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jandamarra - "pigeon"

early days, early trouble

Pigeon was only a young boy when Forrest passed through his people's country in 1879. By the mid 1880s he had sampled the Whiteman's way and William Lukin's recently established Lennard River Station, before returning to his people, the Bunaba, for the ceremonies that would make him a man.

Influenced by the elders of the tribe, and especially one called 'Ellemarra the Cunning', Pigeon was in and out of trouble with the police because of sheep spearing. In 1894, after absconding from indentured labour, he was recaptured and put to work as a police tracker, working with a police constable Richardson and another native called 'Captain'. It wasn't long before Pigeon had earned himself a fine reputation, backed up by good horsemanship, a skill with guns, and loyalty to his new boss. In fact, the team was so good that they were sent out to Pigeon's home territory (something not normally done) to deal with the growing Bunaba problem.

That first patrol by Richardson was remarkably successful, with 15 men all in chains heading for Derby. While to patrol rested at Lillimilura, Pigeon, in a magnificent coupe, capture his old hunting mate Ellemarra and added him to the patrol's tally!

Later, while the young constable slept, Pigeon, in a dramatic about face, shot him from point blank range and released all the prisoners.

the battle of windjana gorge

Soon afterwards Pigeon and his new found gang attacked a party of newcomers as they approached Windjana Gorge. A police patrol soon converged on Windjana Gorge and surprised the Aboriginies on the morning of the 16th November 1894. The 'Battle of Windjana Gorge' was to see a number of natives killed and both Pigeon and Ellemarra badly wounded.

Over the next couple of years ceaseless patrols scoured the country for Pigeon and his gang. While these patrols pushed north beyond the Leopold Ranges, Pigeon would suddenly turn up near Fitzroy Crossing, spear a few cattle, or take the odd shot at a settler. His vanishing tricks became legendary!

In early 1896 both Ellemarra and Captain were betrayed and captured and a police patrol managed to follow Pigeon to his hideout at the entrance to the Cave of Bats, now known as Tunnel Creek. Camping at the cave mouth, the patrol was more than surprised when the word was received that Pigeon had raided the Lillimilura police post, a few kilometres away, while they had been absent.

the last battles

In March 1897 Pigeon led a gang of 20 to 30 natives and attacked Oscar Range Station, killing Tom Jasper and continuing the siege all day before turning and vanishing back into the hills. The police patrols though were already in pursuit.

One patrol picked up Pigeon's tracks and, after following him for more than 50kms a day, caught up with him. In the ensuing fight, Pigeon and one of the patrol were wounded. Pigeon escaped, but next day attacked the patrol, killing one of the native trackers before slipping away into the bush once again. It was a brazen attack.

Now, a number of fast-mounted patrols closed in on him and in the subsequent fight Pigeon was wounded twice more, this time seriously. Even so, he managed to escape into a small cave just a stone's throw from his hideout in Tunnel Creek.

Next morning, the native police trackers picked up his blood and set off quickly in pursuit. Twenty minutes later they came across him and after a fight, which expended his last bullets and saw him wounded yet again, he fell to the ground where his life quickly ebbed away.

From The Kimberley - An Adventurer's Guide by Ron and Viv Moon - pp. 45-6

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Last updated: 13th February, 2002