WOMAN DIES OF BROKEN HEART

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7077, 15 March 1910, Page 1

WOMAN DIES OF BROKEN HEART

A BACKBLOCKS TRAGEDY TERRORS OP JOURNEY PROVE FATAL. FEOM OCB OWN COEMSPONDENT. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 14. A. painfully sad, but -unfortunately true story—a tragedy of baekblocks pioneer Utopia related by the UruU the "Daily News." A woman and her husband, who had, taken up a. section way back in the Taranaki hinterland years ago, reached their new home only after the greatest of. Once the?e, the woman declared that nothing would indiice her to .make the journey again. For nine years she never stirred out of the home paddock. . At length she Tell ill and it was deemed advisable to • take her to the nearest hospital. Per thirty ,n^ was carried through the pathless wilderness on a stretcher, relays of men relieving at intervals. ' ■ A tew weeks in, hospital restored the to health, and her return homo was mooted. The woman shuddered at the thought, declaring i| would fall _her. However, a day was fixed for hex departure, but before it dawned the wo-, roan was dead. ' „ n The doctor in attendance, who knew all tho circumstances, said he could only ascribe %>■■■ death to a broken.:heart.

NATIVES' HERCE BATTLE . » •■ GRIM STORY OP THE JUNCTION BAY TRAGEDY. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. PORT DARWIN, March 14. Mr McPherson, a trader, brings news of the tribal fight which occurred at Junction Bay on January 24th.

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 McFherson observed his Junction Bay natives in full war-paint, with white faces and yellow logs. He was told a. party of Liverpool natives was concealed in the thick jungle 300 yards distant.- Soon after the day's work was finished there was a weird, bloodcurdling war-whoop, and then between thirty and forty ghastly whitepainted figures dashed into the open from their place of concealment, while a still greater number of J unction Bay natives came opposite the thicket to meot them.

. The contending parties met on a clear, open grassy sward. Showers of spears were exchanged. They were thrown with exceeding skill and strength, while the dexterity with which the spears were dodged or warded off was amazing. As the spears became scarcer, one of McPherson's boys was pierced by a spear.

Then the natives came to close quarters, and a ferocious struggle ensued. The Junction boys, armed with tomahawks, trepan 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, the Junction boy warded off the blow, and with a tomahawk cleft his opponent's head from crown to base.

The battle lasted about half an hour. The advantage swayed from side to side, but gradually the superior weapons of the Junction Bay natives prevailed, and the attackers broke for cover, being hotly pursued, and wounded or hacked to death by the victors.

Eleven were killed. The bodies were heaped together and burnt.