MURDERS AT THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1975, 26 September 1889, Page 3

MURDERS AT THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.

Some harrowing particular 8 of another atrocity in the Solomon group of Islands were received yesterday (says the Sydney Morning Herald ot tb6 9th inst.), by the schooner Edith May, which arrived here from Ugi and Gali, or Florida. Tho chief ofhcer of the vessel (Mr Miller) states that information was brought to the schooner that a massacre had taken place a* Captain Edmunds' station at Bubiana. From what can be gathered, it leeros that William Dc>bell was in charge of Edmonds' station, and he was surprised by men trom a neighbouring tribe of natives, and was backed- tc death by them. The natives killed two oifcckboys who were on the station with hiu>, and took away a native woman at the same time. Captain Drevsr brings full particulars of the 'Massacre that took place on board the ichoonei Bavo, a trading vessel in the Bolomou group Captain Drevai states:— The sotiooner Bavo, 20 tonß register, started- from fioula, a port in the large island of Guadalcanot.fot Malaytuto get labour for Heating's station. It was here that the crew were attacked, as has already been reported. Charley was shot dead in the g&Uey. Cooper's skull was broken with one of the axes given as trade for the labour. Keating was struck with another axe upon the wrist, and received knife wounda npon his right shoulder. In the meantime, says Captain Drevar, fearful work was going on in the forepart of the vessel. One of the native crew was on his back, his skull cleft open and seven deep gashes in his body ; he was defending himself with his legs and arms, making a most desperate fight for life against great odds. His assailants tiring, shortened'their work by throwing him overboard. Four others of the crew received bad wounds. One of them, a boy from the Lord Howe group, managed

tc get two large coprs Knives ;!ik« batchers' knives) irom the forecastle With one m each hand he plunged them to the hilt ie eh« bodies of his savage assailant,*, who fell mortally wounded, wallowing iv their blood, Those in the eaaoes, heariDg the report ol nrearma, and findmg the tide oi battle Against tneii aide, cleared ofi out of range, And those (eft on ooard at once jumped into the nsoer, seeding sheltei ander the vessel's stera. »xiv Hinging 10 the head-gear of her bows. The latter ware entirely at the mercy of those od oo&rd, wtoo had aow revolveri, and they shot li ol she savage gang as they showed their heads above the water. The poor fellow that wan flung overboard with split head and m&ov wounds, managed go irawl on board again, *nd was Alive when we left, with nopea of his recovery lAt Coopet nu abont _? years ot age, an accomplished young man, « native of London, and well connected. £be man Charlie regularly remitted his tarings to his widowed mother in Ireland.