A NATIVE OUTRAGE. Massacre of a Steamer's Crew.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 178, 13 November 1886, Page 1

A NATIVE OUTRAGE. Massacre of a Steamer's Crew.

The following has been forwaided by the Rev. Mr La\veB from Port Moresby :— " The schooner Emily, of Cooktown, was taken and burnt by the native*? of Johannet Island. Captain Craig and all hands were killed. The Emily was pearlshells fishing at Johannet Inland, Louisade Irchipelago. Captuin Craig employed seven natives to assist in the fishing boat. On the 14th September three of these pretended sickness, and stayed on board the schooner with the cook. The diver Walter waa on the bottom, and he signalled to be hauki up. When near the surface Captain Craig and the assistant diver, Thompson, leant over the side to help him in. As they were doing so they were seized from behind by tfa© native boys and thrown overboard. The Greek working the air-pump was clubbed, and the air tube and life line of the diver were cut. Four Malays jumped overboard to escape by swimming. The native boys pulled to the schooner, where the cook had already been killed by the three boys on board: The natives got a rifle and returr ed and shot all six men in the water. They then went back to the echooner and plundered her and set fire to the vessel. The boat was taken aahore, but ie was afterwards given up to Captain Mullens, of the Alice Meade The natives of Mararia, Milne Bay, also attacked Charlie Berlin, who narrowly escaped, after shooting one native." Another account cays :— « The American who was pumping at the time of the attack was brained by a piece of firewood. The foi lowing is a list of the murdered men: — John Craigjcaptain); Walter Holingsworth, 29, driver; W. B. Thompson, 24; William Well?, 26 (an American); Mahomed Hed* roes (an Egyptian), 26; John Kodricka, 25 (Singapore) ; Joseph Welle Abraham and thiee Javanese.