Poisoning
In 1887 William Henry Suttor Junior noted that ‘very frequently’ the cause of Wiradyjuri attacks was ‘their ill-treatment by the whites’. As Suttor recalled from stories told by his family: ‘Poisoned dampers had been left purposely exposed in shepherds’ huts in order to tempt the blacks to steal and eat. They did eat, and died in horrible agony. No wonder reprisals took place’. Suttor was clear that the poisoning of people at a place called the ‘Murdering Hut’ occurred before a series of raids in late May 1824, and that one of these raids was at the ‘very place where it was rumored, the poisoned bread had been laid for them’.
People involved
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Sources
- Suttor, Australian Stories Retold, p. 65; Salisbury and Gresser, Windradyne of the Wiradjuri, pp. 22-3. Salisbury and Gresser noted that ‘Millah-Murrah’ was nearby ‘Tanawarra’, a ‘native cemetery’, and that it was also ‘the location of the “Murdering Hut”’, where it seems poison had been laid out for unsuspecting Wiradyjuri. According to Gresser, it was ‘nearby’ (not on) ‘Tanawarra’, the ‘native cemetery’. Gresser notes that ‘Mullah-murrah’ meant ‘many eyes’. Gresser Papers, BDHSMA, pp. 24–53
Event mentions
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Poisoning1 May 1824 – 31 May 1824 — Murdering hut' ('Milla- Murrah'?)In 1887 William Henry Suttor Junior noted that ‘very frequently’ the cause of Wiradyjuri attacks was ‘their ill-treatment by the whites’. As Suttor recalled from stories told by his family: ‘Poisoned dampers had been left purposely exposed in shepherds’ huts in order to tempt the blacks to steal and eat. They did eat, and died in horrible agony. No wonder reprisals took place’. Suttor was clear that the poisoning of people at a place called the ‘Murdering Hut’ occurred before a series of raids in late May 1824, and that one of these raids was at the ‘very place where it was rumored, the poisoned bread had been laid for them’.Source: Suttor, Australian Stories Retold, p. 65; Salisbury and Gresser, Windradyne of the Wiradjuri, pp. 22-3. Salisbury and Gresser noted that ‘Millah-Murrah’ was nearby ‘Tanawarra’, a ‘native cemetery’, and that it was also ‘the location of the “Murdering Hut”’, where it seems poison had been laid out for unsuspecting Wiradyjuri. According to Gresser, it was ‘nearby’ (not on) ‘Tanawarra’, the ‘native cemetery’. Gresser notes that ‘Mullah-murrah’ meant ‘many eyes’. Gresser Papers, BDHSMA, pp. 24–53