WOMEN HELD CAPTIVE,.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1924, Page 11

WOMEN HELD CAPTIVE,.

DOUGLAS MA'WSON SURVIVORS. TREACHEROUS NATIVES. The report regarding the two women survivors from the Douglas Mfvwson, received by the Administrator of the Northern Territory, states:— “The manager of the Elcho Oil Company states that on August 27 he interviewed three natives from Arnheim Bay and Bradshaw’s Inlet. The latter had seen the women. This native re-

lated how the survivors had landed after the Douglas Mawson crashed on to the rocks. The sailors gave the blacks tucker and tobacco, and the blacks appeared friendly, but that night they attacked in force, and killed all except the women.” The leader of the police party, .Mounted-Constable Lovgrove, reports as follows: “I interviewed a Bradshaw black boy, who stated that the Douglas Mawson crashed on th© rocks. There were 10 persons in a launch, including two women. The sea was very rough, and the other men were drowned in an at-

tempt to get ashore in a whaleboat. The survivors built two huts, one for the women and one for the men. Another black, with some organising ability, collected a force of blacks and approached the huts. They hid their spears in the jungle and pretended to be peacefully disposed, and were given certain small presents. In the night they attacked in force and murdered all except the women, whom they took captive. Both women are safe and are at Bradshaw’s Inlet. The police party are proceeding immediately to Arnheim Bai to bring the women back-”