POVERTY BAY.
(From the Hawke's Bay Times, Nov. 23.)
The accounts state that at the time of the massacre, Mrs "Wilson was left lor dead by the murderers, but her little son James (nine years old) made his escape. He wandered about till Wednesday or Thursday, when he returned to the ruins of his home, and found his mother where she had fallen, alive, though wounded by a bayonet in several places, and assisted her into an. out-house. He made several ineffectual attempts to reach Turanganui—where, we may remark, he had never been before—and on Monday last (six "days after the massacre) was found near the Courthouse and taken across the river. The little fellow was the bearer of the following1 note, written on a card, from his mother:—
Could some kind friend come to our help, for God's sake. I ana very much wounded, lying in a house at our place. My poor • son James is with me. Come quick.
Alice Wilson. We have little or nor clothing, and are in dreadful suffering.
The child said he supported himself and his mother by foraging for eggs, and confirmed the report that the remainder of the family were dead. After'hearing his story, an armed party of 100 men went to seek for his mother, whom.. they found, and the little boy is said to have had on nothing but his shirt and a coat belonging to. his father. Mrs Wilson is at the residence of Archdeacon Williams atTuranganui, where tbe unfortunate lady meets
with the care and attention which, in her present enfeebled state, she so much requires. We understand that,
-• : y • since Thursday -last; Mr Dinwiddie has manufactured an easy couch, which was sent down by the Ahuriri on Saturday night, with a view to the early removal of Mrs Wilson to Napier. We are .glad.to add that great hopes are entertained of her ultimate recovery. It is reported that when Mrs Wilson was lying wounded in the out-house previously referred to, a friendly native gave her a few potatoes, and, as utu, robbed the poor lady of a shawl with which she was; covered. This "friendly" was afterwards found dead with part of, a bottle of grog beside him! •
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Herald, Volume II, Issue 466, 28 November 1868, Page 2
Word Count
371POVERTY BAY. Wanganui Herald, Volume II, Issue 466, 28 November 1868, Page 2
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