FIJI CRIME RECALLED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18711, 17 May 1924, Page 12

FIJI CRIME RECALLED.

MASSACRE OF MR. BAKER.

HOW THE PARTY DIED.

TREACHERY OF SAVAGES.

- [from our own correspondent.] • SUVA, May- 8. Some details of the circumstances surrounding the murder of the Rev. Mr. Baker in the mountains of Fiji in 1867, have recently been brought to light by the recollections of men who were present in the punitive expedition sent against the murderers. It is stated that Mr. Baker, with a number of native students, was going across the island of Viti Levu, although warned not to do so. The chief who had given Mr. Baker a guarantee of protection and free passage, went ahead and the party followed, a savage and one of the mission party walking alternately. As the party were about to cross a creek, the attention of Mr. Baker was called so that he turned round. As he did so be was brained, and at the signal all the rest of his party met the same fate. The savages, reinforced by crowds of their clan who had been awaiting the signal, at once set about the feast, and the mission people were eaten on the spot where they had been butchered. The Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon, at once ordered out a punitive expedition under Captain Knowles. The first contingent of native armed constabulary met with so little success that they were sent back, and a force 250 men under Inspector Lyons, now manager of Rambi for Lever Bros., was sent from Levufca. These were taken over by Captain Olive at the foot of the mountain range near Singatoka, and they proceeded to attack tho native towns. At this time the Governor arrived in the warship Wolverine, and he and party went up into the hills. At nighjt, the whole party ,encamped under a high cliff, and when the cannibals crept down to see what force was approaching, they stood over the pursuers lying below. Two years after when Mr. Lyons was in charge of the prison camp at Taviuni, one of the party which attacked Mr. Baker told him that they could have murdered all the Governor's party with boulders but they decided not to do £0. He also alleged that tho punitive party hung about half-a-dozen men without a trial.