Cullin-la-Ringo Massacre

Fiendish Slaughter

Of all the acts of base treachery and fiendish slaughter perpetrated by the blacks, there is none so diabolical as that known as the Nogoa murder, which occurred on October 17, 1861.

In an unsuspecting moment 19 men, women and children were smitten down. The absence of any provocation, and, indeed, the fact that the natives were. remarkably well treated by the station people, combine to make this tragedy rank as one of the worst episodes of our early colonisation.

Colony Horrified

Colonists throughout the country were horrified, and although retribution was exacted on the blacks, the settlers for many years entertained nothing but feelings of deep hostility and suspicion against the aborigines and treated them accordingly.

Mr Willis' camp was exceptionally well provisioned and equipped, and as the natives were allowed, for a period, to roam around at will. their curiosity and cupidity were aroused, which generated a thirst for plunder.

The aborigines looked on the whites much the same as they would kangaroos - lawful prey; and so they killed, not ceasing until they vainly imagined the work of destruction was complete. Then they revelled in triumph over then spoils.

Victorian Squatter

Horatio Spencer Wills, a well-known Victorian settler in comfortable circumstances, came to Queensland from the Ararat region and settled at Nogoa, where he proposed to run a sheep station.

He came well-equipped and provisioned; the seasons were good and he had 10,000 sheep, with competent men. In all there were 25 white men, women and children, residing at the place selected for the station.

No person in the camp ever carried arms. There were 10 or 12 stands of loaded arms in one of the tents, but these were never carried in the presence of the natives. However, it was not long before the blacks became impudent.

The Fatal Day

On the day of the massacre three men were absent from the station, these being Mr. Thomas Wentworth Wills jun. (the owner's son). James Baker (the overseer's son), am William Albury, a station hand.

Of the remaining 22 only three escaped. These were John Moore, a station hand and Edward and Patrick Mahoney shepherds. The story of the attack comes from John Moore.

On the morning of the fatal day 50 or 60 blacks were congregated in Wills' camp, but they left before dinner apparently on the best of terms with all on the station.

Armed Assassins

Moore shared a hut occupied by the cook, and feeling tired and very hot, he went outside and lay under the shade of a bushy tree, about five yards away, where he fell asleep.

Awakening suddenly, he heard the noise of excited natives. They were talking quickly and loudly. Cautiously pushing the bushes aside, he peered through in the direction of the main camp.

He noticed that the natives who had left the homestead earlier in the morning on apparently friendly terms, had returned armed with nulla nullas and spears. They were advancing on the house en masse.

Murder! Murder!

Hearing the noise, the overseer's wife came out of a tent to investigate. The sight that met her eyes made her stand irresolute and before she could recover from her astonishment one of the natives darted out from his fellows and shoved her down.

The poor woman screamed as she was falling, "Murder! Murder!". They were the last words ever uttered, her assailant battering her head in with a nulla nulla. The sight of the murdered woman aroused the blood lust in the natives, and with demoniacal screams they rushed the compound.

The horror-stricken onlooker withdrew to the shelter of the bushes and concealed himself there.

Narrow Escape

Assistance came from an unexpected quarter. A flock of sheep coming up without a shepherd surged aimlessly around his place of concealment.

Creeping out from the bush on hands and knees, Moore mingled with his sheep, eventually gaining the shelter of a creek. Here he hid himself.

From his position he heard the sound of a shot mingle with the screams of women, the horse cries of the men, and the predominating yells of the blacks.

Awful Carnage

The first news adjoining squatters had of the awful carnage was when a foam flecked horse, ridden furiously, pulled up at the house of Mr. Jesse Gregson, owner "Rainworth" station, adjoining that of Wills.

The horseman was Edward Kenny, one of the shepherds, who, having been told of the massacre by a roustabout, had rushed to the camp, viewed the frightful sight, and immediately saddled a horse and galloped away for help.

Mr Gregson a man of action despatched riders to the surrounding stations for assistance and a small party sent to the scene. Gregson took command and they followed the first party, arriving at Wills' on the evening of the day following the massacre.

Gruesome Find

Their worst fears were confirmed by the gruesome sight that confronted them. Besides those murdered at the main camp, station hands engaged building a yard a mile and a half away, were also slain after vainly defending themselves with tent poles.

The names of those who lost their lives were: Mr. Horatio WILLS, Mr. and Mrs. Tom BAKER, Elizabeth BAKER, David BAKER, Iden BAKER (five years), the BAKER infant (seven months), Patrick MANNION, Mrs. Mary Ann MANNION and infant (three months), Mary Ann MANNION (eight years). Maggie MANNION (four years), George KING, James SCOTT, Henry PICKERING, George ELLIOTT, Charles WEEDEN, Edward McCORMACK. The whole place was a total wreck.

Retribution

The white party then set out to exact retribution on the black devils. By nightfall they came on the blacks' camp miles from the scene of the atrocity. At dawn they advanced to within a mile and half of the natives and then dismounted. The party proceed on foot to the blacks' camp.

When the white men rushed the blacks were taken by surprise and retreated up a steep ridge inaccessible to whites. While some of the attackers watched the blacks, the others collected everything in the camp, a good portion of it being plunder from Mr. Wills station, also native weapons and arms and proceeded to burn them.

The blacks who number between 200 and 300, raised a terrific yell, threw stones, and after spreading out started to descend. Fearing they might be cut off, the party withdrew to the horses. The natives followed but when a man who was left in charge of the horse came in sight on horseback they retreated.

Returning to the scene of the murder, the party discovered two blackfellows reconnoitering about the camp, but they made off on sighting the horsemen The sheep were then mustered and taken to Mr. Gregson's station.

Rockhampton Stunned

Rockhampton was stunned when, the news came through and a wave of public feeling against the blacks swept through the country. Mr P. F Macdonald, of Yaamba, equipped a private party, and proceeded to the scene to assist the men left on the station and preserve the property from damage.

A native police force under the command of Cadet Johnson left for Peak Downs to join with another force to trail the blacks. Lieutenant Cave, with 11 troopers hastened from the Dawson, and separate party from that district formed by Mr. Livingston also set out.

A further party comprising Mr. Jardine, P.M., Mr J. Leith Hay, Sub-Commissioner for Crown lands in the Leichhardt district, Lieutenant Patrick and two troopers, besides civilians, left Rockhampton.

An Eye for a Eye

Joining forces at Nogoa, the police and troopers followed the blacks, coming across many camping grounds. Keeping to the trail, they found that the blacks had separated, some having gone in the direction of Port Curtis, others towards Gracemere, and others had crossed the river for Port Bowen.

Mr. Jardine and other parties returned to their homes, but a force of native police stuck to the main trail.

On October 26, they came across a large number of the blacks who had committed the outrage, and succeeded in driving them into a place from whence escape was impossible. They then shot down 60 or 70 until their ammunition was expended.

Government Action

The series of atrocities committed by the blacks within such a short period at Little Creek, Shaw Island and Nogoa caused a storm of criticism at the time of the inadequacy of the police force to cope with the position.

Public meetings were held and resolution's forwarded to the Government asking that the police force be increased, and that settlers should be effectively protected by the establishment of additional police camps in central positions.

The Government was not long in acceding to these requests.

Source: Trove Digitized Newspapers - The Rockhampton Morning Herald - 4 September 1954.