STORIES OF THE PENINSULA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 648, 29 September 1882, Page 2

STORIES OF THE PENINSULA.

No. 28.-'

" 4.LOODY Jack."

The record in Uemp'-emiin's u'ary of tlie events of lS.i'J are very unsatisfactory. There are hare st foments no doubt intelli gible to tiiose who knew all about it, but to us, living so long after, many bear no coherent meaning. Sonic of [he most interesting passage;-? in tie diary refer to the murder of some Northern natives, who came ''mm Queen Charlotte's Sound, and who were working with Captain Heirip'eman. It appears there were tsvo boys named Jaeky and Tommy, wdio worked In the whaleboats, besides several women living with [femplemen's men. Oue of these women was actually killed, and Uimpsou iv speaking ot it always refers to it regretfully, because lie says he could have saved her life by buying her for a blanket, if he had only known. Bloody Jack being at feud with the northern natives, and knowing some of them wore in Ilempleman's camp, came down to kill them, and did actually kill one boy. It appears that this boy Jncky Was walking up the Peraki hill with somo of the white whalers when

they met the Maoris. Jacky was carrying a basket of potatoes, which he dropped instantly and ran lor dear life : but they were too quick One soon'overtook him, and stunned him iy striking him on the back of the head with a greenstone mere mere, and Bloody Jack then shot him through the head with a inuske\. The other boj', as will be seen by the diary, was ransomed, and there is a tale to the effect that Hempleman kept him stowed away in a cask for days, and so enabled him to escape the vigilance of Bloody Jack and his followers, We append a few extracts from the log verbatim, thinking it best not to alter either spelling or composition in any particular :—

"Saturday, Oct. 2u.—Fine weather throughout. At 10 am. one boat's crew to tbe river, in search of provisions ; at 2 p.m. one out fishing ; carpenter employed as yesterday.

•' Sunday, Oct. 27.—Fine weather throughout. People employed shooting in the bush, one boat's crew at the river.

"Monday, Oct. 28.-Fine weather throughout. At 9 a.m. tbe captain went out fishing and returned at 6 p.m. with the boat's crew from the river, who brought a good supply of pigeons ; carpenter employed as yesterday.

" Tuesday, Oct. 29.—Fine weather throughout One boat out fishing, but returned shortly, the wind being too strong ; carpenter employed as 3 r esten!ay.

•• Wednesday, Oct 30. —Strong winds throughout, from S. W. At 10 a.m. one boat's crew went to the river ; carpenter employed as yesterday.

'■ Thursday, Qet. 31.—Fine weather throughout. At 10 a.m. the boat's crew beard the report of guns up the river, and found it to be two Maoiies from Bloody Jack, who was in Oashore Bay, with 15 boats. At 11 am. walked up the hill to Maori Harbor, where the boat was hauled up. when were greatly surprised at seeing about 100 natives, who came with tbe intention of killing the boy J icky, which the}" did in a most b rbarous manner, when having got to Maori Harbor, they refused us our boat, we then walked over the hill to the next bay, where they kept us as prisoners ; carpenter employed as yesterday.

■• Friday, November I.—Fine weather throughout. Tlie river party still as prisoners, being in great suspense, not knowing whether they were to live or die, still kept as prisoners; carpenter employed as yesterday. "Saturday, Nov. 2.—Fine weather throughout. This day the river party were escorted to Peracy Bay by 15 Bloody Jack's boats who came ashore t 10 a.m. and hauled their boats np, on their first landing, they discovered the other boy Tommy when in the act of killing him a chief named Tyro a prevented them by claiming tbe boy, and shortly after cune upon the captain for payment for the boy, which was a new six-oared boat, which tho cap tian consented to, knowing it to be the only w-->y of saving tbe boy's life ; carpenter slowed away in the bush.

"Sunday, Nov 3.—Fine weather throughout. Bloody Jack and his crew still ashore, who asked the l>ig boat as payment for the place, which the captain gave, with 3 new sails ; carpenter stiil in tbe bush.

" Monday, Nov. 4.—Fine weather At 10 a.m. Blood) Jack and his gang started for Waugaloa ; at 11 a.m. one bo.it out fishing ; at half pa-t ten a.m. carpenter came out of bush. This day took two white men on, who came with gang Loin Otago.

"Tuesday, Nov. s—Fine weather throughout. oie bo tout all day fishing ; carpenter employed at boat.

•• Wednesday Nov. o.— Fiae weather throughou". One bo.it out ail day fLuing ; carpenter employed as yesterday.

" Thursday Nov. 7.—Strung winds from the N. One boat out fishing; at 8 a.m. saw sof Bloody Jack's boats pass the heads bound to the southward ; carpenters aud sawyers at work."

Such is the brief record existing of a tragedj' that is a favorite subject for discussion amongst many of the Peninsula

veterans