A TRIBAL FIGHT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9165, Issue 9164, 14 March 1910, Page 5

A TRIBAL FIGHT.

(Bi Electbio Telegraph—Copyright.) (Per Press Association.) PORT DARWIN, March 13. A furious tribal fight 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 fight ensued.

FEROCIOUS HAND-TO-HAND STRUGGLE. ELEVEN KILLED. THE WOUNDED HACKED TO PIECES. Received March 14, at 8.45 a.m. PORT DARWIN, March 14. Mr McPherson, a trader, brings further news of the tribal fight, which occurred on January 24. Mr McPherson had a beche de mer 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 fight Mr McPherson observed his Junction Bay natives in full warpaint, with white faces and yellow legs. He was told a party of Liverpool natives were concealed in the thick jungle 300 yards distant.

Soon after the dtay's work was finished a blood-curdling Avar whoop was heard and between thirty and forty ghastly white-painted "figures dashed into the open from their concealment, while a still greater number of junction Bay natives came from the opposite thicket to meet them. The parties met on a clear open grassy sward. Showers of spears were exchanged, and they were throwing with exceeding skill and strength, while the dexterity with which the spears were dodged or warded off was amazing. One of Mr Mcpherson's boys was pierced by a spear, and then the natives came to close quarters. A ferocious struggle ensued. The Junction Bay boys, armed with tomahawks, trepang knives, and pieces of iron, waded in. One magnificent native armed with a huge club rushed an opponent, but to the surprise of Mr McPherson, a Junction boy warded off the blow, and with a tomahawk cleft his opponent's head from the crown to the base.

The battle lasted about half an hour. The advantage swayed from side to side, and gradually tho superior weapons of the Junction Bay natives prevailel, and the attackers broke for cover. They were hotly pursued, and the wounded were hacked to death by the victors. Eleven were killed and the bodies heaped together and burnt.