MASSACRE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6814, 19 September 1883, Page 5

MASSACRE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

The following telegram has been received at I Brisbane from Mackay, relative to the recent ' terrible massacre by the natives of Api ;— The Bchooner Lavinia left Mackay on June 21, and reached Api on August 24. Here she landed some, return islanders. Next day, incompliance with a request by the Apians, Captain Smith sent a boat ashore. The Lavinia, at this time, was lying half a mile off. Some time afterwards, hearing shots fired, the captain instantly sent another boat near the shore, Which picked up three of the first boat's crew, who had swum off to the ship when the attack was made. The crew at once went to recover the first boat, in which they found the second mate still alive, but dangerously tomahawked; also the Government agent, Mr. Stedman, quite dead, who had been terribly mutilated. All living and dead were taken back to the vessel again. A second party then went ashore, where they found one of the first boat's crew dead, and. near him a trade box. empty >.. The murderers had evidently committed the savage deed for the sake of plunder, as they had stripped the body of the mate and the Government Agent of nearly everything. Captain Smith, of the Lavinia, took the dead bedies of two Whites and and. two islanders, who were in his schooner* to Hayanah harbour, where they were buried.. He, subsequently cave information to. be' handed t<J; to ari English ' man-of-war, after which he sailed at once, and reached: Mackay on Monday last. A. : telegram has beeri received by.the Queensland, Government, with reference toithia massacre, which states that. the second 'mate; the.' Government: agent, and four pi the boat's crew were killed,.-'. ; .