The National tribune., 1882-04-15
ESCAPING MASSACRE TO DIE OF
THIRST.


The fate of Mrs Watson and her child has
at last been definitely ascertaned. The de-
scription was given few weeks ago of the
attack of the North Queensland blacks upon
the Lizard Island fishing station, the brave
defence made by Mrs. Watson and her Chi
namen against overwhelming odds, and the
suspicion of the police that the survivors
had been drowned while making in leaky
little punt, for the mainland. The finale of
the sad tragedy is told by the last mail
delivery. Mrs. Watson and her child had
escaped murder and outrage from the saw
ages, but were fated to lingering death on
a distant desert island.
The master of trading schooner found
three skeletons Oh No. ) Island of the Hor-
wich group, and these are proved to be the
remains of Mrs. Watson, her baby, and the
faithful Chinaman, All Sam. 4 revolver, full
cooked and loaded, was lying by the mother
and child The dead Chinaman was found
under tree few yards of, with a loaded
rifle at his side. There was no water on the
island, and the unfortunate castaways had
no doubt died from the most terrible afllic-
ton of thirst. All Sam had been speared in
seven places, and the bandages showed that
Mrs. Watson, in the midst Of her woes, had
not neglected to dress the wounds. The
presence of mind and herOism displayed by
the courageous woman are now seen to be
even greater than was at first supposed. The
fight from Lizard Island was made, not in
no4 ht-f in, haf Of Ho,,1- sod
boiling down beche-de-mer. The woman,
child, and Chinaman set forth On their peril
ous voyage on October 8, landed next day on
a reel, and remained there till the 6th. Then
they went from islet to islet in search Of
water, of which they could not have had
drop for at least five days.
During this horrible period of suffering
and suspense Mrs. Watson kept her diary,
and never lost sight of her husbands papers
and account books.
The extracts from the heroine's diary tell
as much of the touching end OF the harrow
iDr story % viii ever be known, but lmagi-
nation will but too wildly indicate the
closing scenes of this brave woman's life.
The supply of water on hand had evidently
lasted the fugitives during their earlier wan
derings. but prior to the date of the first
entry it had altogether failed.
The pencilings in the diary speak with
pathetic force for themselves: October g.
Brought the tank ashore as far as possible
with this mornings tide; made camp all
day under the trees; blowing very hard; no
water; gave baby dip in the sea-he is
showing symptoms of thirst-and took dip
myself. All Sam and self very parched with
thirst. Baby showing symptoms. Sunday,
10.-Baby very bad with inflammation; very
much alarmed; no fresh water and no more
milk but condensed self very weak; really
thought l should have died last night. Mon
day, 11-Stiu all alive. Baby very much
better this morning; self feeling very weak;
think it will rain to-day; clouds very
heavy wind not quite so high; no rain;
every appearance of fine weather. All Sam
gone away to die; have not seen him since
the 9th. Baby more cheerful; self not feel
ing at all well; have not seen any boats of
any description. No water. Dead with
thirst
The relics were discovered by Captain
Brenner, of the schooner Kate Kearney, and
over the remains he raised mound, and
read the Church of England burial service,
heard for the first time upon that lonely
island under the Southern Cross. Subse-
ouently the people of Cooktown sent across
for the remains, and accorded them public
burial.