SYDNEY.

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 79, 15 July 1846, Page 3

SYDNEY.

The " Cape Packet."—The melancholy fate of the Sydney whaler Cape Packet arid her unfortunate crew has long been known in Sydney, but the following account contains particulars that have not been before published. It appears that she was taken by ihe, natives at ihe Sandwich Island, one ojf the New Hebrides when the whole of the Europeans belonging tojier were;ki.lbd.a.ntL eaten; but three New Zealanders and* a Sandwich Islander were spared. The Elizabeth touched at Sandwich Island to endeavour to procure sandalwood and vegetables, &c, and finding the natives appeared friendly and inclined to barter, the ship remained there several days without the officers or crew being at all alarmed. Some of the natives were allowed to remain on board all night, amount wl)om was one of the New Zealand's who h d been epeared, and who was lnsta'ntiy recognised by one of the crew of the Elizabeth who had sailed with him ins* other vessel. The sail.r immediacy taxed him with having belonged jo the Cape Packet, and after a deal of htfsiiaiio.i, upon being taken on one side, he admitied the truth of the assertion, ihe account he gives of the affair (being able to speak English fluently,) U that three of the boats with their crews had gone on shore for water, when they were attacked by the notives, and every one of u m f n ' J S' ere killedi The canoes t,,en pushed off for the ship, on board which were Captain Powell, ten white men, and our coloured men ;. the. natives were allowed, to.come on deck, when they seemed to behave in their usual manner, until they had surrounded their victims, when the was given, and'the massacre begun ihe attack was soiudden and unexpected that no arms were' on deck at the time; the captain was killed at the first onset by a blow from a club, and eight others shared ihe same fate; the carpenter, however, happened to be at work with his 7* at -«ho lime in];the fore part of the pP, and defended himself, bravely, killing ih ree of his assailants; but being at p"^' 1 surrounded, was overpowered and Killed. The four coloured men were not molested, but taken "on shore, where they "ere kindly treated. Tbe bodies were also taken oil shore and eaten, as well as those whiclr were slain at the watering place, The ship was then ransacked and Kjj! of every thing moveable; she had 'w barrels of sperm oil on board, but the casks were broken up for the purpose of getting the iron hoop : and after stripping c ship of all her rigging, aims, gear, *?., she was set fire to on the fourth day J'ter her capture. Three of the men saved had left the island by other vessels, Jhd ilje one now on board the Elizabeth, as the only one remaining there. He atao apprised Captain Jones that a plo t

was laid to lake his vessel the following morning, on vhicli account they immediately prepared for sea, and were under wrigh before the natives could get side in their canoes—Sydney Shipping Gazette, June 13. U "