A DEADLY STUGGLE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3257, 9 December 1881, Page 4

A DEADLY STUGGLE.

The schooner Venture, which arrived at Sydney, on Nov. 3, from the Solomon Islands, brought intelligence of another treacherous attack by Natives on the schooner Atlantic, and the narrow escape of Captain Howie, of that vessel, [and crew. On August 2, the Atlantic was at Insonby, one of the Solomon group of Islands, also, known by the name of Laafa. Early that morning several canoes came off, bringing about 50 to 60 Natives. Many came on deck, accompanied by the chief of the island, a big powerful fellow. After much talk, trade was agreed upon and distributed. The chief selected a short axe and a longhandled knife, which Captain Howie took the precaution of wrapping in paper. After Lying them together the chief seemed Ycry friendly, and walked about the deck with Captain Howie, the other natives jabbering and gesticulating, apparently intently engaged in trade, but warily watching the movements of their chief. Captain Howie, thrown off his guard for a moment, turned his back to look over the side, when in an instant he saw the chief rapidly glide behind him and raise his arm. The captain immediately ducked his head. This saved his life, for the next moment ho felt a terrific blow on the shoulder, dealt with the axe which lie had just before given the chief. The latter uttered a frightful yell, which was immediately answered by all the savages, who rushed at the crew of the Atlantic. A terriblo struggle took place. Captain Howie,*although dreadfully wounded, had sufficient strength left to plunge the bayonet he had into the body of the chief with whom he had engaged in a deadly struggle. Ho and the chief grappled each other by the throat, and Captain Howie felt himself falling across the wheel chains. At this moment one of the Kanaka crew, all of whom had knives, plunged his with great force into the body of the chief but a few moments afterwards fell backwards dead, having received a deep wound in the lower part of the stomach. Tho blood flowed over the deck, where a deadly struggle was taking place. Although far outnumbered, tho schoonei''s crew fought desperately, and ultimately drove off the savages, who, when they saw the chief wounded,lost their courage and began to make their way over tho side of tho vessel. In their hurry to get off they left the principal part of the trade behind. Captain Howie saw his mate attacked at once by several blacks, but being a strong man, and using his weapon well, he was able to keep them at bay. The mate, after clearing a space round him by fighting, jumped on the top of the deck cabin. He was twice wounded, once by a blow dealt him from behind, and again by a thrust from a knife, when he got a gash Gin long. From the top of the cabin, where he could freely use his weapon without being held by the arms, he dealt execution among the now terrified savages, sending a bullet into the body of the one who was attacking Captain Howie. After this tho latter seized his own revolver, which hitherto he had been prevented from using, and, together with the mate, fired shot after 3hot at tho retreating natives, a largo number of whom were hit, and never reached the shore. Captain Howie, after firing his last bullet, which took deadly effect, weighed anchor and proceeded to sea, and two hours after the conclusion of this

desperate fight committed tho body of the dead Kanaka, the only one of his crew who lost his life in the affray, to the deep.