# Battle of Minderoo

​These examples of local northwest poetry believed to be written by a man named Thatcher were copied out for Harold Aubry Hall by Emily Withnell (Mrs J.G. Meares). Thatcher was briefly in the north in the early days of the settlement.
H.M.W.
​"THE BATTLE OF MINDEROO."
Twas Sabbath morn, the rising sun Had not appeared in view; But day contested with the night At beauteous Minderoo The Cork-bark shed a sweet perfume, And the wild Ashburton Pea Made sweeter still the morning air, And birds sang merrily What means this band of armed men Who ride on firey steeds What mission brings them this abroad That so much caution need as, No pannicans or hobble chains Upon their saddles tied. They seem to hold their very breath, As o'er the plain they ride. How slowly, and how silently They're riding neck, and neck. The impatient neighing of a steed His rider soon doth check. The sun shows in the Eastern sky Illumining the scene, And lighting up the thick snake-bush, With leaves of heavy green. The startled Emu o'er the plain; Is quickly lost to view, And from the gums with noisy scream There flies the Cockatoo. A smile comes o'er our leaders face, A smile that seems to show He feels that job, a warrior feels Who meets a worthy foe: For there some hundred yards ahead The dimly burning fires Betray the presence of the foe To meet whom he desires. A foe both dangerous & cruel With cunning like to theirs He means now to surround their camp, And take them unawares; They see the troop, and starting up,
With wild discordant cry. They yell like fiends, & on the whites Intimidation try. They little know that leader bold; Who fought in many a field With stern commanding voice he crys On every man to yield. They answer with their fighting spears Most cruelly barbed in rows With cooley's, and with clubs they try to disconcert their foes. Now Hooley had that barbed spear, But one inch nearer been; By Heaven above your your wife, & child You never more had seen. Well shot bold Bob! that warrior His earthly course has run; He'll never throw another spear, Nor view the setting sun. Bold trooper Vincent's restive steed Doth rear with all his force He only asks to fight on foot If one will hold his horse Now Ensign Willie's mare doth try, From off the field to bolt She kicks, and rears but still Will lets Them taste his navy colt M$^c$ Rae confronts the dusky foe Upon his well trained horse; He fears no spears; alike defies The coyles whirling force. An ugly smile upon his face Most dangerous to see Descended evidently from A Scottish ancestry. His rein hangs loosely on his arm; His rifle grasped tight He sits just like one carved in stone, And cooly takes a sight The leader of the savages The white man's arms defies;
Encouraging his followers With yelps & shouts, & cries. His left hand grasps a painted shield, His right his spears, & rest To strike the horses of the foe; He bids them do their best But suddenly his shield is dropped His spears are scattered round, With loud despairing cry of rage He drops upon the ground A bullet from M$^c$ Rae's good piece Has gone right through his brain. He never more will use that shield, Nor throw those spears again Hurrah! cries Thatcher with delight That shot was worth a crown; Another warrior bites the dust The boldest of them down. Their leader gone, & falling fast For mercy then, they pray, And send their prettiest women out To plead with bold M$^c$ Rae That flinty hearted champion The damsels proudly eye; He heeds not their entreating looks, Nor cares about their sighs. "Send out the old men, and the boys; We only fight with men. Throw down your arms, unship your spears We'll talk of quarter then". They send out boys, & aged men, The nuncaberrys stay And fight like wolves, or tigers till They're vanquished by M$^c$ Rae. And there they lay upon the plain A ghastly sight to view Their life blood stains the clayey soil Of beauteous Minderoo.
By murdering natives on that plain A lesson may be read; "Whose sheddeth the blood of man By man shall his be shed."
The party consisted of: —
| Farquhar M$^c$ Rae. | leader. |
| Robert Sholl. | Captain. |
| Edward Hooley. | 2nd in command. |
| William Shenton. | Ensign. |
| Richmond Thatcher. | volunteer. |
| William Vincent. | trooper. |
| Edward Kelsh. | volunteer. |