A MURDEROUS AFFRAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1259, 9 June 1886, Page 3

A MURDEROUS AFFRAY.

Dunedin, June 8. Hobart papers, by Dune, contain the following telegram from Brisbane : The schooner Y ung, which has arrived at Maryborough, reported that a desperate conflict with natives occurred at Malayta [aland on May 20tb, resulting in the death of about fifteen persons, including Mr Popham (Government A gent;, Martin, the cook, the sailm«ker, a recruit, and about a dozen natives. While the captain and two boats' crews wore ashore recitiding, about fifty natives with their tomahawks concealed in the jams and leaves bearded the vessel in canoes, ostensibly to recruit, and at a signal given by a chief, the entire party attacked the crew. The mate (Marr) threw off his assailants and seized the firea; ms on board, and sue cessully defended himself from the half closed door of the cabin. A seaman named Cnttenden, who was asleep below, hastened on deck with arms, and encountered the natives. He then ascended the foretop, ard shot down a number of savages, and forced them to retreat, He then descended and realta-ed the mate, whose rifle was broken, and who was incapable of further fight. He also shot another savage whom he found in the agent’s cabin. They then armed the recuits numbering fourteen, with tomahawks, and were prepared to resist a second attack, which was threatened but did not come off On the captain’s return to the vessel an awful scene of carnage met his view. Four white men were hacked to pieces, and their brains were bespattered about the deck. Mr Popham was lying in his cabin with pen and paper in his bands, and bis head split open. One recruit who joined in the resistance, and five natives who wtra shot, were lyint: about the deck. Marr and Cuttenden aver they shot many others, who went overboard. The bodies fn m the vessel were buried at. sea, and the Young Dick then sailed home The brig Janet Stewart was attacked successfully and looted at the same place and by the same tribe five years ago.