A SOUTH SEA ADVENTURE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17845, 30 July 1932, Page 14

A SOUTH SEA ADVENTURE

KIDNAPPING OF A TRADER .CAUGHT BY “BULLY” HAYES The lure and romance of the South Sea Islands seem far removed iroiu the present times now that the trade depression ami international problems ,oom so largo in tho public eye, and it is only to those of tho older generation who have lived their lives in the islands that memories of the past are still cherished.

-Mr. it. 1). Head, who has lived for the greater part of 60 years on Niue Island, was a passenger by tho Monowai, from Sail Francisco, lie is the oldest trader on the island, and lias been working in that capacity for nearly 40 years. He is returning to the island alter a short trip to Australia and America.

-Mr. Head was in a reminiscent mood when interviewed by a Wellington Tost representative, and although he brielly referred Ho his life us a trader in the early days, it was with the light of pride in his eyes that he told the story of how his father, who was a trader lor 53 years on tho island, was once kidnapped and threatened with death by the notorious pirate “Bully” Hayes, “f wasn’t born then, hut 1 remember my father telling mo the story,” said .Mr. Head. Mr. Head, sen., was one of the few traders on the island at that time, flayes, who confined his operations mainly to the South Seas, called at the island on one occasion in a new vessel lie had “acquired” for the purposes of trading. Having loaded the cargo -Air. Head had to offer, lie said he wished to pay a call on another trader five miles away. Mr. Head accompanied him on the trip in order lo seltie up about payment for the goods, and lie understood that he would be dropped at his own headquarters on the return trip. Having transacted his business, Hayes once more set sail, and with a favorable wind it was not long before the vessel had left the island behind. As soon as the island was out of sight, Mr. Hoad realised what Hayes’s intentions were, and on protesting he was told lie would lie

“fixed up at three in the morning.’’ Knowing that this implied that he would l)c thrown overboard, he approached Hayes and asked him what lie would feel like if the position were reversed—if he had a wife and two children waiting for him to return and he did not come? This softened Hayes’s heart and he gave the order for the vessel to he put about. Arriving back at Niue Island, Hayes ordered Mr. Head into a boat manned by some of his crew, and in payment for the cargo In- had taken and the services of the men for loading it, he threw two or three holts of calico and some tobacco into the boat He turned his vessel hroadside on to the beach and warned Mr. Head that if any of his men were molested he would wreck the village with his guns.

“llnyes then went to Shanghai, but In* got his deserts not. long after, being hit on (lie head and killed,” concluded Mr. Head with a smile.