THE CANNIBALS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 103, 10 May 1901, Page 4

THE CANNIBALS.

A GRUESOME TALE,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighi Thursday Island, May 9.

A punitive expedition, consisting of Lieutenant Brown and a small military party from Thursday Island, and forty native .police, four Government officers, and two missionaries, all under the command of the Governor of New Guinea, reached the place of massacre on May 2nd.

The natives attacked the boats, but a hot lire dispersed the attackers. At two villages visited there was the same experience, and they report that landing was effected with great difficulty. The natives were driven from their villages, and their war houses were burnt, their war and fishing' canoes also being destroyed. In the fighting only one of the police was wounded by an arrow, but the natives suffered considerable loss, though it is not stated how many were killed. They are described as being plucky, especially at the first village where they attempted twice to rush the camp, Being informed that the actual place of murder was Anawaida, the party proceeded there, and portions of the missionary boat were discovered, also Dr, Chalmers' hat, a 'human arm, and other remains. Another account states that the punitive .expedition killed twenty-four and wounded several natives. In one large house they destroyed over eleven hundred skulls. They discovered a quantity of tools, and portions of a vessel of apparently about three hundred tons were also found, but nothing to prove its identification. Dr. Chalmers' visit was the first ever made by a missionary to the natives at the scene of the massacre. The following details of the murders of missionaries are given by a New Guinea Native captured by the punitive expedition. Tho Natives enticed Dr. Chalmers’ party ashore. Dr. Chalmers was first taken by the Natives towards the village, and Mr Tomkins was left behind. Dr. Chalmers told Mr Tomkins that he feared an outrage, and if possible to escape. Mr Tomkins refused to leave Dr. Chalmers, whom the Natives clubbed, in the presence of bis companion and the remainder of the party, cutting off his head. They then divided the flesh amongst themselves. Mr Tomkins was killed next day, bis flesh being distributed amongst the adjoining villages. The same day eleven Natives, who were with the missionaries, were killed together. • Two young men at Waihi were fortunate enough to have a ticket between them on Yolee, in the Autumn Handicap at Avondale, and received the dividend of £36 3a each—not a bad investment. \ v . ■ ..