ESCAPE OF THE MAORI PRISONERS.

West Coast Times, Issue 912, 25 August 1868, Page 4

ESCAPE OF THE MAORI PRISONERS.

» (From a Correspondent of the CJiristeltttrcTi Press.J ■ Waitangi, Chathauts, August 1,1868. The Rifleman, schooner, Captain Christian, arrived here on July 3, after a fine passage of four and a half days from Wellington, and proceeded to discharge her cargo, which consisted chiefly of Government stores. In the afternoon of the following day, on coming ashore. I was told by Mr Chudleigh that the Han Haus had taken the redoubt, and obtained possession of all the arms. I immediately ran to the boat and requested the Hau Haus who had landed me to pull back, but they refused, saying it was too wet. Scarcely had they said so before three musket shots were fired from the redoubt, and I saw three men running down the hill; Mr Chudleigh who was standing six or seven yards from the boat was instantly seized by some Hau Haus, five or six in number, and thrown down. They did the same to Mr Beamish who was on his way to his home to fetch a revolver. After a struggle, in which he knocked one or two Hau Haus down, he was overpowered and boixnd hand and foot. Mr Chudleigh received very rough handling. They tried to strangle Mm with a rope, but he put his hand in his mouth, and in the struggle for life nearly bit his fingers through. On seeing hiir attacked I jumped out ofthe boat, but was immediately seized by the men in it, and> bound in a similar manner. At first we thought they intended to kiil us, as we were completely in their power; but, after remaining in this condition for fifteen or twenty minutes, some of the men came with handcuffs and put them on Chudleigh -and myself; afterwards taking them off and escorting us to the gaol, where we found Mr Beamish- and one of the constabulary. They shortly afterwards brought the Resident Magistrate, Captain Thomas, and Mr Shand. The door was guarded by the Court-house orderly, who behaved very respectfully throughout, bringing us blankets, &c. They told' us they would give the keys to one of the women as soon as they were all on board. They searched all the houses in the meantime for money and clothing, using no violence or threats, except on one or two occasions. They visited the store of Airs Alexander, thinking, no doubt, to get something worth taking, but she had forestalled them, and at the fir.-t outbreak hid a bag of cash in a pot of boiling water on the fire. In another instance they visited the house of a person named Fymnore, formerly of the armed constabulary, with the intention of taking his life, having some old grudge against him, but he fortunately escaped into the bush. As near as I can guess, the outbreak began about quarter-past three', and by half-past four they were all on board. During the timo we were imprisoned, they came and demanded the keys of the safe from Captain Thomas, as they wished, they said, to see the letters from the Government. They took care, however, to take all the money they could find. Shortly afterwards some of the women came and informed us that they had all gone on board, and that private Hartnetfc had been killed in the act of resisting. The greater part of the guard were tied hand and foot. After all the Hau Haxis were on board, we were released from our imprisonment, and made our escape to the native pa, as we saw a boat coming ashore, and took it for the run-aways. It proved to be thp captain and the crew of the ketch Florence, which had also been boarded, and set adrift, with her fore staysail and mainsail set, She was also set fire to at the same time. Great alarm was caused by the Rifleman once more appearing, as if coming to anchor again. We immediately retreated to Mr Shand's house, and in doing so had to pass through a swamp, women and children and all. A night of much anxiety was spent, several preferring to stay in the bush. The vessel, however, started next morning at ten a.m., and was all day in beating out of the bay. Towards midday every one returned to their home, and by that time the settlers from the various outlying districts arrived, nearly all armed. It appears that Te Kote was the chief instigator of the outbreak. He gave himself out for a prophet, had a whore built for himself separate from the others, on which was hoisted a towel, evidently as a signal. Private Hartnett was buried on Tuesday with military honors.