The Buckland Valley Riots
Trouble in the Buckland
Trouble started soon after the Chinese arrived in the Buckland Valley and resentment and hostility towards the Chinese was rife. After several scuffles between the European and Chinese the Resident Warden, William Gaunt, who was stationed at Beechworth, suggested that an officer should be appointed to the Buckland to specifically handle these disputes but his suggestion appears to have been ignored. On the 8th of May 1857, a group of Europeans took matters into their own hands and under the cover of darkness rushed a small outlying camp where about 30 Chinese miners had begun sinking on what was considered “good ground”. A small group of men, with blackened faces, tore down the flimsy huts belonging to the Chinese and pelted the fleeing occupants with stones. They then proceeded to make a bonfire out to the windlasses, buckets and any other items they found around the site. [1] After several more attacks of a similar nature, William Gaunt tried to restore some law and formed two camp sites for the Chinese; one at the Junction and the other near the Police Camp. The Chinese had already established a large settlement area on the Lower Flat, referred to as Joss House Hill, and many, particularly the store keepers, preferred to stay there. Some settled in the Junction Camp and others lived in smaller encampments close to their claims[2] but the area set aside near the Police Camp, which would have offered the most protection for the Chinese, appears to have been shunned.
Joss House Hill, as the name suggests, was the site of the Chinese Temple or Joss House. Unlike the European diggers, who were too busy moving mountains of earth from left to right, the pious Chinese were busily erecting a place of worship within weeks of their arrival on the Buckland gold field.
The Sub-Warden rarely, if ever, visits. The church is unrepresented, no school, no clergy, children nearly 2 years old are unbaptised- only to be visited by healthy men and in summer.
The infamous Buckland Riot occurred on Saturday the 4th of July in 1857 as a result of a meeting held by a mob of disgruntled European miners who had gathered at Tanswell’s Hotel. They had gathered to address the issue of the increasing Chinese population of the valley, which most viewed as a threat to their livelihoods. Initially it was an orderly meeting but after a series of rousing speeches the Bucklanders decided that they had waited long enough for the law to intervene and at the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Jonathon Bell, called for the men to separate and accomplish their objective, declaring, “Either the whites or the Chinese will have to go”.[3] Once outside Tanswell’s Hotel a mob of about 40 highly agitated men armed themselves with picks, axe handles and pieces of wood, shouting and yelling they then headed up the right hand branch of the Buckland River. About half a mile up the creek from the Junction was the Chinese Camp on Louden’s Flat and it was there that the first attack occurred. This camp was the highest Chinese camp on the Buckland and contained several Chinese stores and about 20 tents which the rioters quickly tore down and set fire to. The rioters gave the Chinese inhabitants no time to gather their belongings and commenced to drive them down the creek, brutally assaulting them with sticks and stones as they tried to flee ahead of their attackers. By the time the frenzied group had reached the Junction their ranks had increased to nearly 100 and with the increase in numbers the violence gained momentum and the fleeing Chinese were beaten most brutally. A large crowd of interested spectators followed the riot but made no attempt to stop any of the violence or interfere in any of the proceedings.
After reaching the Junction the mob divided into two groups and worked their way down both sides of the river. Encampment after encampment was systematically destroyed. Bags of rice and other foodstuffs were strewn about and spoiled; tents, mining tools and bedding were piled up and burnt. The terrified owners were left with no option but to flee or be mercilessly beaten by the furious mob.
As soon as the main mob had moved on, opportunists began looting through the scattered possessions left behind and other more violently inclined individuals seized on the opportunity to rob the fleeing Chinese of any gold or money they had in their possession. While all this was going on Constable Duffy was powerless to act against such a furious mob and although he tried several times to remonstrate they continued on regardless of his presence.
It wasn’t until two o’clock on Sunday afternoon that news of the riot reached Beechworth. Warden Price was quick to pen a letter to the Chief Secretary in Melbourne informing him of the uprising before setting off to the troubled goldfield. Along the road he passed wretched looking Chinese miners, some were heading towards Beechworth, and others were huddled in small groups beside the road, most were without food or covering. Others were sick, cold and injured and in a state of wretched bewilderment. He tried to convince many of them to return to the Buckland on the promise of police protection but nothing would induce them to return. He also noted that many of the Chinese had been brutally beaten and otherwise maltreated and that they had also expressed their concern that a number of their countrymen were drowned as they were been driven over the Buckland crossing place.[4] Three bodies that had been found along the road also showed signs of violence (the Coroner’s Inquest held on July 8th returned a verdict of “died from cold and exposure and previous disease”).[5]
Once the warden passed over the crossing place the enormity of the violence presented itself and all along the valley he was overwhelmed by the scenes of destruction, “I found the excitement over and things apparently quiet. The entire Chinese population gone, the whole of their tents, stores, with Joss House burnt down and destroyed.”[6]
Warden Price estimated that over 750 tents had been destroyed plus 30 stores belonging to Chinese business men. One of the most significant property losses was that of the Chinese Temple which had only been opened several days earlier and was described by Warden Price as, “a large building the best one of the description in the district”.
Other accounts from the Buckland relate in more detail the many acts of destruction and violence perpetrated against the Chinese. One newspaper report heralding Warden Price’s arrival in the Buckland varies from the official report as it gives a much more detailed description of the wretchedness of the situation. “Captain Price has arrived with a detachment of police, much to the satisfaction of us all here, and they report the most frightful scenes on the road up; Chinamen worn out with hunger and exposure, dying on the road. One poor fellow was found lying near a fire in the bush, with his foot burnt off, others in a dying state from starvation, many were rushed into the river at the crossing place of the Buckland, and it is believed that some were drowned. Two poor fellows were found this afternoon (Monday), one lying down hiding under the banks of the river, nearly dead; the other was found also hiding in a hole where he had crept into out of the way, and the earth had fallen in, and when found he was in a sitting position but could not extricate himself. Frank Scott, the publican, found him and gave him food and told him to go to his house but the poor fellow was afraid and sneaked away”.[7]
Warden Price then published a notification calling for the Chinese to return, reassuring them that they would be protected. The poster was then translated into Chinese and delivered to the groups that were still camped just beyond the Buckland. Most of those lingering along the roadside had wanted to return but feared the consequences. Some were just bewildered and unsure of what to do or in which direction to go. Even with Warden Price’s reassurances the majority were reluctant to return. Only a few made moves towards their claims and in most instances it was only to wash up any dirt that they’d left behind.
With brave hearts a small number of Chinese miners started to trickle back into the Buckland only to be pelted by stones, hooted and hissed at and intimidated by the Europeans.[8] Their courage eventually gave way when the Bucklanders gathered again, still festering over the Chinese question, and held another rowdy meeting. The thought of 100 angry Europeans descending on them again proved too nerve-racking and by the 15th of July the Chinese gathered up their belongings and heading towards Beechworth, and protection. Adding further to their insecurities was the withdrawal of the extra police reinforcement that had been sent to protect them.[9]
In the days following the riot a small band of troublemakers were rounded up by the police but many considered that the ringleaders and main agitators had fled the Buckland.
John Bourke, Fredrick Taylor and Thomas Edwards were tried shortly after on a range of charges including stealing, destroying tents and riot. John Bourke was also charged with robbing a Church (Chinese Temple). They all pleaded not guilty. John Bourke was seen on the day of the riots by Constable Henry Langstaff and Constable Grover carrying two flags which they believed were the flags from the Temple. Constable Gilroy also stated that he had seen the flags on the Joss House on the 4th of July but the next day the Joss House were in ruins and the flags were gone. A Sang who was in charge of the Joss House described the flags which he said were worth £20. There were no other flags like them on the Buckland as they were intended solely for a Joss House.
Henry Franklin appeared on charge of assault and robbing with violence and of riot. La Sin stated that on the day of the riot he was at the Lower Flat near Scott’s Hotel (Hit or Miss) when Henry Franklin knocked him down and took money out of his pocket. He recognized Franklin by his flat nose and the blue marks on his arm, he was also wearing earrings. Franklin had initially been arrested for setting fire to the Joss House and while in the charge of Constable James Garratty he had been recognized by La Sin as the man who robbed him. Mr. McDermott addressed the jury saying that the whole case was very lame adding, “if it was so difficult for a European to distinguish one Chinaman from another, that the same difficulty might not exist in a chinaman’s recognition of a European?” The jury immediately returned a verdict of not guilty. One of the most astounding outcomes was that of the case involving Thomas Healey alias “Yankee Tom” who was charged with stealing £53.16s from A Gee on the day of the riot. Thomas Healey pleaded not guilty to the charge. A Gee stated that he had been running away from the rioters and was about a mile from the crossing place when he was caught and struck by Thomas Healey. Two other rioters then came and held him while Healey rifled his pockets and stole his money. He recognized Healey and later saw him at the public house at the crossing place (Porepunkah). A Lick was called as a witness and sworn in by blowing out a match (the usual procedure in lieu of taking the oath). He stated that he had seen Healey in the presence of two other men, searching A Gee. At this point Healey addressed the jury, “protesting his innocence, and stigmatizing the Chinese repeatedly as animals whose oath was not to be relied on.”[10] Andrew Gehrin, Healey’s mate, was then called to the witness stand and seemed to get himself into a bit of a muddle when he stated that he was with Healey at the time of the offence and was cautioned by the judge to be more careful with his statements as he had repeatedly contradicted himself. After several other witnesses had made various claims regarding the whereabouts of Healey the Judge summed up at great length, dwelling on the evidence of the defence and the contradictory nature of the evidence of the witness Andrew Gehrin. Mr. Mayne, Crown Prosecutor stated that the present case had no connection with those of the riot at the Buckland on the same day, but occurred when the plaintiff was fleeing from the rioters.
The Resident Warden in his report ending 4th July 1857 wrote that the Buckland Chinese Camp inhabitants numbered 1807 and the headman was A. Poo[11] A fortnight later, and after the riots, his fortnightly report ending the 18th of July 1857 read, General feeling of hostility still exists. Estimated Chinese on the Buckland 100, Headman Ah Sing.[12]
[1] The Age August 18th, 1857
[2] The Herald July 11th, 1857
[3] O&MA July 8th, 1857
[4] Resident Warden Matthew Price’s report to the Chief Secretary, Melb. 10th July, 1857 VPRS 1189 Unit 476 File 57/5650
[5] Inquest into the death of three unnamed Chinese VPRS24/P Unit 43 File 1857/536
[6] The opening of this temple was featured in The Herald July 3rd 1857. The exact site of the temple is cannot be determined, it was only standing for a matter of days before it was burnt to the ground and much of the area has since been heavily sluiced.
[7] The Argus July 14th 1857
[8] Melb. Herald July 21st 1857
[9] VPRS 1189 unit 476 file A57/5655
[10] The Herald Aug. 14 1857
[11] VPRO1189 Box 475 folder 4964
[12] VPRO 1189 Box 475 folder 5336
