TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 11

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

MADMAN ON ISLAND.

SON AND DAUGHTER KILLED.

HOME BURNED DOWN.

SHOT BY NATIVES.

TWO PEOPLE WOUNDED

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received February 5, 12.35 a.m.) BRISBANE, Feb. 4. A terrible tragedy has occurred at Fantome Island, near Palm Tsland. off the coast of Norlh Queensland. The superintendent,, Mr. R. H. Currie, who recently lost his wife, became demented and ran amok with a revolver. ITe then went to Fantome Island and killed his daughter, aged 20, and his son, aged 10, and burned their home.

When the demented man returned to Palm Island the natives shot him dead while ho was landing. Tho bodies of the daughter and son were found in the ruins of the home on the adjoining island. Mr. Currie had evidently been greatly worried by complaints of his treatment of tho natives.

Earlier m r Jfts had not indicated the full nature oi the tragedy. These stated

Two black "boys" rowed from Palm Island, near Townsville, to tho mainland. and reported that Dr. Maitland Patterson, medical officor in charge of the native hospital, had been shot in the thigh and Mrs. Patterson, acting matron of tha hospital, had been shot through the neck. Both were ia a serious condition.

According to the information brought to the police by the black boys, after shooting Dr. and Mrs. Patterson, Mr. Currie set fire to the stores and offices in the quarters of the superintendent and his assistant, which were completely destroyed.- He burned a motor-boat belonging to the settlement, and escaped in another craft to an adjacent island. With all their food supplies gone, the 900 aborigines resident on Palm Island are in sad straits, and the serious condition of the wounded officials made the situation critical. The native crew therefore undertook the hazardous journey to tho mainland, which was safely accomplished, in spite of tho heavy seas.

Police and medical aid have been sen to the island.

The police have returned from Palm Island with Dr. Patterson and his wife. She is able to walk. They had a terrifying experience.

Palm Island is in Halifax Bay, about 35 miles north of Towrisville.