THE TRAGEDY AT VICTORIA RIVER.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12869, 3 January 1906, Page 5

THE TRAGEDY AT VICTORIA RIVER.

THE NEWS CONFIRMED. DETAILS OF THE MASSACRE. Cuited Press Association—Per Electrio Telegraph—Copvright. MELBOURNE, Janunry 2. Confirmation of the news of the massacre »f Mr Bradshaw and party has been received from Port Darwin. The launch was found on the beach. The contents were smashed and covered with blood. A body was found near, but was unrecognisable. It was believed to be Bradshaw's. The search party surrounded eight natives. Two were captured, but- the remainder esI caped. The prisoners state that the launch I anchored near the beach. Two white men landed, and the natives speared them. After dark the natives swam off to tho launch, and after a desperate encounter murdered all on board. The whites shot two of their assailants. [News was received at Port Darwin on December 16th of a massacre at Victoria river. It was stated that the blacks attacked a Government bore party, killing two. The bore party captured and chained seven or eight natives. Bradshaw's launch arrived shortly after the massacre, and undertook to convey the natives to Port Darwin. Shortly after leaving, Bradshaw had the irons removed. The natives immediately attacked and murdered the whole crew, excepting a black boy. The victims were Bradshaw, Eggeroffe, Donnock and Skehan, and four black boys. On December 20th a cable message stated that there was some doubt as to the accuracy of the story of the massacre. The police reported that though an attack was made on the bore party no one was killed. The launch was missing, but it was believed there were other survivors than the informant, who made off after 'telling Ids story.] ■