A volunteer went to the cemetery to take a picture of the grave but has reported back that "Unfortunately there is nothing to see as the plot has been reused."
Frank was 75 when he died.
Frank Hann explored the East Pilbara aroundRudall River in 1897 and named a number of features including Lake Disappointment. Hann noticed creeks in the area flowed inland, and followed them expecting to find a large fresh water lake. To his disappointment the lake turned out to be salt.
Some of his diaries have been published as Do Not Yield to Despair: Frank Hugh Hann's Exploration Diaries in the Arid Interior of Australia, 1895-1908.
Frank Hann had amassed a group of stations which are now run by the Lawn Hill Riversleigh Pastoral Company being a partnership between Zinifex as the operators of the Century Zinc mine, and the local Waanyi Aboriginal people, who are the majority owners.
In the 1870s, Frank Hann purchased numerous leases launching the beginnings of the South Esk Holdings, which later became the Lawn Hill Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company. Hann accumulated 9,000 square kilometers of land in total. Frank Hann was at "Lawn Hill Station" in Queensland's Gulf Country for 20 years from 1875 to 1896.
Facts from The Lawn Hill Diaries. Frank Hann was a diligent record keeper, however what happened to the dairies of his twenty years at Lawn Hill remains a mystery.
Frank Hann was born on 19 October 1846 and came toAustralia in 1851, on board the "John Knox", as a five year old. The family settled in the Westernport district of Victoria. They moved to Queensland in 1861. Frank managed "Lolworth Station", North West of Charters Towers, from 1865 to 1870 and in 1875, when the cattle industry revived, took up "Lawn Hill Station" in the Gulf country of Queensland in partnership with Rolly Edkins.
During his time at "Lawn Hill", Hann made extensive journeys droving cattle to the Northern Territory goldfields and Darwin and developed an excellent reputation as a bushman and drover.
He was also involved in a number of exploratory trips including one for the Queensland State Government to survey a proposed railway line from Blackall to the Gulf and to establish a port at Point Parker, just west of Burketown.
By the 1890's Hann was suffering from a combination of misfortunes led by falling beef prices and drought as well as losses from ticks and red water fever. He had refused to sell in better times and was eventually overtaken by low prices.
The Bank of New South Wales in Townsville questioned his handling of Lawn Hill Station and set about dictating conditions for his management of the property. Hann decided to leave the property in 1895 to find better fortunes in Western Australia, however more bad luck saw him break his thigh in two places in July when his mare fell on him while mustering. He eventually rode off Lawn Hill in March 1896 penniless and miserable with 67 horses and accompanied by several faithful Aborigines, and travelled overland to Halls Creek in Western Australia.
Although Frank Hann at age fifty was virtually broke and homeless he decided to look for new pastoral lands and new mining prospects hence spent the next twelve years exploring Western Australia from the Kimberley to the southern goldfields. Many of his explorations started from a place still known as Hann's Camp to the east of Laverton where Hann lived for about fifteen years. He was always accompanied by Talbot, one of the faithful Aborigines from Lawn Hill.
SeeNewspaper reports dated Thursday 2 August 1906 of Frank Hann's exploratory journeys from Laverton to the South Australian Border.
Frank Hann documented his exploration of Western Australia including his departure from "Lawn Hill" in March 1896 and these original diaries are held by the family descendents in Townsville with some copies in the Battye State Library of WA. Each of his diaries in the Battye Library, Perth, is prefaced by the motto, 'Do not yield to despair'.
An accident put him on crutches in 1918 and he retired to Cottesloe, Perth, where he died 22 August 1921 and was buried as a pauper in his brother's grave at Karrakatta cemetery in Perth.
- Excerpts from Australia So Much to See
-----
Death of Joe Flick.
[FROM OUR EXCHANGES.]
News is to hand of the death of the notorious half-caste Joe Flick, who recently escaped from the Normanton lock-up, and was tracked to a hut at Lawn Hill Station by Constable Wavell. Flick fired and killed Wavell on the spot. Mr. F. H. Hann, owner of the station, then attempted to arrest Flick, and was also shot, but was not dangerously wounded. Flick also shot a blackboy, who is dying. Flick escaped during the night while a heavy storm was raging.
LATER
Further particulars of the affair show that on Sunday at noon Constable Wavell and two troopers arrived at Lawn Hill Station, in close pursuit of Joe Flick, the half caste desperado, who recently escaped from Normanton lock-up. Flick shot one of the trooper's horses from under him, and made for the dining-room, under fire from the troopers. Wavell followed him to the dining-room on foot, calling upon Flick to surrender, but Flick fired through the window at Wavell, who was about 25 yards away, and shot him dead. A man named Bird was the only person on the station at the time, and he armed himself and sent a message to Messrs. Doyle and Waller, who were in the vicinity at the time. They came, armed themselves, and watched the dining-room, which is a detached hut, in order to prevent the escape of Flick. About sundown Mr. F. H. Hann, owner of the station, with O'Shea and a blackboy, who were out on the run all day, returned to the station, and Mr. Hann immediately went towards the dining-room, and called upon Flick to surrender. Flick came to the window, and Hann pointed to Wavell's corpse in an endeavour to persuade Flick to surrender. Quietly assuring him of safe treatment, Fiick said he would surrender if Mr. Hann came to the door. Hann went to the door and opened it, and Flick immediately fired. The bullet entered Mr. Hann's left breast and passed round, coming out under the left arm. Flick fired again, but without effect, as Mr. Hann fell. Hann fired his rifle at Flick, and crawled away. All hands then fired on the hut, in order to wound Flick, who barricaded himself in the hut, which was watched all night. About 1 o'clock next morning a heavy storm set in, and it was so dark that it was impossible to see a yard ahead, and it is presumed that Flick escaped at that time. At daybreak the hut was entered, and spots of blood were found, and some pieces of cloth which were saturated with blood. It is, therefore, supposed that Flick was wounded. Under the leadership of Mr. Hann all hands started in pursuit, the station blackboy taking up the tracks, but before a quarter of a mile had been traversed, the tracker was shot through the chest by Flick, who was lying in am bush in heavy timber on the edge of Lawn Hill Creek. Several shots were then fired in the direction in which Flick was supposed to be, but the bush was very dense, so that it is not known whether Flick was disabled or not. O'Shea was then despatched to Burke with the above particulars. When he started the blackboy was dying. Much sorrow is expressed at Wavell's untimely end, as he was a general favourite.
BURKETOWN, November 2.
Further news from Lawn Hill Station this morning states that after the tracker was shot Flick's hiding place was closely watched on Monday night, and on Tuesday he was found to be dead, the body showing numerous bullet wounds. From the heavy traces of blood in the hut, it is supposed he was badly wounded whilst concealed there. This accounts for him only travelling a few hundred yards from the station during the storm of Sunday night; no doubt, he was wounded to death when he fled from the hut to the creek. The tracker died on Tuesday morning. Mr. Frank Hann, is still doing well, and no bad results are anticipated. Constable Wavell never moved from where he fell, and although not examined for many hours after, it seems to be certain that death was instantaneous.
Constable Wavell, who lost his life while endeavouring to capture Flick, was very highly respected. He was about 35 years old, dark, slim, and about the medium height, possessed great activity. He was of superior address, and when stationed at Corinda on the Nicholson, about 80 miles from Burketown, was a general favourite with squatters and carriers. Over twelve months ago he was removed to Normanton, and was no doubt selected to pursue Flick because of his knowledge of the country at the rear of Burketown. There are several in Townsville who knew Wavell, and all agree in stating that he was a brave and unassuming man.
Joseph Flick was the son of a white father and half-caste mother He was about 26 years of age, and since his arrival in the Gulf some four years ago from the Warrego with his father, he has been a persistent evil-doer. The quarrel with Cashman, which has led up to all the trouble, took place at the Brook, 20 miles from Burketown. Cashman kept an hotel there, and the hole where the bullet intended for Cashman went through the wall, is still on view.
- Northern Territory Times and Gazette (Darwin), Friday 22 November 1889
-----
THE LAWN HILL TRAGEDY.
FLICK'S MURDERS.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY MR. HANN.
Mr. F. Hann, writing from Lawn Hill on the 29th October gives the following graphic description of the tragic events which had just occurred on that station, and of which we have previously had some information by telegraph:—
"No doubt the tragedy that has taken place here those last two days will get widely circulated, and no doubt will get wrong constructions put on it. As I doubt whether such a thing has ever happened before or is likely to happen again on a station, I think it is best for me to put the plain facts before the public
"The blacks have been very troublesome here of late, and I had been out after them and had most of the firearms with me. I had been away part of three days. I returned home just before sundown on Sunday, 27th October. The Station is situated on a bluff mountain facing the creek. The hut is of galvanised iron. The garden is at the foot of the hill. My Chinaman cook was in the garden, and came running over to me and said Flick was in my dining-hut, and that he had shot Constable Wavell dead. I galloped up the hill, and on the top was Mr. Doyle, with two or my men and two of the troopers, keeping guard over the hut.
"Mr. Doyle told me that Wavell, with the troopers, had tracked Flick from the turn off lagoon and come on him in one of my paddocks, and got his horses. Flick, seeing the troopers, cleared. The troopers could not get their horses through the fence, so jumped off their horses and followed Flick on foot. He ran over the ridge, through the tailing-yard and up into my men's hut; turned over everything there looking for cartridges, but found none. He whips out of there, runs past the saddle-room, and into the dining-hut. Unfortunately I had just left a box of 460 cartridges there and my breech-loading gun with 100 cartridges. Wavell in the meantime was up in the paddock. Mr. Doyle happened to be there, too. Bird, my man, was on the hill and saw what took place. He immediately ran and told Wavell where Flick was. Wavell immediately galloped down in front of Mr. Doyle and up the hill, jumped off his horse, and went towards the back of the hut—this hut has six tin windows—going up with a revolver in his hand to within about twenty-five paces, when, without any warning, Flick jumped up and fired through the window at him. Wavell fell dead instantly. This was at about midday. One of my men witnessed this from a farther hut.
"As soon as I heard all particulars, I called on Flick to surrender. He said be would not come out, but would surrender to me if I came up to the hut. I walked up to the back window whence he had shot Wavell. He put out his hand and shook hands with me. I pointed out what he had done. He said, 'I suppose I'll swing for it.' I told him I did not see any other thing for it. I stopped talking to him, and explained to him that he had best surrender, as he would only be shot. He had no revolver in his hand at this time. He said if I came round to the door he would surrender. I walked round to the door and opened it with my left hand. As soon as I did so he shot me in the left breast, the bullet passing out behind the shoulder. He had another shot at me, but missed me. I fired back at him when a few paces distant, but after his second shot he again shut the door, and I missed him. I then ran under shelter of the bank as I knew he had plenty of ammunition. I was bleeding very much, but happily the wound is not dangerous, which is a most miraculous escape, as the powder burnt my shirt. I then told the troopers to riddle the hut, which was done in every direction. Unfortunately there was in the room a pine board table, 8ft x 4ft. of 1½in. boards, and also several hardwood stools, of which he made a barricade. When it was dark I told them to cease firing and to watch the place, as I felt confident that he must be either dead or seriously wounded.
"But at about 10 o'clock a thunderstorm came up, and it was so dark that you could not see your hand. At daylight I gave orders to go up and see if he was in the hut, and they found that he had been wounded, as there was blood all over the place, and had escaped during the Storm. The two troopers and two of my boys tracked him up under command of Mr. Doyle. They tracked him down the hill and across a small creek at the foot of the hill and going down the bank of the big creek, which is heavily fringed with long grass and water pandanus, which is peculiar to this creek and the Gregory. There were three large tea-trees growing at the edge of the water. It was quite impossible to see anything which might be planted in there, and when my two boys got within twenty yards of this, Flick was planted there, and he shot one of my unfortunate boys, the ball entering the breast and coming out at the back. Blood directly poured out of his mouth. As soon as this took place Mr. Doyle and the troopers fired into where the shot came from. My poor boy ran a little way into a hollow and lay down. I went down and saw the boy was fatally wounded. Mr. Doyle told me exactly how it was done, as he was a few yards higher up. Seeing Wavell shot, and then myself, and now my poor boy, I gave directions to riddle the place from a distance, as it was quite unsafe to venture near the spot, as we could not see how he was situated, while he could see everything that was going on; and we could see that it would never do to allow him to escape, and I saw by the way he was working it was his object to shoot as many persons as possible. About an hour after this he fired another shot, but evidently the cartridge was wet, as it only puffed. Noble, the trooper, fired at once into this place, and I think this shot must have disabled him. The place was then again riddled. I had the place watched all day, as it was too risky to send anyone to ascertain whether he was dead or not. During the night I had the station watched, as I know if he was not fatally wounded he would sneak up to the place for rations ; but with no results. Mr. Doyle and the troopers went down this morn- ing and went into the place. The fires that I had lit had burnt away the grass during the night and left the place more clear, which enabled them to see the place better, and they found that he was dead, and that nine shots had struck him. They got the gun loaded and the revolver also loaded, as well as all the spare cartridges. I had him buried on the spot this afternoon as I did not consider that it was of any importance where a fiend like this should be buried. I had a proper grave made, and a coffin of galvanised iron, and had poor Wavell buried yesterday morning and my poor boy this morning.
"I cannot speak too highly of the pluck shown in this affair by poor Wavell, as he had evidently made up his mind to lose his own life or capture Flick ; unfortunately the poor follow lost his life. The conduct of the two troopers was very good throughout. Had it not been for Mr. Doyle's presence I fear very much that Flick would have got away. I am thoroughly convinced that he would have shot people indiscriminately from the cold-blooded way he shot me. Mr. Hollway, who arrived yesterday, in talking the matter over afterwards pointed out that his object in shooting me was to obtain my rifle and cartridges, by which means he would be able to shoot the others. I should mention that throughout he used a .450 revolver. Had he shot Mr. Doyle he would have had the place, and then there is no knowing what the results might have been. I sent a messenger yesterday to Burketown with telegrams of particulars to Inspector Douglas. I have put the facts of the case before you now, which cannot be denied. I do not know what the public will think of our action in this matter, nor do we care, as I for one know I was doing a public service in securing this desperado dead or alive."
- The Brisbane Courier, Tuesday 19 November 1889
-----
Cemetery Records
Frank was 75 when he died.
Frank Hann explored the East Pilbara aroundRudall River in 1897 and named a number of features including Lake Disappointment. Hann noticed creeks in the area flowed inland, and followed them expecting to find a large fresh water lake. To his disappointment the lake turned out to be salt.
Some of his diaries have been published as Do Not Yield to Despair: Frank Hugh Hann's Exploration Diaries in the Arid Interior of Australia, 1895-1908.
Frank Hann had amassed a group of stations which are now run by the Lawn Hill Riversleigh Pastoral Company being a partnership between Zinifex as the operators of the Century Zinc mine, and the local Waanyi Aboriginal people, who are the majority owners.
In the 1870s, Frank Hann purchased numerous leases launching the beginnings of the South Esk Holdings, which later became the Lawn Hill Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company. Hann accumulated 9,000 square kilometers of land in total. Frank Hann was at "Lawn Hill Station" in Queensland's Gulf Country for 20 years from 1875 to 1896.
Facts from The Lawn Hill Diaries. Frank Hann was a diligent record keeper, however what happened to the dairies of his twenty years at Lawn Hill remains a mystery.
Frank Hann was born on 19 October 1846 and came toAustralia in 1851, on board the "John Knox", as a five year old. The family settled in the Westernport district of Victoria. They moved to Queensland in 1861. Frank managed "Lolworth Station", North West of Charters Towers, from 1865 to 1870 and in 1875, when the cattle industry revived, took up "Lawn Hill Station" in the Gulf country of Queensland in partnership with Rolly Edkins.
During his time at "Lawn Hill", Hann made extensive journeys droving cattle to the Northern Territory goldfields and Darwin and developed an excellent reputation as a bushman and drover.
He was also involved in a number of exploratory trips including one for the Queensland State Government to survey a proposed railway line from Blackall to the Gulf and to establish a port at Point Parker, just west of Burketown.
By the 1890's Hann was suffering from a combination of misfortunes led by falling beef prices and drought as well as losses from ticks and red water fever. He had refused to sell in better times and was eventually overtaken by low prices.
The Bank of New South Wales in Townsville questioned his handling of Lawn Hill Station and set about dictating conditions for his management of the property. Hann decided to leave the property in 1895 to find better fortunes in Western Australia, however more bad luck saw him break his thigh in two places in July when his mare fell on him while mustering. He eventually rode off Lawn Hill in March 1896 penniless and miserable with 67 horses and accompanied by several faithful Aborigines, and travelled overland to Halls Creek in Western Australia.
Although Frank Hann at age fifty was virtually broke and homeless he decided to look for new pastoral lands and new mining prospects hence spent the next twelve years exploring Western Australia from the Kimberley to the southern goldfields. Many of his explorations started from a place still known as Hann's Camp to the east of Laverton where Hann lived for about fifteen years. He was always accompanied by Talbot, one of the faithful Aborigines from Lawn Hill.
SeeNewspaper reports dated Thursday 2 August 1906 of Frank Hann's exploratory journeys from Laverton to the South Australian Border.
Frank Hann documented his exploration of Western Australia including his departure from "Lawn Hill" in March 1896 and these original diaries are held by the family descendents in Townsville with some copies in the Battye State Library of WA. Each of his diaries in the Battye Library, Perth, is prefaced by the motto, 'Do not yield to despair'.
An accident put him on crutches in 1918 and he retired to Cottesloe, Perth, where he died 22 August 1921 and was buried as a pauper in his brother's grave at Karrakatta cemetery in Perth.
- Excerpts from Australia So Much to See
-----
Death of Joe Flick.
[FROM OUR EXCHANGES.]
News is to hand of the death of the notorious half-caste Joe Flick, who recently escaped from the Normanton lock-up, and was tracked to a hut at Lawn Hill Station by Constable Wavell. Flick fired and killed Wavell on the spot. Mr. F. H. Hann, owner of the station, then attempted to arrest Flick, and was also shot, but was not dangerously wounded. Flick also shot a blackboy, who is dying. Flick escaped during the night while a heavy storm was raging.
LATER
Further particulars of the affair show that on Sunday at noon Constable Wavell and two troopers arrived at Lawn Hill Station, in close pursuit of Joe Flick, the half caste desperado, who recently escaped from Normanton lock-up. Flick shot one of the trooper's horses from under him, and made for the dining-room, under fire from the troopers. Wavell followed him to the dining-room on foot, calling upon Flick to surrender, but Flick fired through the window at Wavell, who was about 25 yards away, and shot him dead. A man named Bird was the only person on the station at the time, and he armed himself and sent a message to Messrs. Doyle and Waller, who were in the vicinity at the time. They came, armed themselves, and watched the dining-room, which is a detached hut, in order to prevent the escape of Flick. About sundown Mr. F. H. Hann, owner of the station, with O'Shea and a blackboy, who were out on the run all day, returned to the station, and Mr. Hann immediately went towards the dining-room, and called upon Flick to surrender. Flick came to the window, and Hann pointed to Wavell's corpse in an endeavour to persuade Flick to surrender. Quietly assuring him of safe treatment, Fiick said he would surrender if Mr. Hann came to the door. Hann went to the door and opened it, and Flick immediately fired. The bullet entered Mr. Hann's left breast and passed round, coming out under the left arm. Flick fired again, but without effect, as Mr. Hann fell. Hann fired his rifle at Flick, and crawled away. All hands then fired on the hut, in order to wound Flick, who barricaded himself in the hut, which was watched all night. About 1 o'clock next morning a heavy storm set in, and it was so dark that it was impossible to see a yard ahead, and it is presumed that Flick escaped at that time. At daybreak the hut was entered, and spots of blood were found, and some pieces of cloth which were saturated with blood. It is, therefore, supposed that Flick was wounded. Under the leadership of Mr. Hann all hands started in pursuit, the station blackboy taking up the tracks, but before a quarter of a mile had been traversed, the tracker was shot through the chest by Flick, who was lying in am bush in heavy timber on the edge of Lawn Hill Creek. Several shots were then fired in the direction in which Flick was supposed to be, but the bush was very dense, so that it is not known whether Flick was disabled or not. O'Shea was then despatched to Burke with the above particulars. When he started the blackboy was dying. Much sorrow is expressed at Wavell's untimely end, as he was a general favourite.
BURKETOWN, November 2.
Further news from Lawn Hill Station this morning states that after the tracker was shot Flick's hiding place was closely watched on Monday night, and on Tuesday he was found to be dead, the body showing numerous bullet wounds. From the heavy traces of blood in the hut, it is supposed he was badly wounded whilst concealed there. This accounts for him only travelling a few hundred yards from the station during the storm of Sunday night; no doubt, he was wounded to death when he fled from the hut to the creek. The tracker died on Tuesday morning. Mr. Frank Hann, is still doing well, and no bad results are anticipated. Constable Wavell never moved from where he fell, and although not examined for many hours after, it seems to be certain that death was instantaneous.
Constable Wavell, who lost his life while endeavouring to capture Flick, was very highly respected. He was about 35 years old, dark, slim, and about the medium height, possessed great activity. He was of superior address, and when stationed at Corinda on the Nicholson, about 80 miles from Burketown, was a general favourite with squatters and carriers. Over twelve months ago he was removed to Normanton, and was no doubt selected to pursue Flick because of his knowledge of the country at the rear of Burketown. There are several in Townsville who knew Wavell, and all agree in stating that he was a brave and unassuming man.
Joseph Flick was the son of a white father and half-caste mother He was about 26 years of age, and since his arrival in the Gulf some four years ago from the Warrego with his father, he has been a persistent evil-doer. The quarrel with Cashman, which has led up to all the trouble, took place at the Brook, 20 miles from Burketown. Cashman kept an hotel there, and the hole where the bullet intended for Cashman went through the wall, is still on view.
- Northern Territory Times and Gazette (Darwin), Friday 22 November 1889
-----
THE LAWN HILL TRAGEDY.
FLICK'S MURDERS.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY MR. HANN.
Mr. F. Hann, writing from Lawn Hill on the 29th October gives the following graphic description of the tragic events which had just occurred on that station, and of which we have previously had some information by telegraph:—
"No doubt the tragedy that has taken place here those last two days will get widely circulated, and no doubt will get wrong constructions put on it. As I doubt whether such a thing has ever happened before or is likely to happen again on a station, I think it is best for me to put the plain facts before the public
"The blacks have been very troublesome here of late, and I had been out after them and had most of the firearms with me. I had been away part of three days. I returned home just before sundown on Sunday, 27th October. The Station is situated on a bluff mountain facing the creek. The hut is of galvanised iron. The garden is at the foot of the hill. My Chinaman cook was in the garden, and came running over to me and said Flick was in my dining-hut, and that he had shot Constable Wavell dead. I galloped up the hill, and on the top was Mr. Doyle, with two or my men and two of the troopers, keeping guard over the hut.
"Mr. Doyle told me that Wavell, with the troopers, had tracked Flick from the turn off lagoon and come on him in one of my paddocks, and got his horses. Flick, seeing the troopers, cleared. The troopers could not get their horses through the fence, so jumped off their horses and followed Flick on foot. He ran over the ridge, through the tailing-yard and up into my men's hut; turned over everything there looking for cartridges, but found none. He whips out of there, runs past the saddle-room, and into the dining-hut. Unfortunately I had just left a box of 460 cartridges there and my breech-loading gun with 100 cartridges. Wavell in the meantime was up in the paddock. Mr. Doyle happened to be there, too. Bird, my man, was on the hill and saw what took place. He immediately ran and told Wavell where Flick was. Wavell immediately galloped down in front of Mr. Doyle and up the hill, jumped off his horse, and went towards the back of the hut—this hut has six tin windows—going up with a revolver in his hand to within about twenty-five paces, when, without any warning, Flick jumped up and fired through the window at him. Wavell fell dead instantly. This was at about midday. One of my men witnessed this from a farther hut.
"As soon as I heard all particulars, I called on Flick to surrender. He said be would not come out, but would surrender to me if I came up to the hut. I walked up to the back window whence he had shot Wavell. He put out his hand and shook hands with me. I pointed out what he had done. He said, 'I suppose I'll swing for it.' I told him I did not see any other thing for it. I stopped talking to him, and explained to him that he had best surrender, as he would only be shot. He had no revolver in his hand at this time. He said if I came round to the door he would surrender. I walked round to the door and opened it with my left hand. As soon as I did so he shot me in the left breast, the bullet passing out behind the shoulder. He had another shot at me, but missed me. I fired back at him when a few paces distant, but after his second shot he again shut the door, and I missed him. I then ran under shelter of the bank as I knew he had plenty of ammunition. I was bleeding very much, but happily the wound is not dangerous, which is a most miraculous escape, as the powder burnt my shirt. I then told the troopers to riddle the hut, which was done in every direction. Unfortunately there was in the room a pine board table, 8ft x 4ft. of 1½in. boards, and also several hardwood stools, of which he made a barricade. When it was dark I told them to cease firing and to watch the place, as I felt confident that he must be either dead or seriously wounded.
"But at about 10 o'clock a thunderstorm came up, and it was so dark that you could not see your hand. At daylight I gave orders to go up and see if he was in the hut, and they found that he had been wounded, as there was blood all over the place, and had escaped during the Storm. The two troopers and two of my boys tracked him up under command of Mr. Doyle. They tracked him down the hill and across a small creek at the foot of the hill and going down the bank of the big creek, which is heavily fringed with long grass and water pandanus, which is peculiar to this creek and the Gregory. There were three large tea-trees growing at the edge of the water. It was quite impossible to see anything which might be planted in there, and when my two boys got within twenty yards of this, Flick was planted there, and he shot one of my unfortunate boys, the ball entering the breast and coming out at the back. Blood directly poured out of his mouth. As soon as this took place Mr. Doyle and the troopers fired into where the shot came from. My poor boy ran a little way into a hollow and lay down. I went down and saw the boy was fatally wounded. Mr. Doyle told me exactly how it was done, as he was a few yards higher up. Seeing Wavell shot, and then myself, and now my poor boy, I gave directions to riddle the place from a distance, as it was quite unsafe to venture near the spot, as we could not see how he was situated, while he could see everything that was going on; and we could see that it would never do to allow him to escape, and I saw by the way he was working it was his object to shoot as many persons as possible. About an hour after this he fired another shot, but evidently the cartridge was wet, as it only puffed. Noble, the trooper, fired at once into this place, and I think this shot must have disabled him. The place was then again riddled. I had the place watched all day, as it was too risky to send anyone to ascertain whether he was dead or not. During the night I had the station watched, as I know if he was not fatally wounded he would sneak up to the place for rations ; but with no results. Mr. Doyle and the troopers went down this morn- ing and went into the place. The fires that I had lit had burnt away the grass during the night and left the place more clear, which enabled them to see the place better, and they found that he was dead, and that nine shots had struck him. They got the gun loaded and the revolver also loaded, as well as all the spare cartridges. I had him buried on the spot this afternoon as I did not consider that it was of any importance where a fiend like this should be buried. I had a proper grave made, and a coffin of galvanised iron, and had poor Wavell buried yesterday morning and my poor boy this morning.
"I cannot speak too highly of the pluck shown in this affair by poor Wavell, as he had evidently made up his mind to lose his own life or capture Flick ; unfortunately the poor follow lost his life. The conduct of the two troopers was very good throughout. Had it not been for Mr. Doyle's presence I fear very much that Flick would have got away. I am thoroughly convinced that he would have shot people indiscriminately from the cold-blooded way he shot me. Mr. Hollway, who arrived yesterday, in talking the matter over afterwards pointed out that his object in shooting me was to obtain my rifle and cartridges, by which means he would be able to shoot the others. I should mention that throughout he used a .450 revolver. Had he shot Mr. Doyle he would have had the place, and then there is no knowing what the results might have been. I sent a messenger yesterday to Burketown with telegrams of particulars to Inspector Douglas. I have put the facts of the case before you now, which cannot be denied. I do not know what the public will think of our action in this matter, nor do we care, as I for one know I was doing a public service in securing this desperado dead or alive."
- The Brisbane Courier, Tuesday 19 November 1889
-----
Cemetery Records
A volunteer went to the cemetery to take a picture of the grave but has reported back that "Unfortunately there is nothing to see as the plot has been reused."
Frank was 75 when he died.
Frank Hann explored the East Pilbara aroundRudall River in 1897 and named a number of features including Lake Disappointment. Hann noticed creeks in the area flowed inland, and followed them expecting to find a large fresh water lake. To his disappointment the lake turned out to be salt.
Some of his diaries have been published as Do Not Yield to Despair: Frank Hugh Hann's Exploration Diaries in the Arid Interior of Australia, 1895-1908.
Frank Hann had amassed a group of stations which are now run by the Lawn Hill Riversleigh Pastoral Company being a partnership between Zinifex as the operators of the Century Zinc mine, and the local Waanyi Aboriginal people, who are the majority owners.
In the 1870s, Frank Hann purchased numerous leases launching the beginnings of the South Esk Holdings, which later became the Lawn Hill Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company. Hann accumulated 9,000 square kilometers of land in total. Frank Hann was at "Lawn Hill Station" in Queensland's Gulf Country for 20 years from 1875 to 1896.
Facts from The Lawn Hill Diaries. Frank Hann was a diligent record keeper, however what happened to the dairies of his twenty years at Lawn Hill remains a mystery.
Frank Hann was born on 19 October 1846 and came toAustralia in 1851, on board the "John Knox", as a five year old. The family settled in the Westernport district of Victoria. They moved to Queensland in 1861. Frank managed "Lolworth Station", North West of Charters Towers, from 1865 to 1870 and in 1875, when the cattle industry revived, took up "Lawn Hill Station" in the Gulf country of Queensland in partnership with Rolly Edkins.
During his time at "Lawn Hill", Hann made extensive journeys droving cattle to the Northern Territory goldfields and Darwin and developed an excellent reputation as a bushman and drover.
He was also involved in a number of exploratory trips including one for the Queensland State Government to survey a proposed railway line from Blackall to the Gulf and to establish a port at Point Parker, just west of Burketown.
By the 1890's Hann was suffering from a combination of misfortunes led by falling beef prices and drought as well as losses from ticks and red water fever. He had refused to sell in better times and was eventually overtaken by low prices.
The Bank of New South Wales in Townsville questioned his handling of Lawn Hill Station and set about dictating conditions for his management of the property. Hann decided to leave the property in 1895 to find better fortunes in Western Australia, however more bad luck saw him break his thigh in two places in July when his mare fell on him while mustering. He eventually rode off Lawn Hill in March 1896 penniless and miserable with 67 horses and accompanied by several faithful Aborigines, and travelled overland to Halls Creek in Western Australia.
Although Frank Hann at age fifty was virtually broke and homeless he decided to look for new pastoral lands and new mining prospects hence spent the next twelve years exploring Western Australia from the Kimberley to the southern goldfields. Many of his explorations started from a place still known as Hann's Camp to the east of Laverton where Hann lived for about fifteen years. He was always accompanied by Talbot, one of the faithful Aborigines from Lawn Hill.
SeeNewspaper reports dated Thursday 2 August 1906 of Frank Hann's exploratory journeys from Laverton to the South Australian Border.
Frank Hann documented his exploration of Western Australia including his departure from "Lawn Hill" in March 1896 and these original diaries are held by the family descendents in Townsville with some copies in the Battye State Library of WA. Each of his diaries in the Battye Library, Perth, is prefaced by the motto, 'Do not yield to despair'.
An accident put him on crutches in 1918 and he retired to Cottesloe, Perth, where he died 22 August 1921 and was buried as a pauper in his brother's grave at Karrakatta cemetery in Perth.
- Excerpts from Australia So Much to See
-----
Death of Joe Flick.
[FROM OUR EXCHANGES.]
News is to hand of the death of the notorious half-caste Joe Flick, who recently escaped from the Normanton lock-up, and was tracked to a hut at Lawn Hill Station by Constable Wavell. Flick fired and killed Wavell on the spot. Mr. F. H. Hann, owner of the station, then attempted to arrest Flick, and was also shot, but was not dangerously wounded. Flick also shot a blackboy, who is dying. Flick escaped during the night while a heavy storm was raging.
LATER
Further particulars of the affair show that on Sunday at noon Constable Wavell and two troopers arrived at Lawn Hill Station, in close pursuit of Joe Flick, the half caste desperado, who recently escaped from Normanton lock-up. Flick shot one of the trooper's horses from under him, and made for the dining-room, under fire from the troopers. Wavell followed him to the dining-room on foot, calling upon Flick to surrender, but Flick fired through the window at Wavell, who was about 25 yards away, and shot him dead. A man named Bird was the only person on the station at the time, and he armed himself and sent a message to Messrs. Doyle and Waller, who were in the vicinity at the time. They came, armed themselves, and watched the dining-room, which is a detached hut, in order to prevent the escape of Flick. About sundown Mr. F. H. Hann, owner of the station, with O'Shea and a blackboy, who were out on the run all day, returned to the station, and Mr. Hann immediately went towards the dining-room, and called upon Flick to surrender. Flick came to the window, and Hann pointed to Wavell's corpse in an endeavour to persuade Flick to surrender. Quietly assuring him of safe treatment, Fiick said he would surrender if Mr. Hann came to the door. Hann went to the door and opened it, and Flick immediately fired. The bullet entered Mr. Hann's left breast and passed round, coming out under the left arm. Flick fired again, but without effect, as Mr. Hann fell. Hann fired his rifle at Flick, and crawled away. All hands then fired on the hut, in order to wound Flick, who barricaded himself in the hut, which was watched all night. About 1 o'clock next morning a heavy storm set in, and it was so dark that it was impossible to see a yard ahead, and it is presumed that Flick escaped at that time. At daybreak the hut was entered, and spots of blood were found, and some pieces of cloth which were saturated with blood. It is, therefore, supposed that Flick was wounded. Under the leadership of Mr. Hann all hands started in pursuit, the station blackboy taking up the tracks, but before a quarter of a mile had been traversed, the tracker was shot through the chest by Flick, who was lying in am bush in heavy timber on the edge of Lawn Hill Creek. Several shots were then fired in the direction in which Flick was supposed to be, but the bush was very dense, so that it is not known whether Flick was disabled or not. O'Shea was then despatched to Burke with the above particulars. When he started the blackboy was dying. Much sorrow is expressed at Wavell's untimely end, as he was a general favourite.
BURKETOWN, November 2.
Further news from Lawn Hill Station this morning states that after the tracker was shot Flick's hiding place was closely watched on Monday night, and on Tuesday he was found to be dead, the body showing numerous bullet wounds. From the heavy traces of blood in the hut, it is supposed he was badly wounded whilst concealed there. This accounts for him only travelling a few hundred yards from the station during the storm of Sunday night; no doubt, he was wounded to death when he fled from the hut to the creek. The tracker died on Tuesday morning. Mr. Frank Hann, is still doing well, and no bad results are anticipated. Constable Wavell never moved from where he fell, and although not examined for many hours after, it seems to be certain that death was instantaneous.
Constable Wavell, who lost his life while endeavouring to capture Flick, was very highly respected. He was about 35 years old, dark, slim, and about the medium height, possessed great activity. He was of superior address, and when stationed at Corinda on the Nicholson, about 80 miles from Burketown, was a general favourite with squatters and carriers. Over twelve months ago he was removed to Normanton, and was no doubt selected to pursue Flick because of his knowledge of the country at the rear of Burketown. There are several in Townsville who knew Wavell, and all agree in stating that he was a brave and unassuming man.
Joseph Flick was the son of a white father and half-caste mother He was about 26 years of age, and since his arrival in the Gulf some four years ago from the Warrego with his father, he has been a persistent evil-doer. The quarrel with Cashman, which has led up to all the trouble, took place at the Brook, 20 miles from Burketown. Cashman kept an hotel there, and the hole where the bullet intended for Cashman went through the wall, is still on view.
- Northern Territory Times and Gazette (Darwin), Friday 22 November 1889
-----
THE LAWN HILL TRAGEDY.
FLICK'S MURDERS.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY MR. HANN.
Mr. F. Hann, writing from Lawn Hill on the 29th October gives the following graphic description of the tragic events which had just occurred on that station, and of which we have previously had some information by telegraph:—
"No doubt the tragedy that has taken place here those last two days will get widely circulated, and no doubt will get wrong constructions put on it. As I doubt whether such a thing has ever happened before or is likely to happen again on a station, I think it is best for me to put the plain facts before the public
"The blacks have been very troublesome here of late, and I had been out after them and had most of the firearms with me. I had been away part of three days. I returned home just before sundown on Sunday, 27th October. The Station is situated on a bluff mountain facing the creek. The hut is of galvanised iron. The garden is at the foot of the hill. My Chinaman cook was in the garden, and came running over to me and said Flick was in my dining-hut, and that he had shot Constable Wavell dead. I galloped up the hill, and on the top was Mr. Doyle, with two or my men and two of the troopers, keeping guard over the hut.
"Mr. Doyle told me that Wavell, with the troopers, had tracked Flick from the turn off lagoon and come on him in one of my paddocks, and got his horses. Flick, seeing the troopers, cleared. The troopers could not get their horses through the fence, so jumped off their horses and followed Flick on foot. He ran over the ridge, through the tailing-yard and up into my men's hut; turned over everything there looking for cartridges, but found none. He whips out of there, runs past the saddle-room, and into the dining-hut. Unfortunately I had just left a box of 460 cartridges there and my breech-loading gun with 100 cartridges. Wavell in the meantime was up in the paddock. Mr. Doyle happened to be there, too. Bird, my man, was on the hill and saw what took place. He immediately ran and told Wavell where Flick was. Wavell immediately galloped down in front of Mr. Doyle and up the hill, jumped off his horse, and went towards the back of the hut—this hut has six tin windows—going up with a revolver in his hand to within about twenty-five paces, when, without any warning, Flick jumped up and fired through the window at him. Wavell fell dead instantly. This was at about midday. One of my men witnessed this from a farther hut.
"As soon as I heard all particulars, I called on Flick to surrender. He said be would not come out, but would surrender to me if I came up to the hut. I walked up to the back window whence he had shot Wavell. He put out his hand and shook hands with me. I pointed out what he had done. He said, 'I suppose I'll swing for it.' I told him I did not see any other thing for it. I stopped talking to him, and explained to him that he had best surrender, as he would only be shot. He had no revolver in his hand at this time. He said if I came round to the door he would surrender. I walked round to the door and opened it with my left hand. As soon as I did so he shot me in the left breast, the bullet passing out behind the shoulder. He had another shot at me, but missed me. I fired back at him when a few paces distant, but after his second shot he again shut the door, and I missed him. I then ran under shelter of the bank as I knew he had plenty of ammunition. I was bleeding very much, but happily the wound is not dangerous, which is a most miraculous escape, as the powder burnt my shirt. I then told the troopers to riddle the hut, which was done in every direction. Unfortunately there was in the room a pine board table, 8ft x 4ft. of 1½in. boards, and also several hardwood stools, of which he made a barricade. When it was dark I told them to cease firing and to watch the place, as I felt confident that he must be either dead or seriously wounded.
"But at about 10 o'clock a thunderstorm came up, and it was so dark that you could not see your hand. At daylight I gave orders to go up and see if he was in the hut, and they found that he had been wounded, as there was blood all over the place, and had escaped during the Storm. The two troopers and two of my boys tracked him up under command of Mr. Doyle. They tracked him down the hill and across a small creek at the foot of the hill and going down the bank of the big creek, which is heavily fringed with long grass and water pandanus, which is peculiar to this creek and the Gregory. There were three large tea-trees growing at the edge of the water. It was quite impossible to see anything which might be planted in there, and when my two boys got within twenty yards of this, Flick was planted there, and he shot one of my unfortunate boys, the ball entering the breast and coming out at the back. Blood directly poured out of his mouth. As soon as this took place Mr. Doyle and the troopers fired into where the shot came from. My poor boy ran a little way into a hollow and lay down. I went down and saw the boy was fatally wounded. Mr. Doyle told me exactly how it was done, as he was a few yards higher up. Seeing Wavell shot, and then myself, and now my poor boy, I gave directions to riddle the place from a distance, as it was quite unsafe to venture near the spot, as we could not see how he was situated, while he could see everything that was going on; and we could see that it would never do to allow him to escape, and I saw by the way he was working it was his object to shoot as many persons as possible. About an hour after this he fired another shot, but evidently the cartridge was wet, as it only puffed. Noble, the trooper, fired at once into this place, and I think this shot must have disabled him. The place was then again riddled. I had the place watched all day, as it was too risky to send anyone to ascertain whether he was dead or not. During the night I had the station watched, as I know if he was not fatally wounded he would sneak up to the place for rations ; but with no results. Mr. Doyle and the troopers went down this morn- ing and went into the place. The fires that I had lit had burnt away the grass during the night and left the place more clear, which enabled them to see the place better, and they found that he was dead, and that nine shots had struck him. They got the gun loaded and the revolver also loaded, as well as all the spare cartridges. I had him buried on the spot this afternoon as I did not consider that it was of any importance where a fiend like this should be buried. I had a proper grave made, and a coffin of galvanised iron, and had poor Wavell buried yesterday morning and my poor boy this morning.
"I cannot speak too highly of the pluck shown in this affair by poor Wavell, as he had evidently made up his mind to lose his own life or capture Flick ; unfortunately the poor follow lost his life. The conduct of the two troopers was very good throughout. Had it not been for Mr. Doyle's presence I fear very much that Flick would have got away. I am thoroughly convinced that he would have shot people indiscriminately from the cold-blooded way he shot me. Mr. Hollway, who arrived yesterday, in talking the matter over afterwards pointed out that his object in shooting me was to obtain my rifle and cartridges, by which means he would be able to shoot the others. I should mention that throughout he used a .450 revolver. Had he shot Mr. Doyle he would have had the place, and then there is no knowing what the results might have been. I sent a messenger yesterday to Burketown with telegrams of particulars to Inspector Douglas. I have put the facts of the case before you now, which cannot be denied. I do not know what the public will think of our action in this matter, nor do we care, as I for one know I was doing a public service in securing this desperado dead or alive."
- The Brisbane Courier, Tuesday 19 November 1889
-----
Cemetery Records
Frank was 75 when he died.
Frank Hann explored the East Pilbara aroundRudall River in 1897 and named a number of features including Lake Disappointment. Hann noticed creeks in the area flowed inland, and followed them expecting to find a large fresh water lake. To his disappointment the lake turned out to be salt.
Some of his diaries have been published as Do Not Yield to Despair: Frank Hugh Hann's Exploration Diaries in the Arid Interior of Australia, 1895-1908.
Frank Hann had amassed a group of stations which are now run by the Lawn Hill Riversleigh Pastoral Company being a partnership between Zinifex as the operators of the Century Zinc mine, and the local Waanyi Aboriginal people, who are the majority owners.
In the 1870s, Frank Hann purchased numerous leases launching the beginnings of the South Esk Holdings, which later became the Lawn Hill Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company. Hann accumulated 9,000 square kilometers of land in total. Frank Hann was at "Lawn Hill Station" in Queensland's Gulf Country for 20 years from 1875 to 1896.
Facts from The Lawn Hill Diaries. Frank Hann was a diligent record keeper, however what happened to the dairies of his twenty years at Lawn Hill remains a mystery.
Frank Hann was born on 19 October 1846 and came toAustralia in 1851, on board the "John Knox", as a five year old. The family settled in the Westernport district of Victoria. They moved to Queensland in 1861. Frank managed "Lolworth Station", North West of Charters Towers, from 1865 to 1870 and in 1875, when the cattle industry revived, took up "Lawn Hill Station" in the Gulf country of Queensland in partnership with Rolly Edkins.
During his time at "Lawn Hill", Hann made extensive journeys droving cattle to the Northern Territory goldfields and Darwin and developed an excellent reputation as a bushman and drover.
He was also involved in a number of exploratory trips including one for the Queensland State Government to survey a proposed railway line from Blackall to the Gulf and to establish a port at Point Parker, just west of Burketown.
By the 1890's Hann was suffering from a combination of misfortunes led by falling beef prices and drought as well as losses from ticks and red water fever. He had refused to sell in better times and was eventually overtaken by low prices.
The Bank of New South Wales in Townsville questioned his handling of Lawn Hill Station and set about dictating conditions for his management of the property. Hann decided to leave the property in 1895 to find better fortunes in Western Australia, however more bad luck saw him break his thigh in two places in July when his mare fell on him while mustering. He eventually rode off Lawn Hill in March 1896 penniless and miserable with 67 horses and accompanied by several faithful Aborigines, and travelled overland to Halls Creek in Western Australia.
Although Frank Hann at age fifty was virtually broke and homeless he decided to look for new pastoral lands and new mining prospects hence spent the next twelve years exploring Western Australia from the Kimberley to the southern goldfields. Many of his explorations started from a place still known as Hann's Camp to the east of Laverton where Hann lived for about fifteen years. He was always accompanied by Talbot, one of the faithful Aborigines from Lawn Hill.
SeeNewspaper reports dated Thursday 2 August 1906 of Frank Hann's exploratory journeys from Laverton to the South Australian Border.
Frank Hann documented his exploration of Western Australia including his departure from "Lawn Hill" in March 1896 and these original diaries are held by the family descendents in Townsville with some copies in the Battye State Library of WA. Each of his diaries in the Battye Library, Perth, is prefaced by the motto, 'Do not yield to despair'.
An accident put him on crutches in 1918 and he retired to Cottesloe, Perth, where he died 22 August 1921 and was buried as a pauper in his brother's grave at Karrakatta cemetery in Perth.
- Excerpts from Australia So Much to See
-----
Death of Joe Flick.
[FROM OUR EXCHANGES.]
News is to hand of the death of the notorious half-caste Joe Flick, who recently escaped from the Normanton lock-up, and was tracked to a hut at Lawn Hill Station by Constable Wavell. Flick fired and killed Wavell on the spot. Mr. F. H. Hann, owner of the station, then attempted to arrest Flick, and was also shot, but was not dangerously wounded. Flick also shot a blackboy, who is dying. Flick escaped during the night while a heavy storm was raging.
LATER
Further particulars of the affair show that on Sunday at noon Constable Wavell and two troopers arrived at Lawn Hill Station, in close pursuit of Joe Flick, the half caste desperado, who recently escaped from Normanton lock-up. Flick shot one of the trooper's horses from under him, and made for the dining-room, under fire from the troopers. Wavell followed him to the dining-room on foot, calling upon Flick to surrender, but Flick fired through the window at Wavell, who was about 25 yards away, and shot him dead. A man named Bird was the only person on the station at the time, and he armed himself and sent a message to Messrs. Doyle and Waller, who were in the vicinity at the time. They came, armed themselves, and watched the dining-room, which is a detached hut, in order to prevent the escape of Flick. About sundown Mr. F. H. Hann, owner of the station, with O'Shea and a blackboy, who were out on the run all day, returned to the station, and Mr. Hann immediately went towards the dining-room, and called upon Flick to surrender. Flick came to the window, and Hann pointed to Wavell's corpse in an endeavour to persuade Flick to surrender. Quietly assuring him of safe treatment, Fiick said he would surrender if Mr. Hann came to the door. Hann went to the door and opened it, and Flick immediately fired. The bullet entered Mr. Hann's left breast and passed round, coming out under the left arm. Flick fired again, but without effect, as Mr. Hann fell. Hann fired his rifle at Flick, and crawled away. All hands then fired on the hut, in order to wound Flick, who barricaded himself in the hut, which was watched all night. About 1 o'clock next morning a heavy storm set in, and it was so dark that it was impossible to see a yard ahead, and it is presumed that Flick escaped at that time. At daybreak the hut was entered, and spots of blood were found, and some pieces of cloth which were saturated with blood. It is, therefore, supposed that Flick was wounded. Under the leadership of Mr. Hann all hands started in pursuit, the station blackboy taking up the tracks, but before a quarter of a mile had been traversed, the tracker was shot through the chest by Flick, who was lying in am bush in heavy timber on the edge of Lawn Hill Creek. Several shots were then fired in the direction in which Flick was supposed to be, but the bush was very dense, so that it is not known whether Flick was disabled or not. O'Shea was then despatched to Burke with the above particulars. When he started the blackboy was dying. Much sorrow is expressed at Wavell's untimely end, as he was a general favourite.
BURKETOWN, November 2.
Further news from Lawn Hill Station this morning states that after the tracker was shot Flick's hiding place was closely watched on Monday night, and on Tuesday he was found to be dead, the body showing numerous bullet wounds. From the heavy traces of blood in the hut, it is supposed he was badly wounded whilst concealed there. This accounts for him only travelling a few hundred yards from the station during the storm of Sunday night; no doubt, he was wounded to death when he fled from the hut to the creek. The tracker died on Tuesday morning. Mr. Frank Hann, is still doing well, and no bad results are anticipated. Constable Wavell never moved from where he fell, and although not examined for many hours after, it seems to be certain that death was instantaneous.
Constable Wavell, who lost his life while endeavouring to capture Flick, was very highly respected. He was about 35 years old, dark, slim, and about the medium height, possessed great activity. He was of superior address, and when stationed at Corinda on the Nicholson, about 80 miles from Burketown, was a general favourite with squatters and carriers. Over twelve months ago he was removed to Normanton, and was no doubt selected to pursue Flick because of his knowledge of the country at the rear of Burketown. There are several in Townsville who knew Wavell, and all agree in stating that he was a brave and unassuming man.
Joseph Flick was the son of a white father and half-caste mother He was about 26 years of age, and since his arrival in the Gulf some four years ago from the Warrego with his father, he has been a persistent evil-doer. The quarrel with Cashman, which has led up to all the trouble, took place at the Brook, 20 miles from Burketown. Cashman kept an hotel there, and the hole where the bullet intended for Cashman went through the wall, is still on view.
- Northern Territory Times and Gazette (Darwin), Friday 22 November 1889
-----
THE LAWN HILL TRAGEDY.
FLICK'S MURDERS.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY MR. HANN.
Mr. F. Hann, writing from Lawn Hill on the 29th October gives the following graphic description of the tragic events which had just occurred on that station, and of which we have previously had some information by telegraph:—
"No doubt the tragedy that has taken place here those last two days will get widely circulated, and no doubt will get wrong constructions put on it. As I doubt whether such a thing has ever happened before or is likely to happen again on a station, I think it is best for me to put the plain facts before the public
"The blacks have been very troublesome here of late, and I had been out after them and had most of the firearms with me. I had been away part of three days. I returned home just before sundown on Sunday, 27th October. The Station is situated on a bluff mountain facing the creek. The hut is of galvanised iron. The garden is at the foot of the hill. My Chinaman cook was in the garden, and came running over to me and said Flick was in my dining-hut, and that he had shot Constable Wavell dead. I galloped up the hill, and on the top was Mr. Doyle, with two or my men and two of the troopers, keeping guard over the hut.
"Mr. Doyle told me that Wavell, with the troopers, had tracked Flick from the turn off lagoon and come on him in one of my paddocks, and got his horses. Flick, seeing the troopers, cleared. The troopers could not get their horses through the fence, so jumped off their horses and followed Flick on foot. He ran over the ridge, through the tailing-yard and up into my men's hut; turned over everything there looking for cartridges, but found none. He whips out of there, runs past the saddle-room, and into the dining-hut. Unfortunately I had just left a box of 460 cartridges there and my breech-loading gun with 100 cartridges. Wavell in the meantime was up in the paddock. Mr. Doyle happened to be there, too. Bird, my man, was on the hill and saw what took place. He immediately ran and told Wavell where Flick was. Wavell immediately galloped down in front of Mr. Doyle and up the hill, jumped off his horse, and went towards the back of the hut—this hut has six tin windows—going up with a revolver in his hand to within about twenty-five paces, when, without any warning, Flick jumped up and fired through the window at him. Wavell fell dead instantly. This was at about midday. One of my men witnessed this from a farther hut.
"As soon as I heard all particulars, I called on Flick to surrender. He said be would not come out, but would surrender to me if I came up to the hut. I walked up to the back window whence he had shot Wavell. He put out his hand and shook hands with me. I pointed out what he had done. He said, 'I suppose I'll swing for it.' I told him I did not see any other thing for it. I stopped talking to him, and explained to him that he had best surrender, as he would only be shot. He had no revolver in his hand at this time. He said if I came round to the door he would surrender. I walked round to the door and opened it with my left hand. As soon as I did so he shot me in the left breast, the bullet passing out behind the shoulder. He had another shot at me, but missed me. I fired back at him when a few paces distant, but after his second shot he again shut the door, and I missed him. I then ran under shelter of the bank as I knew he had plenty of ammunition. I was bleeding very much, but happily the wound is not dangerous, which is a most miraculous escape, as the powder burnt my shirt. I then told the troopers to riddle the hut, which was done in every direction. Unfortunately there was in the room a pine board table, 8ft x 4ft. of 1½in. boards, and also several hardwood stools, of which he made a barricade. When it was dark I told them to cease firing and to watch the place, as I felt confident that he must be either dead or seriously wounded.
"But at about 10 o'clock a thunderstorm came up, and it was so dark that you could not see your hand. At daylight I gave orders to go up and see if he was in the hut, and they found that he had been wounded, as there was blood all over the place, and had escaped during the Storm. The two troopers and two of my boys tracked him up under command of Mr. Doyle. They tracked him down the hill and across a small creek at the foot of the hill and going down the bank of the big creek, which is heavily fringed with long grass and water pandanus, which is peculiar to this creek and the Gregory. There were three large tea-trees growing at the edge of the water. It was quite impossible to see anything which might be planted in there, and when my two boys got within twenty yards of this, Flick was planted there, and he shot one of my unfortunate boys, the ball entering the breast and coming out at the back. Blood directly poured out of his mouth. As soon as this took place Mr. Doyle and the troopers fired into where the shot came from. My poor boy ran a little way into a hollow and lay down. I went down and saw the boy was fatally wounded. Mr. Doyle told me exactly how it was done, as he was a few yards higher up. Seeing Wavell shot, and then myself, and now my poor boy, I gave directions to riddle the place from a distance, as it was quite unsafe to venture near the spot, as we could not see how he was situated, while he could see everything that was going on; and we could see that it would never do to allow him to escape, and I saw by the way he was working it was his object to shoot as many persons as possible. About an hour after this he fired another shot, but evidently the cartridge was wet, as it only puffed. Noble, the trooper, fired at once into this place, and I think this shot must have disabled him. The place was then again riddled. I had the place watched all day, as it was too risky to send anyone to ascertain whether he was dead or not. During the night I had the station watched, as I know if he was not fatally wounded he would sneak up to the place for rations ; but with no results. Mr. Doyle and the troopers went down this morn- ing and went into the place. The fires that I had lit had burnt away the grass during the night and left the place more clear, which enabled them to see the place better, and they found that he was dead, and that nine shots had struck him. They got the gun loaded and the revolver also loaded, as well as all the spare cartridges. I had him buried on the spot this afternoon as I did not consider that it was of any importance where a fiend like this should be buried. I had a proper grave made, and a coffin of galvanised iron, and had poor Wavell buried yesterday morning and my poor boy this morning.
"I cannot speak too highly of the pluck shown in this affair by poor Wavell, as he had evidently made up his mind to lose his own life or capture Flick ; unfortunately the poor follow lost his life. The conduct of the two troopers was very good throughout. Had it not been for Mr. Doyle's presence I fear very much that Flick would have got away. I am thoroughly convinced that he would have shot people indiscriminately from the cold-blooded way he shot me. Mr. Hollway, who arrived yesterday, in talking the matter over afterwards pointed out that his object in shooting me was to obtain my rifle and cartridges, by which means he would be able to shoot the others. I should mention that throughout he used a .450 revolver. Had he shot Mr. Doyle he would have had the place, and then there is no knowing what the results might have been. I sent a messenger yesterday to Burketown with telegrams of particulars to Inspector Douglas. I have put the facts of the case before you now, which cannot be denied. I do not know what the public will think of our action in this matter, nor do we care, as I for one know I was doing a public service in securing this desperado dead or alive."
- The Brisbane Courier, Tuesday 19 November 1889
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