In July Merriman and Harlequin and some of their fellows were captured by squatters and stockmen seeking vengeance for the Mackay raid.
“We surprised about sixteen of these treacherous demons. They were headed by the then celebrated, much feared, and diabolical cannibals, “Harlequin” and “Merryman”. We hemmed them in, bound them, and marched them prisoners to an old hut on Mr. George Faithfull’s run. The bullock driver was directed to fetch a few loads of firewood, for I assure you – it was our intention to burn them alive! …When who should gallop up on the scene but Major Nunn and Captain Christie, followed by six mounted troopers. It was our turn to look dismayed. The whole of us were placed under arrest. The officers and soldiers could perceive what our intentions were. The blacks were at once liberated, and to see the agility with which they cleared the piles of firewood and bounded over the country and out of sight, was one of the most marvellous sights I ever witnessed. Had our “coves*” not been with us on this occasion and taken part in the proceedings, it is highly probable that the whole of us would have been marched prisoners to Melbourne, tried and probably hung.” (1)
REFERENCES:
(1) From an article printed in the Border Post 7th August 1875, titled, ‘The Blacks’.
