THE ESCAPE FROM THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 193, 17 August 1868, Page 2

THE ESCAPE FROM THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

The Wellington Independent gives the following particulars of the escape of the Maori prisoners, derived from the report of the officers of the Stormbird, which arrived at Wellington on the* 10th inst.

On the arrival at the Chatham Islands, it was discovered that the account of the escape formerly published, and said to have been furnished by the fugitive prisoners, was incorrect in mauy particulars. One man of the guard, named Harnett, resisted the Maoris while they were making him captive. He was immediately tomahawked, and killed. Three prisoners still remain. They were averse to the rising, and informed the guard of the intended surprise. Their information, through some unexplained reason, appears not to have been taken advantage of. These three prisoners had to secrete themselves until the departure of their countrymen. On the afternoon of the 4th* July, the prisoners attacked the redoubt, secured the guard, and killed one of them. They then ransacked the Custom-house, taking from the chest £600 in cash. A portion of the money belonged to the Government and the remainder to the inhabitants, having been deposited in the Customhouse for safety. The prisoners then took 4000 rounds of ammunition, and from 20 to 30 stand of arms. They seized Capt. Thomas, the gentleman who was in charge at the Islands, and marched him handcuffed from the Redoubt to the Customhouse, telling him that they would not hurt him if he would show them where the money was. After the departure of the 'Rifleman,' with the Maori prisoners, an attempt was made to float the schooner 'Florence,' for the purpose of proceeding to Wellington. The attempt was unsuccessful. A native who was assisting became entangled beneath the bottom of the vessel, and was drowned.