| Site Name | Little Gregory |
| Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name | Judbarra |
| Language Group, Nation or People | Ngarinyman, Karrangpurru, Nungali, Malngin, Wardaman, Ngaliwurru, Bilinara |
| Present State/Territory | NT |
| Colony/State/Territory at the time | SA |
| Police District | Gordon Creek |
| Latitude | -15.687 |
| Longitude | 131.286 |
| Date | Between 1 Nov 1895 and 30 Nov 1895 |
| Attack Time | Day |
| Victims | Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People |
| Victim Descriptions | |
| Victims Killed | 10 |
| Victims Killed Notes | |
| Attackers | Colonists |
| Attacker Descriptions | Pastoralist(s) |
| Attackers Killed | 0 |
| Attackers Killed Notes | |
| Transport | Horse |
| Motive | Reprisal |
| Weapons Used | Firearm(s) |
| Narrative | This incident was a daylight attack on Paddy Cahill who had a reputation for his ability to shoot accurately at a gallop on horseback.
Lewis (2004, pp 247-248) wrote: 'In November 1895, Paddy Cahill took a mob of horses from Katherine to the Depot where he had arranged to meet the Government Resident, Charles Dashwood. As he was crossing the Little Gregory Creek about fourteen miles from its junction with the Victoria River he was attacked by Aborigines. In his words: "We had just started from the luncheon camp and had hardly gone 300 yards when I noticed some very fresh black's tracks. Knowing that the blacks were very bad in that part of the country I took my rifle from under my saddle flap and filled it with cartridges. I rode on a few yards when one of my boys cried out, 'Look out Paddy!' I knew the blacks must be behind me, so I dodged down alongside my horse's shoulder, and only just in time. A spear struck my hat, going through it, and giving me hard knock on the head. Luckily I am Irish, and a bit thickheaded, so it did very little harm! Before I could say a word, I had niggers all around. I could do nothing but shoot as quickly as possible, and I can shoot fairly quickly. I don't know how many niggers I shot-I didn't stop to count them". (SA Register September 4, 1900, p 6) Cahill continued on and was followed by the Aborigines for several days and nights, but was not attacked again.' |
| Sources | Lewis, 2004, pp 247-248; Cahill, letter, SA Register, September 4, 1900 p 6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/54530870 (Sources PDF) |
| Corroboration Rating | *** |
