MASSACRE OF ELEVEN PERSONS AT NEW CALEDONIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 673, 20 November 1867, Page 3

MASSACRE OF ELEVEN PERSONS AT NEW CALEDONIA.

(FEOM THE SYDNEY MOENnfO- HEBAID, NOT. 4.) By the barque Camden, an extraordinary issifed by the New Caledonia " Moniteur,' 1 has been receif ed, detailing the particulars of a fearful outrage perpetrated by the natives in the vicinity of Ponebo, in which it appears that eleven persons have been killed and fourteen wounded. The following letter from Madame Henry, to a friend residing at Noume^s, gives an account of the disastrous outrage :— " Dear Sir — The savages attacked our house on the night of the 12th October. Fortunately, we were in a postion to defend ourselves. My son was wounded. Harry, a native, came to us aud said his horse's leg was broken. We being friendly with him, Mr Henry was just following him out, when I discerned through the obscurity what seemed armed natives. I remarked to my son that ' something was up.' and I went to fetch him a revolver, during which time the fellow had struck my husband, who endeavored to reach a loaded gun ; but before it could be used the savage decamped, taking away a carbine loaded. My husband and son rushed after him, and fired several times, but owing to the darkness of the night nothing could be seen or done; I kept ringing the bell, and soon had our people around us. Fortunately, in the night the ships Sorez and John Knox arrived, so that we were enabled to defend ourselves and houses. The savages were evidently watching, as occasionally they threw stones in such an artistic manner that they killed three natives of the Sandwich Islands and one woman from Lifou. On Monday, the 7th, vre sent on board of the vessel and asked for help, when we learnt of the murder of poor Bailly and private Demeno and his two children, Madame Dcmere is not expected to live ; the savages attacked their home, and a native of Mare was killed ; the rest of the people rushed the mission house. What goods were left at 6ur s'tof c they destroyed ; no doubt had we possessed arms' we could have punished these monsters. So audacious were they that at daybreak two of them were dancing in the garden. Folger fired at theni and killed them. We recalled from the farms all our men — we muster 130. We have sent to Governor Houagape for assistance, and pray send up to Sydney and let our friends know, at all events for the present, we are safe and sound. Let our Sydney friends be persuaded that the Governor of Caledonia will soon come to our relief. We have always found the greatest of kindness from all functionaries. No motive can be assigned ; we have had no quarrel on one side or the other ; the ground we occupy was bought ; it had never been cultivated or any house on it ; consequently, we could not have disturbed them in any manner or way. They always professed great friendship. I was only up from a severe sickness. These natives who have committed these outrages found me in green cocoanuts, and Harry, who seems the chief in this revolt, always brought me chickens. He had had a boil on his neck ; we used to wash it and dress it for him. Only on the morning of the attack, my daughter Aggie asked him how it was ; he replied, " Your medicines have quite cured it." Surely our kindness could not have made him, when he found us so unprotected — bloodthirsty. There is no use thinking you can tame or believe these people — treachery is in their blood. Another chief has just been arrested. "At the Catholic Mission House four men have been assassinated ; their bodies were found in a marsh. Poor Bailly's body has been found, his head split in two from the crown to the lower lip, and his portemonnaie taken away — in fact some had their entrails dragged out, and the details of one death is more revolting and savage than another. " Too much praise cannot be said of private Gacher, who stripped naked to deceive the natives, and not frightened of death, at daylight he looked after the corpses, and hid them in his garden. A militia is about being organised, for fear of further depredations." The " Monifceur" says :—": — " The news of the murder of the following victims was brought to us on the 19th of October: — Privote Gacher announces to the Governor that on the 6th inst., at six in the evening, the murder was committed by natives supposed to belong to Pouebo. Madame Do Mcinene miraculously saved herself, after receiving two hatchet blows. Not satisfied with the blood they had shed they attacked the stores and houses of Messis Deh'im, Bertrand, Demone and Henry, and stole a quantity of goods. | "Mr Henry sent for Bonarate, Chief of Hienguene, who sent some of his warriors after the miscreants, two of whom had been caught by private Gacher. The unfortunate missionary, Bailly, seems to think it was caused by the influence of some persons who are against colonisation. Bailly was killed by an urrow. He was a zealous and efficient person. In consequence of the confusion and terror the news has caused here, we found it necessary to publish this supplement. The three-masted barque, Camden, sailing for Oubatche, on the 7lh. Mr Henry expressed a wish that the captain should call at Noumea, to inform the Governor there, to which Mr Sawyer complied with great promptitude. The following are the names of those massacred on the 6th-7th of October, 18G7 : — M. Bailly, Quartermaster of the Guards and Conscription at Pouebo ; Venturing a private ; Demeue, colorsergeant, his two sons aged six years, and one four months ; one native of Erromango; four natives of Sandwich Island ; one native of Lifou. Wounded — Mr Aliek Henry ; Madame Demene, and two sons (dangerously) ; ten natives of the Sandwich Island. Forces sent, and to ba sent, to punish these murderers of the Gth and 7th of October :— State Major-General, Governor Guillain, Mathieu (lieutenant of the vessel Terror), Captain Bourgey (captain of the Infantry and officer of the Commissariat), Mage, secretary. Vessels and troops sent : — Sibyllo, commanded by Mr Rian Kerangal ; the Tender, commanded by M. Floucard de Fourcroy ; the Caledoniennc, commanded by M. Pore. Ten artillerymen, commanded by M. Candelot ; ten infantry, commanded by De Houagape ; twenty infantry, commanded by M. Chevillion ; twenty infantry, commanded by M. Portait ; forty men, commanded by Captain Billes — all under the command and orders of the Sibylle. All State ships having been sent to Pouebo, the captain of the Camden retarded his sailing forty-eight hours, so a3 to take on the European as well as Australian letters, as the inhabitants cannot depend on any vessel leaving in November.