BURNT ALIVE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1367, 19 February 1912, Page 2

BURNT ALIVE.

BEYOLTING CKIME BY INDIAN'S. A LIGHTHOrSK KEEPER THE VICTIM. A crime of revolting character ( was committed by Indians at .Alomi, Fiji, a fmv days ago, when an unfortunate Indian was burnt alive. The victim (says a Suva dispatch of February 1 to (lie Sydney "Herald") was employed as one of the lighthouse-keepers of the loading lights at Navula Passage, Monii Bay, and a conspiracy was entered into hy two or his fellow-country-men to lake''his life. ••Apparently a good deal of' ill-feeling existed' among tlia parlies, but, the nature: V'the'quarrel has not transpired..' ;' '..■' The two Indians arrived on :(he sceno early in the day, but after-consultation resolved to await nightfall before' .attempting to carry out their murderous plans. They dreaded detection, and after remaining in concealment during the day took all (he necessary precautious in order to reach (ho lighthouse. • unnoticed. The unsuspecting lighthouse-keeper had his light binning brightly, and was at. his post when the attack was made. The two enraged Indians stealthily approached in a boat, and their first act was to break the irlas* and extinguish the light. This occupied but a cbuplo of minutes. The alarmed lighthouse-keeper was then secured, and after receiving brutal treatment was bound .hand and, foot by means of stout ropes. Despite his appeals for mercy his assailants declared their intention of burning him. alive, fries for help rent the •air, but the lighthouse was a considerable distance--from habitation, and no aid cinio.

When securely bound aud in an absolutely helpless position the would-be murderers poured kerosene over llw whole of his body, saturating his hair and his clothing. After further tormenting him, the Indians applied a match (o bis clothing, and in an instairt he was enveloped in flames.

Tho pitiful erics of the victim failed to soften the hearts of tho assassins, who appeared to delight in tho excruciating agonies of the lighthouse-keeper. After watching him for some, time the two Indians left him to his fate, eventually believing that ho would succumb to his terrible injuries. The unfortunate Indian, however, lingered on, and some days later was found by the .Stipendiary .Mngislralc from Nndi. Ho was badly burnt from head to foot, and bad been without, food and water. Assistance was quickly procured and everything possible is now being douefoi him.

lie is still in a very low state, but it is expected that he will recover. Another murder of an Indian was reported on .lanuarv 22, the body bavins been found at Samnbula, near Suva, showing signs of great violence. Two arrests of Indians have been mado in this case, and (he accused, who have been charged, will come up for trial »t the nest Supreme Court sessions in March,