Index  Back to Colonial Events 1830

The Australian 24 March 1830

OUTRAGES AT NEWCASTLE

We have had occasion more than once, to advert to numerous instances which have occurred of military violence, in Sydney and elsewhere. We have now the painful duty of relating another, much more obnoxious than any that has preceded it, and for the truth of which we can safely vouch.

In the afternoon of St. Patrick's day, a party of soldiers, of the 39th, in number from 12 to 15, had been drinking at the public house in the principal street, 4 or 5 of whom were quite intoxicated, and the rest nearly so; they rushed into the street, and encountered a free man, of the name of Buckston (Buxton), who was unceremoniously knocked down; 3 or 4 of the soldiers then jumped on him, and kicked him most violently. An inhabitant on the other side of the street then ran to the assistance of Buckston, but overpowered by numbers, was knocked down also, and severely handled; a soldier on sentry at the government Store about 60 yards from the scene of action, thought he to leave his post, and join his comrades in other acts of atrocity and on the way he met an inhabitant of the town passing peaceably up the street, whom he knocked down without hesitation; he then passed on to where Buckston was lying (suffering from the inhuman treatment he had received) upon whom he bestowed numerous hard knocks with his bayonet. After this preliminary affray, the whole of the soldiers made an indiscriminate attack upon every one they met; an old man of 58 was knocked down, and severely cut with a paling. They then rushed into Mr. Sparks' yard, having first pulled down the paling in front of his house, and treated his man in the most brutal manner; they next visited his slaughter house, where they took a poll axe used to slaughter the cattle, in order to complete their work of desperation; upon this, the resident Magistrate was compelled to swear in about 12 inhabitant as conservators of the peace, to patrol the streets, and prevent bloodshed if possible. This is a brief outline of the proceedings of the military on that evening, commenced on their part, without the slightest provocation. If such acts as these be tolerated, God knows where they may end.

The inhabitants, we are glad to say exercised much forbearance on the occasion, although such wanton and malicious attacks upon peaceable individuals would have warranted them most violent opposition. An investigation has taken place before the police Authorities but the result was not ascertained up to the date of our last accounts from Newcastle.