Site NameThe 'Sapphire', Torres Strait
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place NameKeriri Island
Language Group, Nation or PeopleGudang?
Present State/TerritoryQLD
Colony/State/Territory at the timeQLD
Police DistrictPort Curtis
Latitude-10.568
Longitude142.202
DateBetween 1 Dec 1859 and 31 Dec 1859
Attack TimeDay
VictimsColonists
Victim DescriptionsSailor(s)
Victims Killed18
Victims Killed NotesMen
AttackersAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
Attacker Descriptions
Attackers Killed1
Attackers Killed Notes
TransportBoat
MotiveReprisal
Weapons UsedWaddies/Nulla-nulla(s), Spear(s)
NarrativeEighteen survivors of the shipwreck, Sapphire, were slaughtered by Gudang warriors on Hammond Island also known as Keriri Island, in Torres Strait. See full account in Moreton Bay Courier, March 24, 1860, p 2.
SourcesMBC March 24, 1860, p.2 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3716608; Mullins, 1994, p 22; Bottoms, 2013, p 126. (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating***