MURDEROUS OUTURAGE.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4856, 29 May 1890, Page 4

MURDEROUS OUTURAGE.

EUROPEANS ATTACKED BY NEW GUINEA BLACKS.

Thubsday Island, May 14. The mainland natives have made a murdcrouß attack oo Pitt's beehe-de-mere station at Haggorstono Roef. The lugger Alico arrived early this morning with Charlie Burstow and Dan. Maynard, seriously injured. They reported that Pitt must have been murdered, but Pitt came m a few hours afterwards sailing the lugger Annie, with a dingy m tow, having been alone since Monday, without food or sleep. Pitt state? that when on board the Island lightship on Bunday afternoon, the native crew cleared away with the cutter, but as he had intended to anchor under a sandy bank, he suspected nothing until Monday morning, when, the cutter being .still away, he then borrowed the lightship's dingy and proceeded to the station ot Haggerßtono Reef, which he found deserted. When he went aboard the lugger Annio, whioh was nnohored there, ho found the c"abin all besmeared with blood, and tomahawk cuts on tho hatcheß and scuttle. Several brokon stin<*areo tpoars were lying about, also human teeth, hair, and brains. Mr Pitt got the Annie underweigh Buigle-handpc 1 , and proceeded to the Beef station, which ho found deserted. He realised at once what had happened, and started for Thursday Island, which he reached this morning. Pilt concludes from the state m which he found the lugger Annie, that a kanaka named Charlie Weir, who also was asleep aboard, had been struck with the spear which he found lyine below, and when he put his head out of the hold ho must have been struck with a tomahawk, and the body then thrown overboard. Weir'a loaded revolver was found lying intact, and evidently he had had no time to defend himself. Pitt bow feels certain from what occurred on the cutter while ho was BBleep going to the lightship that the murder was arranged, but the natives deferred the proceedings until after Pitt got aboard the lightship. He strongly denounces the Govermant for not taking stepß to secure the men who committed the previous murder* m the same locality. The men o-idently sailed the cutter to Batavia Biver, which is tbeir home. Inspector Marrett was sent tosearoh for them. Charles Burstow states that about three o'clock on Monday morning he was I awakened by hearing Dan Maynard crying out. He jumped up and put his head out of the scuttle, and immediately received a ehower of speara on the left side of the head. Three Bpears Btruck him close together, between the left ear and eye. While taking them out another struck the back of his neok, which he was forced to break before he could go below again. He snatched up a Colt's repeating rifle, which was loaded, and bood cleared the deck. Maynard had been asleep on the deck when he was struck by a tomahawk acrosß the right eye, and when he roso he fell overboard through giddiness, but his wife, a native woman, jumped m and rescued him. He was then put below, and attended to as well as possible. After daylight Muynard'a wife found Pitt's revolver, which tho latter always carried m hia belt. Buratow then concluded that Pitt was also murdered. Buistow sailed to the stations on the reef, cutting off the murderers m the cutter, who attempted to reach tho station to takfl tho g<ns away. Burstow took the gins aboard, when bis lugger started for Thursday Island, where he arrived this morcing. The murderers could be Been beating about all day, evidently trying to get northward. Dr Halter, who is attending both Burstow and Majnard, drew the spear from the former's neck. He is not dangerously injured, but Maynard is almost beyond recovery.