BROOKER ISLAND MASSACRE.

Southland Times, Issue 3316, 5 February 1879, Page 2

BROOKER ISLAND MASSACRE.

Intelligence /fr.om Brisbane, dated January 23rd, and pubhshed in the Argus, saya;— The Rev. Mr McFarlane, reports of the murder of Mr R. B. Ingham, atßrooker Island, as followsj: — On December "5, while at Teste Island, several canoes from St. Digmans reported to me that there had been* a massacre by cannibals at Brooker Island, one of the Calvados Chain. On the 19th November Mr Ingham called at our central station at Darnley Island, Torres Straits, and spent two 'days with us. " He stated that he was agoing to_Brooker Island to «trytq recover part of-Redlich's property. He was well-equipped, bis force including a nine-pounder gun, the crew of tbe William Esler, of Cookto-v*jh,'with one gun, two. Chinese, 7 and I " 'three Kanakas. Shaw and ope Chinaman Were left located at J- the island as a fisb and beche-te-mere station. Ingham proceeded' .to Brooker Island- '' Vnere- . the',

;?*A J"*-' : T:^y < g^' J^^?'V ''>■■ ,-^->.* ? -' '"' ""*"" ■ " t?t^i^|ii||ioibr of Ingham, and M^Y 6 U P^a^RedlichV firearms and property /^his wasj dOric in-order/to calm suspicion, 7 , v fpr on the tl*iifd day '£■-. massacre took place ? without warning, and/everyone was killed h ?-^ av W^me to fire a shot. W .Jfejjurlafie; directly proceeded to the IffteM^- At the opening of : Ahe bay -begsaw^gham's steamer Voura '■■■-. w on the beach 'dismantled,, and evidences of a horrible; massacre. He also recognised some^blufepainted-i; bo-tt^^.^Mebayiad formed pattfof the/'aecE-hduse. ' He ~auchored ppj^^--;f^^j^gB t . : Xs^.l yar d s from the shore. Spi&r-^ sails spars, &c, vterefseen .lying about 'in thetJ&?V- #Tk <%^atives came to! the Beach, and. /he; KeVfa an~unjmistakeable Austfaliah 'cboey followed in/English, by .the>yqrds "-Who are you ?" /Fromftlii'^e'kne^r / thatk Redlich-s jTor^ resf Strain/natives/ -were" there, and- prbBably headed_ by Billy, a 7^ G f!onoiiS character, who had been for. many- yea& .pearl-shelling, f He.got full information ipif the massacre from /the. natives, who said ; that .• it /was in consequence of the wjri to man threatening to shoot them for steal&g an axe. He tried to gef Ihghar*i'S : -books ; and papers, but without success! 'McFarlane concluded his "report by saying that Ingham had the respect of .everyone in New Guinea for his kindness aiid gentle- unmanly in-inner.'^ nature S of the attack caUs /npon the ' Government to send A man-qf- war 'oyer' at once ' to .'this group, where how six parties of shipwrecked sailors: and j beche-le'fmer parties have been murdered. / ,A;f ull report to the Secretary of ; .State for the/Colonies will be sent by the Somerset. / , .: ; /Mr Anyis, late of th^ Lands-oflfce; , Brisbane, .and t others, wei-g .also ' murdered . at Cloudy Bay : while; searching, for 7 ced^ Mr: McFarlane had tried bard to (iissuaS : both parties/from carrying out-their inten-^ tions. There is a strong feeling in Cook town that/ the ;Qdeeenslandi'G6vernnieut ought' immediately to send a schooner with _a strong party to land and explore Brooker Island for ?ny survivors. This is the third vessel from; Cooktown whose crew bave been murdered and eaten within f the last twelve mojitnjs byTßrooker Island Cannibals./ '^a > -aa ■•••> ■ :■:■ .-