BRISBANE

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1748, 21 September 1875, Page 2

BRISBANE

September 10. Mr Macleay's expedition arrived at New Guinea on the 25th ultimo. The principal collections so far comprise marine shells. The Susannah Booth, after two years employment on the pearl fisheries, obtained sixty tons of pearl shells.

ATTACK ON ISLAND TRADERS. . The schooner Stanley reports (says tne - • Marybo7-ongh Chronicle) a fracas at Lepers Island. Two of her boats has been engaged during Tuesdsy, 13th July, trading along theN.W. coast, but had not secured any recruits. About 4.30 p.m., when the boats were about a quarter of a mile apart, but not in sight ol each other, and the vessel lying about a mile from shore, two islanders volunteered tor Queensland. The boat was, accordingly, taken in, and the two boys came onboard, accompanied by three friends, who were ap!\ parently desirous of seeing their kinsmen on.» The boat was manned by four islanders, MrCrank, super-cargo, and Mr. Money and Dr. Archdale, passenger. A third boy expressed a wish to join the recruits; but the 'other ■ islanders objected to him leaving the island y in,., the altercation which- ensued among tne ; natives the boat was surrounded. Suddenly at some pre-arranged signal, an attack was made upon the men on the boat; MessrsMoney, Archdale, and the boat's crew were ; thrown down. Mr Crank dodged the blow w a tomahawk aimed at hts head, and receivea the blow on his shoulder. It, however inflicted no greater injury than a severe bruise. With admirable presence of mind he used ms fists to good advantage, knocking the-™°' newly acquired recruits from the boat into | water, their three friends taking a " ne?f cr., after them, by this time one 0} the D°*V? crew who had been thrown down and had w thumb cut off in the struggle, reg|.meajg. feet, and, raising his musket, of the natives. Messrs Crank, %S^C:' r and Archdale also managed to ge^kW^l' '■ revolvers, and fired upon the' sav:^g' In „ the . momentary panic which Messrs. Crank and Money pulled ( w

fl,e schooner, Dr. Archdale standing in" the s em and keeping the enemy at bay with his olver The boat was, however, followed 1w flights of arrows, and on coming alongside, ' Lr a dozen were found in the bottom, and 1 ° vial sticking in the sides. It is believed at two natives were killed, and others wounded. Of those in the boat, Mr. Crank received an arrow wound in the hand. One of the boat's crew was tomahawked on both hinds and had his thumb cut completely off; nother was tomahawked on the head, the skull being slightly lacerated A Futuna man was iujured in the head nn d a Tanna man had a large bone-headed arrow drived right through the fleshy part of his arm Fortunately the schooner carried a medical man, and to the remedies promptly supplied most of the wounded men probobly owe their lived. There is a great deal of sickness at the islands just now, mostly dysentery and measles, and the belief—not at an unreasonable one—ts said to have gained ground amongst the islanders that these deseases have been introduced among them by the white men. Hence great difficulty is encountered in recru,itinff, and to this cause may be attributed the murder of Commodore Goodenough, as well as this unprovoked attack upon the Stanley's crew.