THE MASSACRE AT API.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6828, 5 October 1883, Page 6

THE MASSACRE AT API.

CAPTAIN SMITH'S ACCOUNT. ! A brief account of the.attack on the boat of the schooner Lavinia by the natives of Api < was given a few days ago, and we now extract the full statement of Captain Smith, published in the Mackay Mercury :—" The Lavinia, which left Flat-top Island on the 21st June, arrived off Api on the 23rd August, where the' crew were received at first with no signs of hostility from the natives. On 25th August at five a.m., hove short the anchor and set the sails, weather calm. Lowered one boat, and went on shore with the-Government agent to bathe in the fresh water ; we also brought four -casks full for use. The Government re* marked he felt better than he had done for a long time ; he thought he would go iu the boat more than he had done, as it seemed to do him good. At half-past six got the ship underway, light winds to the eastward, stood to the southward, keeping close in shore. On rounding the point saw a number of natives, with a fire burning close to a large coral rock which the tide flowed around. The second mate said they .were the natives he expected, and pointed out an old house about half a mile above them where the ship had been anchored last voyage, and he had got 22 boys. He then pulled on shore to them, I tacked ship at a quarter past eight, and Btood towards the anchorage. I observed when close to shore the second mate's boat with her flag up, meaning that he was on soundings off the place where the natives had the fire. I ran the ship down and anchored in ten fathoms, and the second mate of boat's crew came on board to breakfast. Ship was about one-third of a mile off shore. At halfpast nine the boat started for shore, the Government agent going in her, and they pulled in the northward of the rock where the natives were. About ten minutes after two single ishots and then a heavy volley were heard, and bullets seen to strike the water all around the boat. We

were preparing to send the second boat away, and immediately jumped into her with Sniders and 40 rounds of cartridges, and pulled in shore to the other-boat. Saw three of the boat's crew out on the reef, and at first thought they were bathing. Could see only the bow of the boat and no natives. Pulkd in and took them on board. Thay said, 'Man Api shoot altogether. 1 One boy was-shot through the lower part of the body, the bullet passing through him. Asked' where were the Government agent and Mr. Cooper? They said, 'He dead.' Pulled in and took hold of the other boat and towed her out. The Government agent was lying across the after oar quite dead. The second mate was lying in the stern sheets, weltering in the blood of both of them. Occasionally he would lift his head and fall down again. Towed the boat alongside and took the second mate on board firßt, and laid him on the quarter-deck. He had seven terrible tomahawk wounds on the left side of the head,.and one• across the forehead; his head was literally hacked to pieces, the cuts crossing each other in every directiou. He said, 1 My God, captain, they have given us a cutting up this time._' We then took the body of the Government agent on board; his head was nearly blown to piece?. One Snider cartridge had entered his loft eye and blown out hia brains, and another had struck him in the throat, taking away his windpipe ; his jaw was also smashed, and he presented an awful sight. The boat was smothered in blood, and had three bullets through her. I observed the schooner Aurora anchor at the place where I got under way this morning, and I sent a boat to her for assistance. Just after the boat

left saw another of the boat's crew trying to swim off, palled to him and picked him up just as he was sinking. He had a bullet wound in his body, the ballet still in him; he was throwing up blood, aud in a dying state. Bandaged the second mate's head up as well as possible, any attempt to close the wounds being impossible, and only added to his sufferings. Dressed the wounds of the second boat's crew, and laid them aft on beds and blankets. The last boy said the other boy was dead on the beach. The boat returned along shore accompanied by Captain Petersen of the Aurora and his crew, the two white settlers, and their boat and men. They landed, but saw no natives; they found one boy lying dead on the beaoh; a bullet had entered his left shoulder and gone downwards to the heart. He had evidently been shot from overhead. They found the trade box lying empty on the beach,. also one of the Government agent's boots. I took the body on board. Asked Captain Petersen if he had Been tie Dart man-of-war at Ambryra. He said 'No,' but thought I should find one at Havanna Harbour., I then decided to go there and get a doctor for the wounded. Got under way immediately, and at seven p.m. W. M. Cooper, the second mate, died of his wounds, after suffering fearful agony. Removed the two boys into the cabin, and made them as comfortable as possible. At two a.m. Solomon Island boy Tommy died, and at eight a.m. laid the four bodies along one side of the quarter-deck and covered them with a sail. Blowing hard easterly this day, and heavy sea, making but little way; had all hands employed making coffins for the dead. On the 27th August, at daylight, ship off south end of the island of Sandwich. Finding it impossible to keep the bodies any loDger, I anchored outside the north passage to Havtnna Harbour. Pulled np with the boat; found no ships there but one small schoonar, and the missionary away. Pulled to D. Macleod'a station, and engaged a number of natives to go off in my boat to assist in bringing the bodies on shore. Then went to the cemetery, selected a place for burial, and engaged the natives to dig two grjiveß. At. three p.m. the two boats returned with the four bodies, the graves not yet ready; but at half-past four p.m. lowered them in their graves, the two white

men in one grave, the two boys in the other. Read the burial service, there being present the master, the Government agent of the schooner Mavis, of Fiji, just arrived; Captain D. Macleod, and my own crew. I then made a full report for the first man-of-war calling at Havauna harbour of the massaore, describing the murderers, and urging them to bring them to justice. I have to thank Captain Macleod for rendering me every assistance in his power."