THE LATE LIEUT. FREEMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 85, 12 April 1899, Page 2

THE LATE LIEUT. FREEMAN.

Mr R. E. Isaacs, Auckland, who last year made a cruise to the Islands in H.M.S. Tauranga, received a letter by to-day's mail from Samoa from an officer on the, Tauranga, in which - reference was made to Mr Freeman's sad death. In the account of the fight at Vailele, the writer says: 'The American field gun broke down, and •it's God's mercy they were not all killed. Freeman was shot through the heart. The bugler (Carter, of the Tauranga), endeavoured to rescue his body, but could not manage it. . ...... It is especially sad about Lieut. Lansdale, as he was lately married, the week before leaving San Francvisco.' Mr Freeman was first lieutenant and gunnery officer of the Tauranga. He was about 38 years of age, and was a most popular arid able officer. He had a number of acquaintances in Auckland, and was here with his ship recently. He had been on the Australian station for about three years, and for some years previous to that he had been on service on the English coast. Mr Freeman was an unmarried man. Some time ago the Tauranga was at the New Hebrides, and Mr Freeman led an armed force which was sent' ashore to capture a native who had committed a murder, and received great kudos for the manner in which he performed this duty. He was in expectation of promotion at the time the ship was ordered, to Samoa. He was a strong, well-built man, and his general disposition was so popular that he made many friends wherever he went.