Port Denison Times, 3 October 1868, p2

We are told that it is doubtful whether the two horses lately reported to have been killed by the blacks did really come by their deaths in any such manner. Opinions however vary on this point. The horses are certainly dead and it is equally certain that there were no spear wounds found on

them. It is, however, said that Tempest (Dr. Smith's) horse when found was battered about the head as if by blows from nullah nullahs, and that one eye was knocked out, possibly by a spear, and that Mr. Wilson's filly was speared in the eye. Mr. Wilson himself is of opinion that she died from the effects of a kick in the forehead. Some say that Tempest died from a snake-bite. Some accounts, again, say that there were no blackfellows' implements found in the neighbourhood, others that both nullah nullahs and spears were found. However, this may be, it is certain that the blackfellows are in the neighbourhood in force. We have it from a credible eyewitness that the other day he came upon a mob of from forty to fifty gins in that locality. They had a half-caste girl with them, whom our informant had in his hands, and would have brought into town with him but that the gins closed round him before he could get away. Amongst the gins was one of very tall stature with a tartan skirt on. We wonder where she got it from. The presence of this number of gins, however, is indisputable proof that the blackfellows are in considerable force at no great distance.