ATROCIOUS OUTRAGE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3943, 7 December 1880, Page 3

ATROCIOUS OUTRAGE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

A CANNIBAL STOBY. [By Telkobaph.] SYDNEY, For. 29. H.M. Schooner Sandlly, which arrivod this morning from the South seas, reports a terrible outrage. On Oct. 13, the schooner was anchored at Te Zjrabokali, and the commandor Bower and five neamen left in a whaloboit to survey the oast cjust of Florida laliind, intending to bo back on Oct. 17. Five dajs piißsed without their returning, and, on 0ct. 20, tho schooner weighed anchor and made for tho east coast, sending a gig down one side, and going her-olf round tlio other so fchut a thorough se.vrcli luighb be mado. The crew of the gig pulled into one bay where they saw a very otrong party of natives, wellarmed, ono of whom, " King Billy,' called out, " Como in, (;oi)ic ii\ c.vtioo ; come in, coino in." lio then spoko in tho native \ tougiit", na iho cig's crew, taking übirm, shot hack. Tiio nutives ufip-Mirijd to bo tvrtued with bo*3 and arrow*, ]cnivcs,and tomahuwks. Ono culling himself Jack, tried to tempt them back, but thej kopt on. Next day they went to East Island, und in tho oroning to luboli

harbour, which was alive with natives. On returning to the ship they found there Savage, who formed one of tho crow of the whaleboat and gave the following story '• — When they left, they went to East Island on Friday, and pulled; over from the mainland to Lavinia Bay, whero the Lavinia was captured and the crew slain. They then went to Nagu Island, hauled the boat up and had tea. The men asked leave to bathe, and while Carmo and O'Neill went into the water, Savage and Paterson went along the beach with the Captain, Venton looking after tho boat. Patorson went back for something, and about a quarter of an hour afterwards he heard a $ ell, ran back and saw a crowd of about 50 natives round tho boat and moro hurrying through tho bush. Returning to the Captain he shouted, " boat's attacked." The Caplain alao returning, was espied by tho natives, six of whom broke off and ran for him. Ho cried "My God, Savage, it is a case," and darted into the bush. Savage saw no more of him. Subsequently we learned that ho had eluded the pursuit by climbing a tree. The murderers sought him iv vain that night, and next morning paddled all round the Island, and seeing him in the treo landed *nd shot him twice through the body with '.he rifles they had taken from the boat. He dropped to the earth, and then a series of nameless horrors ensued. When found, the body was naked and headless, divested of the right arm, and great pieces of flesh had been stripped from the back. The men who wore oathiog had been clubbed at once. Paterson, taken from behind, shared the same fate, but Venton, who h»d time, seized the boat's stretcher and fought hard for his life. There is only too much reason to believe that ho was tied to a stake, tortured slowly, and oeheadod in revenge for the injury he inflicted on his assailants. Savage, the sole 3urvivor, ran into the scrub, which came low down to the beach, shook off his pursuers, and swam out to sea. It was then dusk, and the night being cloudy, the fugitive hoped to reach another island unnoticed ; but a streng tide was running, and tho current swept him ack opposite the fires where the cannibals were dancing and yelling. The clouds parted, and a chorus of yells showed that tho moonbeams had revealed him to his enemios. Two or three canoes were manned and put off to capture him. They were only fifty yards from him, when a black cloud swept across the moon, and when next it cleared Savage saw his pursuers ofar off, making back to their companions, evidently thinking he had gone down. His next danger was from the sharks, which literally swarmed round these reefs. At one time no leas than three back finß were sweeping round him in that ominous curve, over growing closer, which precedes a rush, but he splashed faintly, and so kept them off until he landed on a small uninhabited island. This was tabooed to the king of the tribe adjoining the murderers, and Savage rested there in safety during a heavy storm. Then despairing of rescue if he remained there, he made a little raft and paddled to the mainland. When half way across a dozen canoes swept down upon him. The Natives took him to their chief, who clothed him, gave him a hut, and tabooed him to preserve his life. After a long struggle and a palaver as to whether they should brave British vengeance by giving him up to the murderers, the chief decided to save him, and accordingly when the Sandfly passed the island in her search, the look-out saw Savage signalling and took him off.

The vessel sailed on into Rita Bay, right opposite where the murders were coin* mitted, and a boat's crew was sent ashore to burn the canoes and punish the Natives. Mr Bradford, in command, had eight men under him, who burnt several canoes, but saw no Natives to punish until he pushed off to return to the ship, when droves' of savages sallied from the bush and opened fire on the boat, shooting a seaman named Buckle through the heart, and wounding a sailor named Whitlook in the left forearm. This was on Sunday, and on the Monday following the Sandfly weighed anchor, and after a twenty-eight days' passage reached Sydney.