A DUEL WITH RIFLES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 656, 5 November 1909, Page 7

A DUEL WITH RIFLES.

AN ISLAND SENSATION. (By Telegraph-foecisl Correspondent) < - 'on. I »iJ •i v Auckland, November 4. * 'S'S,; Ifilttndd, -brings details by ■ rnair.'from- 'Suva of '.'a scrsatiooal occurrence:out at Naitaba.a station owned by ®r-. '.IlenniEgs, in, the ,Lau .Group. Air. Honnings, had, : &ecasloh to suspect -W.Puniabi hettrt,, servant; of .theftj; and A search' of the 'fwJ >: ?SSP' /^m !e<l avtiolcs that had k> right there, lhe man denied -■. the ' ' accusation • and ; M -raM* was; ,said. ;; After '; break- • .wrat;; tothe V-fields,to t!lj ler1 er * *.wk ef the day,, and very soon 1 ; ■*»>. ■wn • cartridges, -and - threatened all t®' OT Y vA. !et^ee rifle fflinns. the boltvhadi'beea'left ;on. i clearilnA v 1 h« bolt was put -in . Mr. Henning*s office, whidrvf-ea/locked. also amnvtnvihftiv .kept., ,rhfi, Pxmjnbi knew tMs. &wT gained,entry jby-a-., the office. ' Like Most. Pnnjabis-this one had; had ' a "soldier training in India,-and what-would,have been" a serious obstacle to most , cbioured people was to him a j simple .'problem' is regards getting in battle order. On Mr. Hennings's'arrival holiad disappeared;, and forthwith, all hands were summoned irom. the fields : .for their,'own safety. ■A quartet:of Sqlomon boys were sent out to trv' to persuade the Indian to comd in. It merely , ended fatally/for.,one.oi; them..; As sooii as tho ; Indian; saw, .them; he:,'loosened" off at thetm and one ballet went • through tho. slack of a bpys. one side,: coming ; out 'the otber touching his skiii.-Mr. Heiminss got another, rifle and a few rounds • of ban' ~ and after.ailone; tramp met the foo. at fiftv ■ yards, range. . Both;6pened ,fire .without a seers;.:. the white man - shootiflg. low onlv tn disable the. Indian. Tho latter took splendid ' behind reeks and young coconut palms. After a brisk rifle 'duel, Mr. Hennings's ear<at6 oiiV'aiid/ho. wbnt hotQc for l -nor©, : leaving,,the sirdar and a labourer to keep in ■ teueh .with .the, foo. '.When Mr. Kenning.? re- •• turned, it, was ■ found. that the Indian Had -'got away into, the serub..: As nightfall vas drawinu ' m, arrangements were made by the'planter to - secure the'homestead. against attack. Ke had posted his .sentries and made ! all ready for ~ the'' night, and standing near a brightly-lighted doorway .had .the discomfort of. hearingtwo .. shots■ whistle; past' Ms-, head. • After that Mr , Hennings. mounted guard in a shaded spot for i a couple of;h6urs ( ;and then heard with ;• that.the sirdarhad,'by astrategic' movement, [ captured' the .Punjabi' and disarmed him A . fcutterv of Mr.' HeunmgsV arrived next dav , from Lovuk«,_aftd ; the culprit was taken before . thoS.M. at Lorn a Loma. 'He was committed I for trial on a sorieS of charges, and will shortly i be'in Suva gaol te take his trial at the next [ criminal sessions.. : . . '