WITNESS EXTRACTS JAMES STIRLING, JOHN SEPTIMUS ROE, GEORGE WINDAN AND CHARLES NORCOTT | PERTH GAZETTE November 1st, 1934. ENCOUNTER WITH THE NATIVES IN THE PINJARRA DISTRICT ON THE BANKS OF THE MURRAY | EXTRACT FROM CAPT. J. S. ROE'S REGISTERED FIELDBOOK #3:28 October 1834 | STIRLING TO STANLEY (COLONIAL SECRETARY) LETTER No. 14

WITNESS EXTRACTS       

JAMES STIRLING, JOHN SEPTIMUS ROE, GEORGE WINJAN AND CHARLES NORCOTT

The upper ford being also occupied by Mr Roe, as well as the two banks they were thus completely surrounded and overpowered, the number killed amounted probably to 15 men.
- James Stirling, Governor of Western Australia

The firing continued and followed the retreating voices of the natives for upwards of an hour. After the first charge which killed four or five, the natives retreated to the river, In this dilemma they took to hiding themselves among the bushes and dead logs of the river banks, and were picked off by the party on either shore. In this way, between 15 and 20 were shot dead, very few wounded being suffered to escape.

The idea of prosecuting the object of our expedition was now at an end, on account of the severe example made of the natives, at 10.05 a.m. we remounted and proceeded towards the mouth of the Murray.
- John Septimus Roe, Surveyor General

The remainder were gradually picked out of their concealment by the cross fire from both banks, until between 25 and 30 were left dead on the field and in the river It is however very probable that more men were killed in the river and floated down with the stream.  Notwithstanding the care which was taken not to injure the women during the skirmish, it cannot appear surprising that one and several children were killed.
- Unidentified eyewitness

They rush camp, they shoot-em man, shoot-em gins, shoot-em picaninnies and they shoot-em dogs too.
- George Winjan, Child survivor of the Pinjarra Massacre

In one spot there being three graves of large dimensions, about twelve feet each in length, supposed to contain the members of separate families, and at a short distance from them were the graves of thirteen men. The party was unable to reach the quarter where the heaviest firing took place, but it was generally believed, that in this spot, also, there were several graves.
- Charles Norcott, Mounted Police Corp.

PERTH GAZETTE 
November 1st, 1834.

ENCOUNTER WITH THE NATIVES IN THE PINJARRA DISTRICT ON THE BANKS OF THE MURRAY

The report of this successful and decisive encounter with the Natives of the Murray, who have for some time been the terror of the neighbourhood, was received with general satisfaction - an opinion having prevailed that the system of lenity and forbearance hitherto adopted by the Government was not calculated to ensure safety to either lives or property of the settlers.  We have not space to revert to the many atrocities committed by the tribe, upon which at length retribution has fallen; they are, however, within the recollection of our Readers, having but recently transpired, and will fully justify the severity of the punishment -- A Gentleman, an eye witness, has obligingly favoured us with the following narrative of the encounter; from the respectability of the party, the accuracy of this report may be implicitly relied upon.

The party consisted of His Excellency Sir James Stirling, Mr Roe, Capt. Meares and his son Seymour, Mr Peel --- 5
Capt. Ellis, Mr Norcott, with 5 of the Mounted Police (one sick) --- 7
Mr Surveyor Smythe, one soldier to lead a pack-horse --- 2
Mr Peel's servant --- 1
Corporals 2, privates 8, of H.M.'s 21st Regt. - to leave at Pinjarra --- 10

In number: 25

On the night of the 27th of October, the party bivouacked at a place called by the natives "Jim-Jam," about 10 or 11 miles in a direct line E.N.E. from the mouths of the Murray, where there is an abundance of the most luxuriant feed for cattle, at a broad and deep reach of river flowing to the N.W. and at this time perfectly fresh.  After an early breakfast, the whole encampment was in motion at ten minutes before six the next morning, steering south eastward for 'Pinjarra', another place of resort for the natives of the district, and situated a little below the first ford across the river, where it was intended to establish a town on the site reserved for the purpose, and to leave half the party, including the military, for the protection of Mr Peel and other such settlers as that gentleman might induce to resort hither.  Crossing the ford, where the river had an average depth of 2 ½ feet and was running about 1 ½ miles an hour to the north, an easterly course was taken for the purpose of looking at the adjoining country; - but the party had not proceeded more than a quarter of a mile over an undulating surface of the richest description, covered with nutritious food for cattle, when the voices of many natives were heard on the left.  This being the neighbourhood much frequented by the native tribe of Kal-yute, which had long been in the almost unchecked commission of numerous outrages and atrocious murders on the white people resident in the district, and which had hitherto succeeded in eluding the pursuit of the parties that had been searching for them since their treacherous murder of private Nesbitt of the 21st Regt., and spearing Mr Barron only a very few weeks ago, the moment was considered propitiously favourable for punishing the perpetrators of such and other diabolical acts of a similar nature, should this prove to be the offending tribe.  For the purpose of ascertaining that point, His Excellency rode forward a couple of hundred yards with Messrs. Peel and Norcott, who were acquainted with the persons of the natives and with their language, and commenced calling out and talking to them for the purpose of bringing on an interview.  Their noise was, however, so loud and clamorous that all other sounds appeared lost on them, or as mere echoes.  No answer being returned, Capt. Ellis in charge of the Mounted Police, and with Mr Norcott his assistance and the remaining available men of his party, amounting to three in number, were despatched across the ford again to the left bank where the natives were posted, to bring on the interview required.  The instant the police were observed approaching about 200 yards distance, the natives, to the number of about 70, started on their feet, the men seized their numerous and recently made spears, and showed a formidable front; but finding their visitors still approached, they seemed to feel unable to stand a charge and sullenly retreated, gradually quickening their pace until the word 'forward' from the leader of the gallant little party brought the horsemen in about half a minute dashing into the midst of them, the same moment having discovered the well known features of some of the most atrocious offenders of the obnoxious tribe.  One of these, celebrated for his audacity and outrage, was the first to be recognized, at the distance of 5 or 6 yards from Mr Norcott, who knew him well, and immediately called out “these are the fellows we want, for here's the old rascal Noonarr”; on which this savage turned around and cried, with peculiar ferocity and emphasis, “Yes, Noonar, me”, and was in the act of hurling his spear at Norcott in token of requital for the recognition, when the latter shot him dead.  The identity of the tribe being now clearly established, and the natives turning to assail their pursuers, the firing continued and was returned by the former with spears as they retreated to the river.  The first shot, and the loud shouts and yells of the natives, were signal to the party who had halted a quarter of a mile above, who immediately followed Sir James Stirling at full speed and arrived opposite Capt. Ellis's party just as some of the natives had crossed and others were in the river.  It was just the critical moment for them.  Five or six rushed up the e right bank, but were utterly confounded at meeting a second party of assailants, who immediately drove back those who had escaped the firing.  Being thus exposed to a cross fire, and having no time to rally their forces, they adopted the alternative of taking to the river, and secreting themselves amongst the roots and branches and holes on its banks, or by immersing themselves with the face only uncovered, and ready with a spear under water to take advantage of any one who approached within reach.  Those who were sufficiently hardy or desperate to expose themselves on the offensive, or to attempt breaking through the assailants, were soon cleared off and the remainder were gradually picked out of their concealment by the cross fire from both banks, until between 25 and 30 were left dead on the field and in the river.  The others had either escaped up and down the river, or had secreted themselves too closely to be discovered except in the persons of eight women and some children, who emerged from their hiding-places (where in fact the poor creatures were not concealed) on being assured of personal safety, and were detained prisoners until the termination of the fray.  It is however very probable that more men were killed in the river and floated down with the stream.  Notwithstanding the care which was taken not to injure the women during the skirmish, it cannot appear surprising that one and several children were killed, and one woman amongst the prisoners had received a ball through the thigh.  On finding the women were spared, and understanding the orders repeatedly issued to that effect, many of the men cried out they were of the other sex – but evidence to the contrary was too strong to admit the plea. 

As it appeared by this time that sufficient punishment had been inflicted on this warlike and sanguinary tribe by the destruction of about half of its male population, and amongst whom were recognized, on personal examination, 15 very old and desperate offenders, the bugle sounded to cease firing, and the divided party reassembled at the ford, where the baggage had been left in charge of four soldiers, who were also to maintain the post.  Here Capt. Ellis had arrived, badly wounded in the right temple, by a spear at 3 or 4 yards distance, which knocked him off his horse, and P. Heffron, a constable of the Police, had received a bad spear wound above the right elbow.  No surgical aid being at hand, it was not without some little difficulty the spear was extracted, and it then proved to be barbed to the distance of five inches from the point.

Having recrossed the river in good order, with the baggage on three horses, the whole party formed a junction on the left bank, fully expecting the natives would return in stronger force – but in this were disappointed.  After a consultation over the prisoners, it was resolved to set them free, for the purpose of fully explaining to the remnant of the tribe the cause of the chastisement which had been inflicted, and to bear a message to the effect that “if they again offered to spear white men or their cattle, or to revenge in any way the punishment which had just been inflicted on them for their numerous murders and outrages, four times the present number of men would proceed amongst them and destroy every man, woman and child.”  This was perfectly understood by the captives, and they were glad to depart even under such an assurance; - nor did several of their number, who were the widows, mothers and daughters of notorious offenders shot that day, evince any stronger feeling on the occasion that what arose out of their anxiety to keep themselves warm.

EXTRACT FROM 

CAPT. J.S. ROE'S REGISTERED FIELDBOOK
#3:28 October 1834

28 October.  Very heavy dew during the night & heavy fog over the water – at 5.50 after breakfasting started on S.S.E. course and first 2 miles rich pasture & good soil then poorer with small timber of redgum and mahogany banksia and less grass & much underground blackboy or grass tree, country now almost a dead level, lodging water during wet weather & studded all over with tea trees, indicating permanent swampy ground – at 6.40 (a.m.) dogs went off after a kangaroo but did not kill – at 7, in consequence of having halted several times to admit of the baggage coming forward, had not made more than 3½ miles in a S.S.E. course – country then covered with ground blackboy – it soon became grassy for one mile, then again sandy and covered with grass trees for another mile – occasional swamps were passed through – the soil sometimes soft clay and occasionally black mould changing to sand immediately on rising the adjoining land.  At 8.05 (a.m.) in four miles S.E. from 7 o'clock came upon the Murray again running to the north about 30 yards wide, the banks high & covered for a third of (a) mile with excellent brown loam bearing good red gum and mahogay with grass underneath – The country for the previous 1½ miles having been sandy and much encumbered with black boys, banksias and other indications of poor land - traced the river down about three quarters of a mile to the No. (northward) & crossed over to the right bank by a ford with 3 feet water & by a tree which had fallen over the river the bed here about 25 yards wide & banks about 20 feet high, sloping to the river.  8.35 (a.m.) proceeded S.E. and inless than ½ a mile over…loamy land, covered with the most luxurient feed, heard the call of the natives to the northward; being close at hand we made for them, Mr Peel who was acquainted with many of the natives of this part advancing for the purpose of an interview.  On approaching an abrupt rising ground the rest of the party halted out of sight.  At this time is began to rain, heavy clouds having been rising from the southward since 6 o'clock.  Finding that the natives, although making much noise amongst themselves, would not answer the calls to them, Capt. Ellis and Mr Norcott with three of the mounted police were despatched across the ford to ascertain if the party belonged to the tribe of Kal-yute (which had recently committed some great outrages, and for which purpose, jointly with that of protection if the present exploring party, the mounted force had accompanied us).  In a few minutes the loud shouting and yelling of the natives told us the whites were discovered; and firing immediately commenced on the left bank.  Not having a gun, I was directed to take charge of the ford with the baggage and four soldiers, while the remainder of the force followed the Governor upwards - the firing continued and followed the retreating voices of the natives for upwards of an hour.  This is explained as follows - on the approach of the police towards the natives, they started up from their fires, about 70 or 80 in number and began retreating. So soon however, as it was ascertained that they were the obnoxious tribe, the firing commenced at a full charge, in which the chief, Capt Ellis was wounded in the temple and knocked off his horse by a spear thrown at four or five yards distance. The same native wounded one of the police (P. Heffron) in the right arm, so as to completely disable him. The native was however, almost instantly shot dead - After the first charge which killed four or five, the natives retreated to the river, intending apparently to cross over by another ford about half a mile lower down – in this they were completely frustrated, by meeting the remainder of the armed force headed by the Governor, just as part of them were ascending the bank - In this dilemma they took to hiding themselves among the bushes and dead logs of the river banks, and were picked off by the party on either shore. This was not however, done without much resistance on the part of the natives, who although crouched in very small and scarcely discernible holes and places, and in many instances had immersed themselves in water, having only their nose and mouth above water, nevertheless threw numerous spears with amazing precision and force. In this way, between 15 and 20 were shot dead, very few wounded being suffered to escape, until at length it being considered that the punishment of the tribe for the numerous murders it had committed was sufficiently exemplary, the firing ceased and the party secured eight women and several children prisoners…  In the meantime, Capt. Ellis and Heffron had arrived across the ford to the right bank, and everything was done for them which our very limited means would admit. Although a perfect novice in the art of surgery, the circumstances of the case required immediate and prompt measures, and with the assistance of another man I extracted Heffron's spear, which was hacked and had penetrated about seven inched above the elbow. No time was lost in crossing the party over to the left bank, and as the idea of prosecuting the object of our expedition was now at an end, on account of the severe example made of the natives, at 10.05 a.m. we remounted and proceeded towards the mouth of the Murray –steering west – over level country and alternatively sandy and swamps – at 11 (a.m.) halted to refresh and in one hour started again steering west over level sandy country with swamps and patches of good soil – timber, small clumps of spearwood – at 1.25 (p.m.) saw the Murray estuary after 6 miles from the place of our refreshing at 11 o'clock continuing ¼ mile further came out on shore of estuary where it turns N.E. and S.W.  We followed up the shore of the estuary and crossed the mouths of the Murray and Serpentine, although with considerable pain and inconvenience to the wounded men, especially to Capt. Ellis who was scarcely able to sit on his horse and was delirious – a mile beyond the mouths of the estuary we quitted the estuary and steered about N.W. by N. for the village at Mr Peel's, Capt Ellis being supported on either hand by another person on horseback, and the Gov'r, Mr Peel and Mr Norcott having rode on to procure assistance and have matters arranged in readiness to receive the wound.  In 4 miles we arrived a the village at about 4 o'clock (p.m.) much fatigued and jaded with the day's exertions.  Capt. Ellis being taken care of appeared to be doing well but in the evening became feverish when one of the privates of the 21st bled him and a man was despatched to Fremantle for a Surgeon – Heffron was doing very well, complaining only of pain and sufferences in his arm.

This recontre with the natives and the uncertainty as to the measures which our late salutory example of them might induce them to take in revenge, rendered it highly imprudent to think of establishing the contemplated station at Pinjarra or Doolganup with a view to commencing the settlement of that part of the country.  His Excellency resolved on returning homewards on the morrow, leaving the whole of the armed force here, amounting to about 20 men and non com'd officers under Lieut Armstrong, until the excitement should have subsided – as not a doubt appeared to exist in the mind of those acquainted with the characters of the natives hereabouts, that they would not sit down quietly with their punishment.

STIRLING TO STANLEY 

(COLONIAL SECRETARY)
LETTER No. 14


Sir,

On my late Return to this Settlement, I learnt that a Soldier of the 21st Regiment, had been recently killed by the Natives, on the Swan River; In consequence of this, the leading Man on the Tribe, named Weeup, had been outlawed and his Son, having been apprehended, was in Confinement; There were some Circumstances, connected with this Transaction, which led me to consider it advisable, to grant Weeup a Pardon, and to release his Son, upon a formal Explanation with the Tribe, that such Proceedings, on their Part should never again be repeated.

Up to the present Time, this Arrangement appears, to have had a beneficial Effect, and I hope may stop the Repetition, of Similar Outrages, by the same Party. 

In addition to the case above mentioned, I also learnt, that in July the Circumstances detailed in the accompanying Deposition had occurred on the Murray River.  The Duplicity and unprovoked Ferocity, of the Aborigines, on that occasion, were in accordance with the practices of the same tribe, throughout the last five years, in the course of which they have murdered 4 white men, and dangerously wounded 2 others; independent of sundry robberies of valuable horses, and of a mill near Perth. The distance of their usual abode had made it impossible, to bring the members of that tribe, to any account, for their atrocities, and grown bold by impunity, and by the smallness of the force at that remote station, they threatened after the murder, in July to burn the barracks and houses on the Murray, and destroy all the whites in their district. There was danger, that their success in this species of warfare, might tempt other tribes, to pursue the same course, and eventually combine together for the extermination of the whites.  It therefore became of the most urgent necessity, that a check should be put upon the career, of that particular tribe.  Perceiving this, I availed myself, of the first occasion, to proceed to that quarter, accompanied by a party of the new Corps, of Mounted Police, and by the Surveyor General, for the purpose of inspecting the country, at the same time, and having arrived at Mr Peel's station, on the 25th Ultimo, we proceeded thence, on the day following reinforced, by a Corporal's Party of 10 soldiers and Mr Peel.  In the forenoon of the 27th, we reached the upper ford of Daulgannup, on the Murray, and had just crossed the river, when we heard the natives, shouting, keeping the party out of sight, Capt. Ellis, the Superintendent of Mounted Police, was sent with Mr Norcott, for the purpose of ascertaining whether they were the offending tribe. This he accomplished with great celerity, and on his approach towards them, he recognised several of them, to be those who were present at Nisbett's murder, and amounting in all to about 60 or 70. He accordingly made a preconcerted signal to me, and advanced towards them. The natives very resolutely stood their ground, as I am informed, and threw a volley of spears, by which Captain Ellis was wounded in the head, and one of his men in the right arm, and another was unhorsed, stunned, and dismounted by the blow, and having his horse speared. Captain Ellis's party was thus put into great peril, but at this critical moment, the men with me go into position, and commenced firing, and threw the natives into confusion, they fled to a ford about 100 yards, below the other, but being headed then, by the Corporal's party, they were forced back into the bed of the stream. The upper ford being also occupied by Mr Roe, as well as the two banks they were thus completely surrounded and overpowered, the number killed amounted probably to 15 men. The women were kept, until after our company had been collected round the two wounded men, they were then informed that the punishment had been inflicted, because of the misconduct of the tribe, that the white men, never forgot to punish murder, that on this occasion the women and children had been spared, but that if any other person, should be killed by them, not one would be allowed, to remain alive on this side of the mountains, upon this, they were dismissed, and after a long march, we succeeded in getting the wounded men back to the station. I trust Captain Ellis' wound, will not prove to be of serious import to him, and beg leave to state that I cannot too much commend his conduct, on the occasion, as well as that of all the persons, engaged in this skirmish.

I have been thus particular, in the detail of these circumstances, because doubtless, this affair will have considerable effect, upon our communications in future, with the native tribes. My hope is, that it may impress them, with the conviction of our power, to defend ourselves and to avenge violence, and restrain them from practices, which have repeatedly threatened, the existence of the settlement. But if unfortunately, the effect be otherwise, the most decisive measures, must be resorted to, for the protection of life and property. In the meanwhile, I have reinforced the post at the Murray and have given orders, for the frequent examination of the country around, by patrolling parties, and for the apprehension, of those other natives who were concerned in Nisbett's murder and not present on the 27th Ultimo.