Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land, 1830-1840 - Page 267
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[Page 267]
Dolly Dalrymple was went afterwards married to live to with one Thomas Johnson, stock-keeper to Mr Stocker who had a cattle run in Dairy plains. John Cupid was also a stock-keeper, and resided in the same hut with Johnson and Dolly. One day whe Cupid went out to fetch water when he was assailed by a great number of Blacks of the "Quamby Bluff" tribe, who threw many spears at him, fourteen of which rendered made execution. He ran to the hut, and two were sent in his back through the square which answered the purpose of a window, Dolly with admirable dexterity extricated the spears, and with a double barrelled gun, shot two blacks dead on the spot. A regular fight now commenced, the Blacks being determined to have revenge of the woman. She re-loaded her piece quickly and kept up a constant fire until, as is, said, twelve more fell. The Aborigines retreated, and in their rancour proceeded to Mr Simpson's hut where they killed Wm. Knight, one of the stock-keepers. There is every reason to believe that the number who were disposed of by Dalrymple was not exaggerated, for Mr Hodge, the Surveyor, shortly after discovered sixteen dead bodies concealed under dead boughs, all placed in a row on the ground. Cupid was sent to the hospital at Launceston where he partly recovered, but has been ever since in a sad state of health.
Sir George Arthur, with that consideration which always distinguished his character bestowed on Dolly