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Sydney Gazette, 27th of October 1805:
“On Thursday three persons who left the Cove [Sydney] with three others in a whale boat about three weeks ago for King’s Island [King Island], under the direction of Mr. Joseph Murrel, came in over-land from Botany Bay with the unpleasant information of the crew being assaulted by the natives at Jervis’s Bay [Jervis Bay], and Mr. Murrell dangerously wounded in the back by a spear. The account given by these people is as follows; - - - That every where along the coast the natives wore a menacing appearance, and manifested a wish to attack them: that upon making Two-fold Bay [this is a mistake and should read Jervis Bay] they perceived a small group round a fire, who greeted them in a very friendly tone; trusting in which they landed, and proceeded with buckets towards a watering place, but before they reach which, a flight of spears was thrown without mischief; but being speedily succeeded by a second, one of the weapons, most dangerously barbed, lodged in Mr, Murrel’s [sic] side, which was transpierced; and as the whole of the barb appeared, it was broken off and readily extracted. They made to the boat, leaving their inhuman assailants to express their joy of the barbarous event by re-echoed peals of mirth, were soon out of their reach. The travellers next set down on a small neighbouring island [Bowen Island]. The morning following, four natives visited them, and having begged a jacket or two, left four boys as hostages of their return with fish, but heedless of its consequence, these wretches soon returned accompanied by a vast number of others armed in their canoes, and a determination was formed to resist their landing: - - - the blacks in consequence commenced a new assault with their spears, which were answered with muskets, and at length retreated with the loss of two killed, besides several being wounded. They returned the same day from the back of the island unperceived; and in increased numbers taking the little party by surprise, they were obliged to take precipitately to their boat as the only means of preservation: but leaving their provisions and necessaries, upon which they left their adversaries voraciously regaling. Unable to proceed for their destination they reversed their course, but could only reach Botany Bay, on account of contrary wind, and have there received from the owner every comfort and assistance.”
Sydney Gazette, 3rd November 1805:
“Mr. Murrell is almost perfectly recovered of his spear wound, received near Jervis’s Bay [Jervis Bay]; the natives in and about which, and indeed all along the coast, give daily proof of the actual necessity for the most guarded circumspection in approaching them, even when invited upon amicable circumstances.”
You can read more about the remarkable exploits of Joseph Murrell in Bass Strait Sealers and Convicts.
The Following report concerning the Fly, appeared in the Sydney Gazette of 5th December 1805:
“Information has lately been received of an attack made by a party of the natives at Port Jervis [Jervis Bay] upon Mr. Rushworth, master of the Fly colonial vessel. who received several spear wounds, from which he was recovering. - Thomas Evans, one of the people who accompanied him, was unfortunately killed on the spot; and so determined did the assailants appear in the prosecution of their barbarous inclinations, that every possible exertion was requisite to the preservation of the vessel, the capture of which was supposed their only inducement to the outrage. We have heretofore repeatedly had occasion to caution our coasting craft against the treachery and wanton inhumanity of the natives of that particular part, where the Contest was attacked with surprising hardihood [this incident occurred in Twofold Bay], and one of her people on shore for water dangerously speared at the very moment that their friendly aspect and demeanor had thrown the boat’s crew off their guard; and where, but a few weeks since, Mr. Murrell was also attacked and wounded; and opposed by multitudes with the utmost difficulty did every one of his people escape massacre, with the loss of their whole stock of provisions. After so many instances of faithlessness, it is wonderful that people who have even themselves born testimony, as most of our boatmen oftentimes have, of their natural aversion to strangers, should still inconsiderately expose themselves to hazard by an unguarded intercourse of which the savages are ever ready to take advantage, either from a hope of plunder, however inconsiderable the promised spoil, or from a natural propensity to acts of cruelty, so manifest in their unaccountable persecutions of one another.”
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