MASSACRE OF TWELVE PERSONS AT NEW CALEDONIA.

Southland Times, Issue 756, 29 November 1867, Page 3

MASSACRE OF TWELVE PERSONS AT NEW CALEDONIA.

(From the Sidney Morning Herald) By the barque Camden, an extraordinary, issued by the New Caledonia Moniteur, has been received, detailing the particulars of a fearful outrage perpetrated by the natives in the vicinity of Poaebo, in which it appears that eleven persona have been killed, and fourteen wounded. The following letter, from Madame Henry to a friend residing at Noumea, gives an account of the disastrous outrage : — " Dear Sir, — The savages attacked our house on the night of the 12th October. Fortunately, we were in a position to defend ourselves ; my son was wounded. Harry, a native, cama to us, and said his horse's leg was broken. "We being friendly with him, Mr Henry was just following him out, when I discerned through the obscurity what seemed armed natives. I remarked to my son that * something was up ;' and I went to fetch him a revolver, during which time the fellow had struck my husband, who endeavored to reach a loaded gun ; but, before it could be used, the savage decamped, taking away a carbine loaded. My husband and son rushed after him and fired several times, but owing to the darkness of the night nothing could be seen or done ; I kept ringing the bell, and soon had our people round us. 1< ortunately in the night the ships Sorez and John Knox arrived, so that we were enabled to defend ourselves and houses. The savages were evidently watching, as occasionally they threw stones in such an artistic manner that they killed three natives of the Sandwich Islands and one woman from Lifou. On Monday, the 7th, we sent on board of the vessel and asked for help, when wo learnt of the murder of poor Bailly and private Demene and his two children, Madame Demene is not expected to live ; the savages attacked their home, and a native of Mare was killed : the rest of the people rushed the mission house. What goods were left at our store they destroyed ; no doubt had we possessed arms we could have punished these monsters. So audacious were they that at daybreak two of them were dancing in the garden : Polger fired at them and killed them. We recalled from the farms all our men — we muster 130. We have sent to Governor Houagape for assistance, and pray send up to Sydney and let our friends know, at all events for the present we are safe and sound. " Let our Sydney friends be persuaded that the Governor of Caledonia will soon come to our relief. We have always found the greatest of kindness from all functionaries. JSo motive can be assigned ; we have had no quarrel on one side or the other ; the ground we occupy was bought ; it had never been cultivated, or any house on it ; consequently, we could not have disturbed them in any manner or way. They always professed great friendship. I was only up from a severe sickness. The natives who have committed these outrages found me in green cocoanuts, and Harry, who seems the chief in this revolt, always brought me chickens. He had had a boil on his neck ; we used to wash it and dress it for him. Only on the morning of the attack, my daughter Aggie asked him how it was -, he replied, " Tour medicines have quite cured it." Surely our kindness could not have made him — when he found us so unprotected — bloodthirsty. There is no use thinking you can tame or believe these people — treachery ia in their blood. Another chief has just been arrested. At the Catholic Mission House four men have been assassinated; their bodies were found in a marsh. Poor Bailly 's body has been found, his head split in two from the crown to the lower lip, and his portemonnaie taken away — in fact some had their entrails dragged out, and the details of one death is more revolting and savage than another. Too much praise cannot be said of private Gacher, who stripped naked to deceive the natives, and not frightened of death, at daylight he looked after the corpses, and hid them in his garden. A militia is about being organised, for fear of further depredations." The following are the names of those massacred and wounded on the 6th and 7th of October, 1867— KILLED 12. M. Baily, Quartermaster of the Guards and Commander of Conscription at Pouebo ; Venturing a private j Demene, color-sergeant, his two sons aged 6 years, and one 4 months : 1 Native of Erromango ; 4 Natives of the Sandwich Islands j 1 Native of Lifou. Wounded — 14. Madame De'mene' and two eons (dangerously) j Mr Alick Henry j 10 Native* pf tte S&uclwieh Iffcadi,