sydney Morning Herald, 6 Apr 1872, p 8)
According to Moresby: 'Suddenly there was a yell, and about 120 natives, making hostile demonstrations, rushed from the mangrove bushes 300 yards off the boat, and made for her; Mr. Sabben and his men ran also, gained her first, and opened fire on the blacks at eighty yards, who returned it with a volley of spears, and took to their heels after a while, leaving eight dead and eight wounded behind them' (Moresby, 1876, ch 4).
SourcesSydney Morning Herald, 6 Apr 1872 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13255383; Queenslander, April 13, 1872, p 8 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27270598; Bottoms, 2013, pp 134-136; Moresby, 1876 http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks13/1301151h.html (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating***