AN ISLAND TRAGEDY. PIONEERING IN THE SOLOMONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24, 30 January 1911, Page 3

AN ISLAND TRAGEDY. PIONEERING IN THE SOLOMONS.

ADVENTURES OF A MISSIONARY. Dr. Northcote Deck, who is a young missionary attached to the South Sea Evangelical Mission, is at present in Wellington on deputation work, and spoke at the Vivian-street Baptist Church yesterday. After visiting the South Island he will return to Wellington and address public meetings, tie should have a fascinating story to tell about pioneer mission work, for he was not long since at Rennell Island, in the Solomons, where he made the gruesome discovery of the murdered remains of three native teachers, who appeared to have been murdered soon after being put upon the island. Rennell is an island some forty-five miles long by twelve miles broad. It is unvisited by the trader because there is no anchorage. It is, moreover, girdled b/ precipitous cliffs, some 400 feet high. Its inhabitants are not very well known to Europeans, and they are among the fiercest tribes in the Solomons, but not cannibals. Rennell has not, so far as Dr. Deck is aware, been explored by whites, but risky as the undertaking was Dr. Deck did it, and found a great lake in the centre. The story of the murder of the teachers is most romahtic. Dr. Deck tells how around the point' at Kungava his ship came slowly steaming. The day and night before she had crossed the ocean, from far-away Makira i creeping in the dark around the eastern end of Rennell. "Tired and hungry and unkempt, our hearts were full of eagerness to reach the anchorage, and see our friends left here some months ago. We brought them many letters and parcels, too, and fervent messages from many in Malaita For months a flood of prayer had risen without ceasing that God -would prosper this new venture, that He would" use them, help them, guard them all. Again iii mind we saw them as we saw them last, before the ship sailed out, perched upon the canoe we bought for them to use, their faces beaming with the joy of Jesus ; their hearts buoyed up with hope, ready to run the race and win the fight. We felt again the handgrip as we parted, tha*_ told of feelings deep and strong. Again we heard their cheery chorus of good-byes as solemnly we left them to the island and to God. And now, after a long delay, we came to visit them, to cheer them, and to help them. THE EMPTY BAY. "Up in the cross-trees, as we turned the point, with glasses eagerly I swept' the waters of the bay for sign of a canoe. But the bay was empty, destitute of life, the house seemed hidden by the cliff. Then, drawing nearer, presently we gave vent to our eagerness with double blast of dynamite. The shock re-echoed round the hills, then silence settled down again upon the empty bay, tho summer sheen upon the waters. But even then we had no premonition of the truth till, rounding to the anchorage, we noticed with a gasp the house was gone; and. still more sinister, three battered sheets of iron leaned against the cliff below,. No answering shout or waving signal greeted the anchor's splash. "The boat was lowered, and slowly and with sinking hearts we pulled in to that silent, threatening shore. What tradegy was this? Where were the men we left so full of life and blessing? We found a vacant shore, a ruined house,- thirea huddled heaps of human bones. Such was the ghastly, silent welcome of the dead." The native teachers' house was found, battered to pieces. Portions of their j bodies were recovered and some of their clothes. • Portions of bofie had been, cut away to make spear-points. EYES IN THE BUSH. There were no signs of natives when the missionary landed, but they were there all the same, concealed in the bush, peering through the scrub at the missionary and his helpers. Afterwards they revealed themselves, and then it was learned that the* teachers had been murdered for their few belongings. Robbery seemed to have been the only motive for the tragedy. When, the natives were assured that no vengeance would be taken for the crime they became more communicative, and told all the details of the massacre. It was at one time- a question as to whether the missionary, his crew, and ship would not fall into the hands of ths islanders. AN ANXIOUS TIME. "We had no firearms," says Dr. Deck, " and only had some ten Malaita men besides ourselves. Meanwhile the four canoes were hovering round and ladeii deep with men. Here was a powde<r mine only needing a spark for an explosion. A single blow to start the fight, and probably the ship would havo been taken and not a man would have escaped. We had to send the boat ashore with a load, because all the canoes were full, and then a second time she wont crowded with men. This time they tried to seize her on the beach, and would have, but the crew were watching. One chief refused to gp, and as I put him overboard he Hied to ! axe me, but we pushed him off. "At last, to our relief; the numbers j thinned, and slowly and reluctantly the j outriggers made for the shore. It was an anxioue time, and showed me that these islanders cannot be trusted if they ! have the upper hand. I think they do not want to kill ; but if they get a chance to loot they kill without com- / punctdon."