Massacre at Yeelanna, Eyre Peninsula
In oral histories collected by Christina Smith one account relates that: In May 1849 a 'local shepherd, Patrick Dwyer, annoyed at Aboriginal people taking flour from his hut, laced some of his supply with arsenic. The flour disappeared and eight Aboriginal people became sick after eating it. Five of them died and three others became very ill and later died. Dwyer was arrested on suspicion of murder but released afterwards for lack of evidence.' He then disappeared to California (Foster et al, 2001, p 83).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Nawu
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 8
CorroborationRating: **
LanguageGroup: Nawu
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 8
People involved
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Event mentions
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Massacre at Yeelanna, Eyre Peninsula1 May 1849 — Yeelanna, Eyre Peninsula — massacreIn oral histories collected by Christina Smith one account relates that: In May 1849 a 'local shepherd, Patrick Dwyer, annoyed at Aboriginal people taking flour from his hut, laced some of his supply with arsenic. The flour disappeared and eight Aboriginal people became sick after eating it. Five of them died and three others became very ill and later died. Dwyer was arrested on suspicion of murder but released afterwards for lack of evidence.' He then disappeared to California (Foster et al, 2001, p 83).