This fancied immunity was broken in a most tragic manner on the night of the 28th of June, 1845.

It was a calm, quiet evening, and the party were peacefully encamped beside a chain of shallow lagoons.

The doctor was thinking out his plans for the next few days, Gilbert was planting a few lilies he had gathered, as was his nightly habit when any flowers were available.

Roper and the others were grouped around the fire warding off the attacks of the mosquitoes.
Suddenly about seven o'clock a shower of spears was thrown among the unarmed men, and Gilbert was almost instantly killed, Roper and Calvert being seriously wounded.

The whites rushed for their guns, but unfortunately not one weapon was ready capped, and it was some time before any of them could be discharged, when a volley caused the blacks to scamper off.