ISLAND NEWS.
VOYAGE OP THE LORD OF TEE ISLES.
DEATH OF A TRADER.
A THRILLING ENCOUNTER WITH NATIVES.
HOSTILITIES AT UGI. The Sydney barquentine Lord of the Isles returned to Sydney from the Solomon Group on November 4. The vessel was chartered by Mr. G. J. Waterhouse to take a coal cargo to the Islands for the British warships cruising there. She has brought back as return cargo consignments of copra and ivory nuts, ber* 14 ie group on c '°" News from the Islands by the vessel reports the death of M. John Prat, a French trader. His death was the result of a terrible encounter with the natives of Vella la Vella a few months ago, in which he received a frightful gash across his forehead, reaching from fcalp to eyebrow, and penetrating to the bone. He was trading with a certain chief, with whom he had been dealing for upwards of seven years, and in whom he placed such confidence that ho allowed him on board his cutter—a privilege only accorded to natives of supposed reliability.- Mr. Prat was in uis cabin making some entries in a book, and the native was sitting on a soat opposite to him. Although tho trader, in his own words, " had one eyes on ze book and ono eyes on ze nigger the latter seized a tomahawk and aimed a blow at M. Prat s head. The trader ducked quß'My, but struck a chronometer which was on the table, and consequently received amy the point of the tomahawk, which cut his forehead to tho bone, and, falling on the book, sank thr ° Ugh it, and deeply indouted the table.
M. Prat then turned round and readied for his revolver, which was hanging on the wall, when the native seized a 12in knife and stabbed him m the back. Fortunately tho wound Ills body. He fell back, and M. Prat caugnt revolver. As soon as the native saw his danger, lie sprang for the companion-way, only to receive a shot fired point blank into US body He fell back, and Mr. Prat caugnt him, and with a display of strength most remarkable under the circumstances, threw him on the deck The attack had been carefully planned, and the native's followers were ready to jump on board and dispatch,M. Prat'« Kanaka crew, who had hidden themselves in the forecastle; but on seeing the body of their chief thrown overboard, they incontinently paddled off to shore. M. Prat's vessel—the Eclipse, which was built in Sydney last year-had been laid up at Gavotu. The Lciipso sailed under tho French flag. H.M.S. Goldfinch was cruising in the Solomon Group while the Lord of the Isles was there. Punitive expeditions bad been landed from the warship at several of the islands, and the gunboat convoyed to Ugi Island Mr. 0. M. Woooford, the British Commissioner, and an armed party. It appears that the I'gi natives had been giving a deal of trouble to the resident Bntish trader there, Cantaiu \\ oodliouse. They had made frequent atacks on Ins station, killing his pigs and poutly, and threatening his life. Sir. Woodford landed with his party, and punished the tribe bj destroying the native huts and pigs. Before leaving a message was sent to the chief by fie Commissioner to tho effect that lie would hold him responsible for the future good behaviour of the tribe. On the return of the Goldfinch to Gavotu she was ordered On to one of tho neighbouring islands in connection with a supposed poisoning case. A half-caste had it is alleged, poisoned tiie crew, or part of the crew, of one of the island cutters. He was to bo brought to Gavotu for trial before the British Commissioner.
ISLAND NEWS.
New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10910, 15 November 1898, Page 6
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