State Library of South Australia

Reconstruction of capture of Ah Kim, 1875 [B 72247] • Photograph

Info

Share
- facebook
- twitter
- pinterest
- google+
- email
Buy
Download
Permanent link
Print

Prev Next

Summary

Capture of Ah Kim, 10.20 pm on 11 May 1875 [reconstruction].

Restrictions

This image has no known copyright restrictions.

Please refer to the State Library's Conditions of use.

Learn more about copyright and our collection.

Physical description

Negative (glass, full plate); 16.5 cm x 21.6 cm

Dates / Publication details

1875

Photographer

Foelsche, P

Collection

Part of Northern Territory Collection

Subject

Kim, Ah
Prisoners -- Northern Territory

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

Historical information

A reconstruction by Foelsche of the shooting of escaped Chinese prisoner Ah Kim during a police attempt to capture him in May 1875. Foelsche painted the puff of smoke from the policeman's gun onto the glass plate. The falling figure of Ah Kim is represented by a stuffed dummy. Ah Kim was one of the first Chinese to arrive in the Northern Territory in 1871. He had a market garden at Yam Creek, then worked as a jeweller. During April 1874 he was arrested for theft and imprisoned without trial for a year. He escaped from the Palmerston Gaol in April 1875. His whereabouts were tipped off to Police Inspector Foelsche, who sent two troopers to apprehend him. They ambushed him on the evening of 11 May 1875 and he was killed by a policeman's shot when he slipped from his hiding place above his boat and fell. He was not armed and not considered a dangerous criminal, and his treament and death caused public controversy.

Digitisation information

Date

12/09/2008

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

10,985 x 8,389 pixels (92.2 MP)

Size

276.49 MB

Ask Us

If you would like further information about this image, please Ask Us