MAN RUNS AMOK

Grey River Argus, 5 February 1930, Page 5

MAN RUNS AMOK

j WITH A REVOLVER I On Aboriginals’ Island DOCTOR AND MATRON SHOT. 900 AUSTRALIAN NATIVES IN DIFFICULTY. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) BRISBANE, February 4. Two black boys rowed from Palm Island, north of Townsville, to the mainland and reported that Doctor Paterson had been shot in the thigh, and the Matron of the hospital through the neck. 'Both were in a serious condition. An official who lost his wife recently, and became demented, is said to have been responsible for the shooting. Police and medical aid have been sent to the island.

BRISBANE, February 4. The man who ran amok with a revolver on Palm Island is stated to be R. H. Currie, who has lived on the island for twelve years, according to information brought to the police by black boys, after the shooting. Doctor Patterson, the medical officer, was in charge of the Native Hospital, and Mrs Patterson, who acted as matron. Currie set fire to the stores office, and to the superintendent’s and his assistant’s quarters, which were completely destroyed. He also burned a motor boat belonging to the Settlement, and then escaped in another craft to an adjacent island. With all of their food supplies gone, the nine hundred aborigines resident on Palm Island are in sad straits, and the wounded officials are in a serious condition. This made the situation critical.

A native crew, therefore, undertook the hazardous journey to the mainland, which was safely accomplished, despite heavy seas. Currie Shot by Blacks AFTER HE KILLS HIS CHILDREN (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) BRISBANE, February 4. The police have returned from Palm Island with Dr Patterson and his wife. The latter is able to walk. They had a terrifying experience. The police ascertained that Currie, after running amok, went to Fantome Island, and then killed his 20-year-old daughter, and his ten-year-old son, and burned the home. Then, when he was returning to Palm Island, some natives shot him dead while he was landing. The bodies of his daughter and sou were found in the ruins of the home on the adjoining island. Currie evidently was greatly worried over complaints of his treatment of the natives.