The New Guinea Massacre.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8605, 9 March 1897, Page 2

The New Guinea Massacre.

FULL PARTICULARS,

New Guinea is quite a delightful place to live in. To use the words of Mr. Bevau, ou« of the explorers of the inland districts, the littoral consists of "impenetrable tropical swamps and jungle, merging inland into dense forest, intersected by numerous streams which teem with fish and alligators. The vegetation grows in tropical luxuriance and density, reeking with malarial fever and ague avid the deadly dysentery, which have proved fatally virulent to Europeans. The bulk of the native population, is scattered along the coast, and the tribes are constantly engaged in internecine war. Food products are scarce, the natives cultivating barely sufficient for their own subsistence." In addition to all this, the prospector carries his life in his own hands, as the following account of the latest massacre wIU show:—

Cooktown, January 25. The schooner Curlew arrived from Woodlark Island via Samari to-day with 21 passengers from Woodlark and two Mambare miners. She brings the following details of the massacre on January llth:— One account states that the police boat arrived at Sauiari, and reported the murder of Mr Green the Government resident at Mambare, five miners, nine native police, and thirty native

carriers,

Mr Green, Laving decided to shift the police camp to higher country, was engaged in the erection of the building, aided by three native police, the others being employed clearing the surrounding country. Green went to the top of the structure, leaving his anus on the ground. It is supposed that one of the native police engaged on the building treacherously signalled the others to the attack. Being defenceless, Giten fell an easy victim. The body was terribly mutilated. Five miners were murdered while endeavoring to escape down the stream on a raft. No information it) obtain? able from this source as to the manner iv which the native police and the carriers were killed. The Curlew had not, however, learned that three of these men, namely Steele, Olsen, and Davis, had escaped, and were taken to Sydney in tho German warship Falke, Another account is supplied by George Baker, who passed the Mambare police station coming from Mambare heads on the 28th January. He states that Green, finding it necessary to shift the police camp, selected a site aud started building, assisted by boys, among whom was an Orokovo native who was connected with the murder of Clarke some time ago. Oa the uiornof the 13th this boy sent his gin to her native village. The other boys, suspecting treachery, the next morning requested permission to carry their rifles, but Green refused, and started for the site of the new building. Three-quarters of an hour after Green had departed Captain Whitten went up the river. When opposite to the the new camp one of hi 6 boye, having gone ashore called out in alarm, "Plenty Orokovo boys." Witten'e suspicions were aroused, and he went

ashore. . He proceeded to the site, and discovered Green's body. One spear was through the heart, and another just below it. The head was split, evidently by a tomahawk, the wouud extending from the left temple to the right ear, which was cut in half. One hand clenched a carpenter's pencil. The body of a police hoy was also found. Whitton saw no Orokovo boys at the scene of the murder, the probability being that a shot fired at a bird by one of his party had frightened them.

A week previous to Green's murder, two miners named Hayler and Fry, with six natives, started to come down the Mambore river on a canoe and raft. They went ashore 10 miles from the main police camp for dinner. While off their guard, their rifles were snatched from them by the natives. The miners and the boys made a rush for the raft and canoe. Fry and two boys were clubbed on the raft, but Hayler, with the other boys, got away in the canoe. Anticipating being followed, Haylar, who was bad with ferer, took refuge in the eerub, his boys hiding among the trees. The Orokovo. natives pursued them, and discovered Haylar, who was clubbed, but the boys escaped, and were picked up 30 miles from the mouth of the Mambare river by the schooner Ellangowan. All the Europeans at Mambare police station were brought to Samari by the Ellangowan. When Baker left only three Europeans remained at the head of the Mambare river. He states that himself and mate, after four weeks' work, just cleared expenses, while the majority of the miners who went to the head of the river were less successful. The expense of getting provisions to the field is too heavy at present to permit miners making much profit. . ""••■■■. It was reported at Samari that two miners had been murdered by natives on the Musa; abo, that native carriers on the Musa deserted their employers, stole the boats, and went to Normanby Island.

News from Woodlark states that 50 men were bad with fever.