A SOUTH SEA TRAGEDY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 August 1905, Page 1

A SOUTH SEA TRAGEDY.

MUTINY AND MURDER

News of one of the most sensational tragedies enacted in the South Seas- — a story of mutiny, murder, looting, es-

] cape and capture, reached Sydney on the 9th insl. from the Samoan Islands, i The narrative is one of a deeply-laid | plot against a British trader by his 'crew, and of a treacherous and brutal ! murder, the details of which aid of a most revolting character, it appears I I hat a few weeks ago Mr W. Kinlayson In trader, in the service of Mr Norman , Wheatley, of the Island of Gizo, in i the western portion of the British SoI lomons, proceeded on a trading cruise iin the cutter Save, belonging to hi; employer. The crew was u native one, and Mr Finlaysdn placed entire confidence in his men, who were well treated and cared for. When the fcjavo was off I lie coast of Vella Lavethi, and was Hearing the village to which the native crew belonged, the men were seized with a sudden desire to abandon the cutter, to return to the scene of their early childhood, and to once more mingle with their comrades. To accomplish I heir designs, it was necessary to do away with Mr I'inlayson, the only while man on board, and arrangements were accordingly made to remove the obstacle which stood between them ami the freedom of their former savage life. The unfortunate trailer and

skipper did not suspcel his crew, and never for a moment though! thai plans were being made to take his life. The natives communicated with each other in their own language and by means of signs, and they waited a favourable opportunity to curry out I heir scheme. The Save hart anchored off the coast when the deed was committed. Mr Kinlayson was engaged in trading with some of the natives who had put off from the shore to baiter their islands products for stores, and he was taken completely unawares by the mutinous crew, for lie was unarmed. Treacherously the native crew advanced towards him from behind, and at a. given signal they rushed upon him, seized him, and securely bound him. The unfortunate man never had an opportunity to defend himself. There, were plenty of firearms on board, but he had left his revolver in his cabin, and his men knew that he was defenceless. As soon as Mr Kinlayson had been secured, the natives at lacked him with their tomahawks, which they had received from other traders in exchange for copra. Tomahawks are regarded as one of Iho principal mediums of exchange in Iho South Seas, and they are to be found n the possession of all natives. Mr Finlayson was literally hacked to death. ' Hugo gashes were cut in his body from half a down tomahawks, and no'heed was paid by relentless natives to the dying man's agonising screams. Great quantities of blood flowed from his gaping wounds, and eventually the unfortunate trader passed away from exhaustion, consequent upon hemorrhage. 'lho crew hardly waited for the breath to leave Iho body before it was overboard into the shark-infested waters. The mutineers having murdered the captain, resolved Io sail Iho cutter Io their native island, bul they were all ignorant of even the fundamental principles of navigation, and were unnble to make any progress. 'I tiev fenced that Iho slery of their •••mie would soon reach the while peClers. and they made frantic endeavours to make good their escape. The l'ftle craft, however, was absolutely ai '.he mercy of the winds, seas, and currents, and on several occasions t.ie Savo narrowly escaped shipwreck. In the meantime (he Savo had been looted bv the mutineer-. [''.very portion of 'the vessel was searched for prizes dear to the hearts of natives, and especially for firearms and ammunition, tomahawks, knives, lolnc- (.„, jewellerv, and highly-coloured ( . ; ,lic.o'es. These South Sea pirates had stacked all I heir 100 l on the deck of the. cutter, with the idea of landing it as soon as they could make I Inshore. Owing, however, to the strength of the current'-, and I lie want „f a knowledge of seamanship on board, the Savo continued Io drill along the coast, but never sufficiently clos.eTto the shore in enable the men to escape.

The remarkable antics of the Savo eventually attracted flic attention or those on board another schooner commanded by Captain Julius Oien. which happened'to be trading on that coast at the lime. Captain 'ben decided Io investigate the mailer, and upon con in- alongside the Savo discovered, Io his dismay, that I lie natives were in chare'O of her. Me thereupon cap-,,,-,.,,,1 (he Savo. together with Ihe mutineers, and brought them back to C<iz>\ where (he cutler was sliN Ling at Iho date of the latest advices.