OUTBACK TRAGEDY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11493, 21 November 1931, Page 12

OUTBACK TRAGEDY

LONELY PROSPECTOR KILLED

SPEAR ATTACK BY CUNNING

BLACKS. EATEN BY _ ALLIGATORS b DARAVIN, Nov. 12. News lias just reached Darwin from Duly River of the murder by blacks of' a mining prospector, Herbert Watts, formerly employed at survey camps. The tragedy is supposed to have taken place six weeks ago at Hermit Hill, 150 miles westof Darwin. Watts was speared by aboriginals in the arm. neck, and head. Jt is believed that Mounted Constable William McCann, in charge of tlie police station at Daly River, is investigating the matter. According to ail eye-witness. Watts was alone and asleep under the mosquito net when the blacks approached in three directions. They threw spears under the cover of trees. Several spears pierced Watts, .who replied with a revolver. Watts had only three cartridges, and when these were fired the blacks rushed in with waddies. They looted the camp, auj made off, into the swamp fastness near the coast. SPIES WERE BUSY. Black spies learned that Watts had only three cartridges for his .22 calibre, revolver. He wore round his waist a belt containing many .44 calibre cartridges, thinking that by doing so he could overawe • the blacks. The spy had hud experience with firearms, and he knew that the large cartridges were useless. Attackers rushed in without fear when they had counted three shots. The eye-witness returned to the spot three days later, and the body had by then disappeared. Tracks indicated that the body had been dragged into a nearby lagoon, where it had probably been devoured by alligators. FEARS FOll CHINESE. •Fears are expressed about the safety of a lone Chinese prospector at Fletcher's Gully but his wife is an aboriginal member of the marauding tribe, and she guards her husband with dingo cunning and ferocity. and his financial backers are not worrying.