DESPERATE EIGHT WITH SAVAGES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 745, 11 June 1886, Page 30

DESPERATE EIGHT WITH SAVAGES.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, June 8. Hobart papers by the Doric contain the following telegram from Brisbane :—The schooner Young Dick, which has arrived at Maryborough, reported that a desperate conflict with the Natives occurred at Malayta Island on May 30, resulting in the death of about fifteen persons, including Mr Popham, Government agent, and Marten, the cook, the sailmaker, a recruit, and about a dozen Natives. While the captain and two boats crews were ashore recruiting, about Sfty Natives, with their tomahawks concealed in the yams and leaves, boarded the vessel in canoes ostensibly to recruit, and at a signal given by a chief, the entire party attacked the crew. The mate, Mr Marr, threw off his assailants, and seized the firearms on board and successfully defended himself from the half closed door of the cabin. A seaman named Cuttenden, who was asleep below, hastened on deck, with arms, and encountered the Natives. He then ascended the foretop and shot down a number of savages and forced them to retreat. He then descended and released the mate, whose rifle was broken, and who was incapable of further fight. He also shot another savage whom be found in the captain’s cabin. They them armed the recruits, numbering 14, with tomahawks, and were prepared to resist a second attack, which was threatened, but did not come off. On the captain’s return to the vessel an awful scene of carnage met his view. Four white men were hacked to pieces and their brains were bespattered about tha deck. Mr Popham was lying in his cabin with pen and paper in his hands and hio head split open. One recruit who joined in the resistance and five Natives who were shot were lying about the decks. Marr and Cuttenden aver that they shot many others who went overboard. The bodies from the vessel were buried atsea, and the Young Dick sailed home. The brig Janet Stewart was attacked successfully and looted at the same place by the same tribe five years ago.