THE MASSACRE ON BOARD THE MARION RENNY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3144, 10 March 1871, Page 3

THE MASSACRE ON BOARD THE MARION RENNY.

♦- [From the Fiji Times, February I.] We have been favored with the following account by a gentleman who arrived here from Loma Loma on Monday last of a tragedy which forms a startling episode in the history of the labor traffic of Fiji. The Marion Kenny, schooner, belonging to Messrs Henri ings and Kae,s<iiTivQd at^Lome Loma on slouday, 23rd instaut, having on board only four natives, who give the following melancholy account of their voyage: — After leaving Rotumah they sailed westward for six days, when they anchored under Cherry Island. At this time there were on board Mr Rae, Mr Dirl, mate, Bill and Charlie, and two forward hands (?) and the steward, all wiiite men; six Rotumah men, one Sandwich, and four Fijians. A message was sent to Mv Rae to say that there were plenty of men to be had if he would go ashore. On the following morning Mr Rae, four Rotumah- men, and the Sandwich man went ou shore in the long boat. About the same time two canoes carrying about a dozen men in each, put off to the vessel, whilst several natives swam out, to her. She was anchored about a quarter of a mile from the shore. When the boat reached the shore and Mr Rae and the men had disappeared, she was cast adrift by the natives, who then rushed inland shouting and hurrying as if to one spot. An attack was immediately made by the natives who had boarded the ship upon the crew. The man Bill was killed with the ship's axe, his head being nearly severed from his body. Mr Dirl, the mate, was killed in his cabin on deck. The steward was loading a gun, and. a Fijian called on him to fire, he and another man seizing a gun each. The three men fired but without killing one. However, it freightened the natives, who the left the ship. The long boat was seen drifting close in shore, an,d was afterwards drawn up by the natives. The two Rotumah men who had been loft on board were killed, and steward slightly wounded in the arm, and Charlie, the other forward hand, was severally wounded in the arm and head. The mate and Bill was buried at sea the next day. The steward and Charlie appear to have had fsome words, but what about cannot be ascertained. For four or five days Charlie remained in the cabin eating nothing, and only drinking a little water out of a teaspoon. He then appears to have gone out of his mind. He took a revolver, and going slowly upon deck, went to a Fijian at the wheel, patting him on the back, and calling him a " good boy." He then went to the house on deck where the steward was, and firing at him through the window killed him instantaneously. Then he fired at the man at the wheel* but missed him. Before he could fire again the Fijian rushed at him and clasped him round the arms, calling upon the other three to come and help him. They took the revolver from him, and then held a consultation as to what they should do with him, ultimately deciding that, as their lives were in danger, and the man nearly dead from his wounds, they would throw him overboard, which they accordingly did. They continued their course, for Fiji as best they were able, steering by the sun through the day, and at night taking their chance. The first land they sighted was Vanuo Leva, which they mistook for Tanna, and loaded all the weapons they could find with which to defend themselves in case of attack. They appear to have passed through Tasman's Straits, and thence to Nitomba, which

one of the crew who belongs to that part of the group recognised. He piloted the vessel thence to Loma Loma, which was reached on the date above-named. The date of reaching Cherry Island, as noted in the log book, was 22nd December and the natives say that they have been thirty days out, which would make the dates agree. Three natives from the island were killed in the scuffle on board the vessel. Cherry Island is a small island near the New Hebrides. This is the third time this vessel has lost men by the bloodthirstiness of the natives. At one time she had two of her crew killed in Torres Straits ; since then she was taken by the natives of the Line Islands, and her crew murdered ; and we now have the above painful record.