REVENGE TRIUMPHANT

Evening Star, Issue 19298, 10 July 1926, Page 21

REVENGE TRIUMPHANT

All ISLAND TRAGEDY It was the shrill screech of a siren that roused the whole community from a kind of stupor that seemed to have gripped. Even the bird life was silent. The thermometer registered IGOdeg Fahr. in the shade, and not a breath of wind to temper the overpowering humidity by which we were prostrated. Taking our field glasses to scan the direction, from which the sound enamated, we noticed (says a writer in the Melbourne ‘Ago’),* just rounding a point on the south of whore wo stood, the war ship whoso business it was to patrol the group, heading for the anchorage in front of our residence. Already from hill and shore villagers could be heard, “Sail 0!” indicating that others beside ourselves had wakened up. Before the warship had anchored a boat was being lowered from the davits, into which two men stepped, and soon they stood on our verandah. Their business was to inquire about a recent massacro. Giving all information possible, it was then _ determined that on the following morning the ship would proceed to the place of the massacre and farther inquire into the matter.

An early start was made, as a distance of six miles lay between the two islands, and then as many miles would have to he traversed through dense tropical bush ere tho particular village was readied. Besides, it was necessary that the whole populace should be interrogated regarding tho movements of certain men suspected of an active part in the massacro. Our expedition _ was principally made up of naval ratings, all of them armed with rilie and an issue of ball cartridge. “We are taking no risks,said the captain, when wo informed him that such precautions were quite unnecessary on that particular island. Knowing them ns we did, there must have been something exasperating done by those whom they had massacred. In due course the village of Solowan was reached, and just in time to meet tho first batch moving towards their plantations, some distance off. _We called them to return, our position being that of interpreters, and the captain of the warship clearly and concisely stated the case on hand, and asked for any information that could be given, to withhold nothing, at the same time assuring them of protection should any informant be threatened. “We are hero to punish the murderers of thdse two -white men. and in doing so wo are safeguarding all peaceable and peace-loving persons. It is therefore your duty to make every effort to see that the persons^responsible are'brought to us, or that information be forthcoming, so that we shall know where to capture them.” They listened with apparent interest and intelligent understanding of tho grave situation, but there was no response in the direction of a promise to do what they had no intention of doing, since it would be quite impossible, and because of the fear of consequences which wore believed by them to bo more destructive than the spear, arrow, or gun. Wo bad already informed the captain of the warship that the ringleader was on the other island, and that his comrades in the business wore doubtless there, also, but in biding, and that unless the chief of the village in which they hid was prevailed upon to give them up, it might he _ necessary to organise a punitive,expedition to secure them.

“A punitive expedition to secure them shall never bo organised. If they are not here on board this ship of mine within twenty-four hours I shall go round the coast and shell the shore villages.” It was evident that tho dignity of his position as the King’s representative had obsessed him, and the very idea of conneding anytlnug to “ these niggers ” would he infra dig. The warship had now returned to the crook anchorage for the night. Calling the shore chiefs together without delay. wo communicated to them the wishes of the captain of the warship, as well as Ids threat should his wishes not ho complied with. For the moment they were speechless; then, sensing the challenge with the choice of alteruativs which must be made, a resolution was made that a message ba .sent to the _ chief of tho mountain village, where it was known the murderers were in hiding, to send for or bring them to the warship without delay. The excitement was now intense, and fear was noticed on every countenance The women and children kept to their lints, and tl» men were armed with every possible weapon for such emergency _as might arise. To add io the_ growing terror of the native population, the searchlights of tho warship were played on the island, so that both shore villages and distant hill tribes thought that their doom had com.?. Whether such display was in any way responsible for what transpired the following day we never knew, nor did wo think it necessary to inquire, but at sunrise tho ringleader of the party responsible for the massacres was noticed outside our fence, and on being approached indicated his readiness to go on board the warship if they would not keep him there. Already a party of bluejackets was on shore, safely hidden in our residence. Ono of our party, going out to the man, kept him conversing and interested until the bluejackets formed a cordon; thou, closing in, manacled him. It was done so quickly that there was no time to jump clear, and if he had it is probable that a few revolvers would have beet) opened upon him. 11c looked to us with a pathos of entreaty that has never been forgotten by us, for it was an appeal to stand by him. As interpreters, we assured him that his case would have all that was possible in presenting certain extenuating circumstances, which wo know in an ordinary court of law would bo considered as relevant. The other members of the parly nf massacrers did not long delay their surrender to the warship, so that tho following day saw the court set on board, according to naval procedure. On our shoulders lay a serious responsibility, since the interpretation of all evidence, both from accused and witnesses in the native language and English, was ours.

Six men and ono woman wore concerned in the affair, and a more pitiful sight than they presented, as they stood on board the warship, it would be difficult to find. Not that they _ realised their position, for wo don’t think they ever did during tho whole trial, until the verdict was made known to them, and even then they were sustained by an animal courage. "“The verdict of the court is that Toa, Maid, and Zaru are condemned to death for the massacre of James Bonny and William Bonny on the island of Ura. and that you three shall be convoyed to the place where these men were massacred, and die by shooting. May the Lord have mercy on your souls.”

To us standing by listening the verdict made us shudder, and yet with the exception that their countenance seemed pa.le.r, there was no evidence of suffering; in fact, the ringleader smiled when it was interpreted to him. Then, turning to three of the marines, the captain gave orders that the condemned men were to l>o taken away and put into the ship’s prison. Then calling the remaining three men and the woman, lie said: “You may thank your stars that not guilty is the verdict in your case. Simplv because you did not participate in taking life is the reason for such verdict, and it is hoped you will never forget this day as long as yon live. And you,” looking with scorn and disdain at the woman, “but for the fact that you are a woman yon should be sharing the same death as the condemned men, for 1 am of opinion that you acted as a decoy, so making

it possible for these two men to lose their lives.” Then giving orders to have them removed from what had been the “court” for the previous three days, but to be kept on board till tho following day, so that they should witness the death of the others, ho threw himself lengthwise on a settee in his cabin, with a “ Thank God that is over.” It was not long before the news reached shore, where crowds of natives waited. The scene was a never-to-be-forgotten one. There they sat on tho grass, and when we came up from the boat that brought us ashore from the warship the one inquiry was, “ Where are they? Are they not coming?” it was impossible to evade answering tho appeals both mute and vocal of so many, though we wished we could But words were not required. They read the answer in our silence, and immediately rout the air with a cry that tore at our hearts as they raised the piteous wa.il for the dead. “ You’ll come on board at sunrise and bring as many as you can induce to come with you, so that they shall be eye-witnesses of what such crimes mean.” With such message wo had left ship for shore. At early sunrise we were on oiir verandah, and heard the reveille sound and preparations being made to_ get under way for tho six miles’ trip to the island of death. Only a few could be induced to accompany us in the ghastly business, and notliing would have persuaded us to be there bad it not been that, as interpreters, there was a necessity in the interests of tho condemned men. Walking by their sides, it was little wo could do or say, but that little we endeavored to accomplish if perchance it might inspire courage, though wo bad to confess that our own courage well nigh failed in the effort. With a parting “ God help you, boys,” we stood aside so that tho law, according to a naval _ officer’s interpretation, should have its course fulfilled. We shall never forget the tense agony on the countenances of the three men, as bound to three trees at the head of the graves already dug for their bodies, they seemed in appealing prayer to say: Thy mercy, 0 Lord, is in the heavens— Thy judgments are a great deep. They paid the price their crime demanded, and yet— Shall not the Judge of tho earth do right,