Massacre at Batavia area (5)

Date: 11 Jun 1889
Place: Batavia area (5)
Event type: massacre
Direct violence: Yes
Following the killing of Edmund Watson at Pine Tree station on the Upper Archer River on Cape York by Kaanju warriors in early May 1889, Sub-Inspector Frederick Urquhart was despatched to the nearby Mein Telegraph station where he formed a party of at least 40 armed men comprising three detachments of native police, the brother of Edmund Watson and stockmen from every cattle station in the area with the purpose of giving 'the blacks a lesson' (Vogan, 1890, p 137). According to Timothy Bottoms, in early June the party went to Merluna Station for rations, left there on 9 June and on 11 June 'came up with them on Batavia (Wenlock) River... dispersed them and recovered telegraph wire, iron pins and insulators in their camp'. There were five of these 'dispersals' (Bottoms, 2013, p 124).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Kaanju
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 20

People involved

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Sources

  • Vogan, 1890, p 137; Loos, 1982, p 61; Bottoms, 2013, p 124.

Event mentions

  • Massacre at Batavia area (5)
    11 Jun 1889 — Batavia area (5) — massacre
    Following the killing of Edmund Watson at Pine Tree station on the Upper Archer River on Cape York by Kaanju warriors in early May 1889, Sub-Inspector Frederick Urquhart was despatched to the nearby Mein Telegraph station where he formed a party of at least 40 armed men comprising three detachments of native police, the brother of Edmund Watson and stockmen from every cattle station in the area with the purpose of giving 'the blacks a lesson' (Vogan, 1890, p 137). According to Timothy Bottoms, in early June the party went to Merluna Station for rations, left there on 9 June and on 11 June 'came up with them on Batavia (Wenlock) River... dispersed them and recovered telegraph wire, iron pins and insulators in their camp'. There were five of these 'dispersals' (Bottoms, 2013, p 124).
    Source: Vogan, 1890, p 137; Loos, 1982, p 61; Bottoms, 2013, p 124.