Narrabri Stone-Throwing Mystery.
Narrabri, Friday. – The stone-throwing mystery becomes more interesting every day, or rather every evening. The theory which was advanced by the police that one of Mr Avery’s daughters was the performer is discounted by the fact that the said daughter is now in town, having been brought in for medical treatment. Yet the trouble is as great as before, or rather more so, as the lengthening days do not appear to affect the time of starting the bombardment. There are more stones thrown in daylight now, but the throwing still finishes about the same hour.
Mr Avery, the settler whose house is the subject of the battery, is a very old resident of the district, and has a large family, all grown up; several sons and daughters residing at the selection.
A family named Stalk, who resided some five miles from Avery’s, removed into town some six weeks ago, and it has transpired that they were subjected to almost precisely similar treatment for more than a month. So it may be reasonably surmised that the same cause was operating in their case.
Avery, the present subject, is not a man likely to be driven to desert his home, nor are his family weak-nerved. Avery’s sons state that the stones come from two different directions, north-east and south-west. Young Avery and his brother-in-law went one in each direction, and fired shots. As each shot was fired a stone was returned as if in answer and resembling an echo. One night James Avery, the eldest son, remained at home by himself, the rest of the family being in Narrabri. The stones came as usual.
The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), October 20th, 1900.
The Stone Throwing Mystery.
The stone-throwing mystery near Narribri remains unsolved. Mr Avery’s daughter fainted upon being struck with a stone on the foot, but was not seriously hurt. The stone when picked up was found to be quite hot.
Residents who were at Cooyal, near Mudgee, some years ago, when a family named Larges were attacked similarly, state that the bombardment lasted three or four weeks. Police went from Mudgee and surrounded the premises, while large stones came through the roof. That case was never elucidated.
The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide), October 22nd, 1900.
The Narrabri stone-throwing mystery.
[…] A message under Monday’s date says: – “The stone-throwing continues, but is decreasing in virulence. A surprise party is being organised, members to be in readiness to start at two minutes’ notice.”
Queensland Times, 25th October 1900.
Narrabri, Thursday.
The stone-throwing has ceased, none being thrown for the last four nights. The mystery remains, and there is no suggested solution which appears to fit the case. Some professed experts say the stones are different to any in this district. Both the front and back windows of the house have been broken. Mr Avery and his sons still remain, prepared with arms, ready-loaded.
The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), October 26th, 1900.
A stone-throwing mystery at the house of Mr Avery, a settler in the Narrabri district, is puzzling the police and others. Mr Avery is an old resident, and has a large family, several sons and daughters residing on the selection. A family named Stalk, who resided some five miles from Avery’s removed into town some six weeks ago, and it has transpired that they were subjected to almost precisely similar treatment for more than a month. The bombardment of stones starts at the same hour every day.
Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney), October 27th 1900.
Stone-throwing Mystery.
Narrabri people puzzled.
The following telephone from Narrabri, dated Thursday last, appears in the Sydney “Daily Telegraph”: – A mystery similar to the stone-throwing sensation at the Glebe some time ago occupies public attention here. Parties of police and civilians have been proceeding out nightly to the locality, some eight miles away, at Stony Creek. There is a selector’s homestead in the vicinity, and stone appear to come upon it from every directions. Strategic movements were arranged; the selector’s family remaining indoors, while others surrounded the premises, which were unlighted. Almost immediately young Guest, one of the Narrabri party, was struck on the cheek. Several have been struck every night. The throwing has been going on for over a month nightly from about dark, continuing several hours.
The stone-throwing took place mostly in open daylight, while a party of police and civilians were watching and some mounted men were scouring around to a distance of 200 yards. The most extraordinary thing is that there are no stones in the vicinity, the soil being a level plain, and the nearest neighbour’s house is over a mile away, with scrub intervening. To dispel suspicion all the party submitted to a search, and no stones were found on any of them. The first stones were thrown about half past 5 o’clock, continuing at intervals till 9 o’clock.
Some unimpeachable residents near, one being a J.P., declare positively that a similar occurrence took place not many miles off some years ago, and that it has never been cleared up. They were engaged tank-sinking, and every evening for some weeks clods of earth larger than a man’s fist were thrown into their camp which could not have been projected even with slings without being seen on the open plain.
Avery’s sons state that the stones come from two different directions, north-east and south-west. Young Avery and his brother-in-law went one in each direction and fired shots. As each shot was fired a stone was returned as if in answer and resembling an echo. One night James Avery, the eldest son, remained at home by himself, the rest of the family being in Narrabri. The stones came as usual.
Warwick Examiner and Times (Queensland), October 27th 1900.
A Stone-Throwing Ghost.
The township of Narribri, in New South Wales, is just now much excited over some mysterious stone-throwing. At Stoney Creek, about six miles from the township, lives a gentleman named Avery, and he complains that for the last month, every evening between five and nine o’clock, and sometimes for these hours continuously, his house has been assailed by volleys of stones. No one is seen to throw them; the house is surrounded by a cordon of watchers; there are mounted men scouring the scrub and the open all about within a radius of 200 or 300 yards; there are no stones anywhere near, which an ordinary human being could find to throw, and yet they come.
Mr Avery seems rather more indignant than nervous, and began by communicating with the police. All that they did was to repeat the assertion of other witnesses that the stones “come”; but they unkindly added that they believed Mr Avery’s daughter had something to do with it. That young lady is now away from home, and by latest advices the shower of stones is heavier than before.
One night Mr Avery’s son and son-in-law went out with guns and fired in the direction from which they assumed the stones came. Each shot was promptly answered by a stone; but that was all. So far nothing has been made out about it except that the stones seem to be coming from two opposite directions – north-east and south-west – and from places where no one can be seen throwing anything.
This mystery has produced a crop of reminiscences in Narrabri. We are told that about six weeks before this plague started, another family who had lived close to Avery’s moved into the township, and it was then discovered that they had suffered from the same strange persecution. Also an old inhabitant, a J.P., asserts that years ago, when sinking a tank near the township, he and his companions were attacked in their camp every night by clods of earth thrown right out of the open, and without visible motive power.
Of course this is by no means a new story. The literature of psychical research contains many instances of unexplained stone-throwing. Those interested in such matters may like a New Zealand parallel (says a contemporary). About two years ago men were prospecting at Okoroire, Auckland. One night, when they were all sound asleep, all their billies and tin cans were hurled at them. They rushed out in search of the offender, but, though there was a clear space round their camp, they saw nothing. Next night matters were worse. Sticks, branches, and timber came flying through the tent. Then a bill-hook was thrown, which, contrary to precedent, scratched one of the men; for as a rule in these unauthorised seances no one is hurt. Then the meat tins and milk tins were stolen in the day, but were returned with scrupulous honesty in showers at night.
At last the men could stand it no more, and went back to Auckland. There they told their story with evident sincerity; in fact, they all offered to be put on oath before making their statement. No one could suggest any reasonable explanation; but it is certainly remarkable that in all corners of the globe, in all periods of the world’s history, such strange tales should constantly recur.
Oamaru Mail, 5th November 1900.