THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN BISSETT.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN BISSETT.

The Samoan correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald gives the following description of this trielanoholy occurrence :— Captain Biasett, of the sohoonor Vindex, expressed a desire to go to the British Consulate, which is situate at the east end of Apia, and immediately in front of the position taken up by the war party. Mataafa's army were - manoeuvring to out off the Government eoldiera ; the firing on both sides was necessarily of a strangling oharactor, the ground being of a sornbby nature ; tho bullets were flying in all directions, some penetrating tho dwellinghouses of Mr. Carruthers, Mr Chatfleld, Mr. Smith (harbourmaster), and others, all of which are within a few hundred, yards of tho British Consulate. When near the residence of Mr. Carruthers several shots passed olose to where Captain Bissett and his companions were travelling. They hnrried to the dwellinghouse, and as soon as Captain Bissett placed his foot npon the Bteps of Mr. Carrathers' verandah he reoeived a bullet in bis temple, whioh passed out through his brain. Ho was eoen to raise his hand to his head, and thon fall on his baok. His death must have been almost instantaneous. Mr. Deyerlen, one of the persons who accompanied Captain Bigßelt in his attempt to reach the Consulate, hastened to Apia to convoy the intelligence of Captain Bissott's death. His other companion, Mr. Adam Main, with tho assistance of Mr. Carruthors and Mr. Lawronoe, oonveyed the body under cover, and as quiokly as possible procured a boat and carried the body to the schooner Vindez, which was at anchor some 400 or 500 yards off. Tho funeral of the late captain took place at half-put 10 o'olock next morning, about 100 white residents of all nations and about 50 half -cast, The burial services were conducted by the Rev. W. H. Wilson in a most impressive manner. Capt. Bisaett was held in great respect by the people of Samoa. H« wai of a most obliging disposi- j

tion, and well known in Fiji, where be was for somo yoars master of the schooners Falcon and Albatross. Thero remains no doubt in the minds of tho white population of the town that Capt. Bissott mot his death solely by accident. By_ which party the bullet was fired it is impossible to tell."