FURIOUS TRIBAL FIGHT.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 61, 14 March 1910, Page 5

FURIOUS TRIBAL FIGHT.

Press Assn—By telegraph—Copyright, PORT DARWIN, March 13.

A furious tribal tight is reported from -Junction Bay. Fifty natives at the latter place were attacked near the seashore by a band of Liverpool River blacks.

A ferocious hand-to-hand tight ensued.

A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER

ELEVEN KILLED

(Received March 14, 8.45 a.m.) PORT DARWIN, This Day

Mr M'Plierson, a trader, brings news of the tribal tight which occurred on January 24. M'Plierson had a Becliedemer fishing camp at Rolling Bay, which appears to be neutral territory between the Junction Bay tribe and the Liverpool River tribe. On the day of the tight, M'Plierson observed his Junction Bay natives in full warpaint, Avith white faces and yellow legs. He was told that a party of Liverpool natives were concealed in thick jungle 300 yards distant. Soon after the day's work was finished, there was a weird, blood-curdl-ing war whoop, and between thirty and forty ghastly white-painted figures dashed into the open from their concealment, while a still greater number of Junction natives came opposite the thicket to meet them. The contending parties met in the clear, open, grassy sward. Showers of spears were exchanged. They were thrown with exceeding skill, while the dexterity with which the spears were dodged or warded off was amazing. As spears became scarcer, one of M'Plierson's boys was pierced by a spear, then the natives came to close quarters, and a ferocious struggle ensued.

The Junction boys were armed with tomahawks, trepan knives, and pieces of iron, and they waded in. One magnificent native, armed with a huge club, rushed on his opponent, but to the surprise of M'Plierson the Junction boy warded the blow, and with a tomahawk cleft his opponent's head from crown to base. The battle lasted about half an hour. Advantage swayed from side to side, but gradually the superior weapons of the Junction natives prevailed. The attackers broke from cover, and were hotly pursued. The wounded were hacked to death by the victors, and eleven were killed. The bodies were heaped together and burnt.