MASSACRE AT THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 957, 20 August 1880, Page 3

MASSACRE AT THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.

The Southern Cross brings news of an attack on the schooner Levuka on the loth ult. She had on board one native of Apia, New Hebrides. The vessel had on board 73 time-expired labourers, and the vessel’s boat went ashore with a crew. The Solomon islanders seemed friendly, and warned Nichols, the Government agent, not to go to the village, as there had recently been a skirmish with Frenchmen. Ho was, however, informed of a nearer place. Arrived at the spot indicated the boat was grounded on the beach, but none of its occupants left it. Suddenly about 100 guns were-fired at the boat, killing Stewart Fraser, mate of the Levuka, who-was shot to the heart, four bullets passing through him. Mr Nichols was hit by five bullets, one going through his shoulder and two through each leg. One of the'erew had h’is thigh hone shattered by a bullet, and he is now lying in the Levuka hospital in a hopeless condition. The Fijian ' (Johnny) had two bullets through one leg. The other two

Soloinan islanders, who were in the boat, jumped overhoard and swam towards the vessel Tlie Apia natives then rushed towards the boat, evidently with the view of capturing it. The only li.carra in the boat was a Snider rifle, as no danger was anticipated. On the Apaian natives approaching the boat, Johnny, half wounded as ho was, jumped out, seized the rifle, and fired without aiming. This stopped the rush, and Johnny then single-handed shoved the boat from the shore amidst a shower of bullets, and sculled her towards the vessel.