CAPTAIN COOK'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 46, 23 August 1922, Page 5

CAPTAIN COOK'S DEATH

NEW VERSION IMPORTANT MANUSCRIPT PUBLISHED. , v (WOK O0» OWg COUMFOHDNH.) SYDNEY, 16th August. An important manuscript has been purchased by the Mitchell Library of Sydney, which is the repository 'of many valuable papers bearing on Australian history. Th« new pnrchase is the original journal kept by Lieutenant Junes Burney on board H.M.S Discovery, which was a, companion ship n to the Resolution* commanded by Captain James Cook, on the navigator's last voyage round the world The journal had never been published Some new light is thrown upon the circumstance* surrounding the death of Captain Cook, which "came about through the theft of a cutter belonging to the Discovery, at Hawaii. Captain Cook went on shore to invite the king "and his two' sons to talk the matter over, and was returning to his boat with King Kerrieboo when he was killed. The journal, describing the 'incident, relates that ''Captain Cook was about to1 give orders lor embarking when he was provoked by the insolence of a man .armed with 'a thick mat and a long spike, at whom he fired with small shot, which nether penetrated the mat nor frightened the Indians, as was expected. Another man with an iron spike came near Mr. Phillips, who, suspecting hi» intentions, drove him back with the butt end of his musket. Two or three stones were thrown, and on* of the marines was knocked down. Captain Cook, who had a double-barrel gun, immediately fired with, ball. The sergeant said he had shot the wrong man, on which he tod the sergeant to shoot the right one. The Indians gave a general volley -of stones, and began to close, and Captain Cook therefore "aye the order for the iqariues to fire, which they did, among the crowd, and were seconded by the boats The Indians at first gave back, but directly after, before the marines had time to load, again advanced. Captain Oook calledsT out to take to the boats The boat was near the shore, but distant from the rock where the marines stood ten or twelye yards, and the short space was uneven, slippery locks, so that, being pressed upon m their letreat, they were obliged to take to the- water Captain Cook, in coming down, was fctiuck by an Indian behind him with n staff, on which ho turned and beat the man back with his musket He was aeain followed and received at the same titne a blow on Hhe heacj and aj Stab with a spike m the neck, winch tumbled him into the water Being no swimmer and stunned w-ith tho blow, he turned towards1 the' shoie again, md a number of the Indians smronnded and dragged him on the locks wheie thevbeafc and I stabbed him in seveial places, snatching tho dageeis from each other out of easier ness to have than share in killine him " The whole <of this affair, f fiom Captain Cook's le-Lvme the Resolution to the ioturn of the boats, happened in the wieit •BMOi-WjMWt. ' -'