MURDER OF A MISSIONARY AT ERROMANGA.

Evening Star, Issue 2925, 4 July 1872, Page 3

MURDER OF A MISSIONARY AT ERROMANGA.

(From the New Zealand Herald, June 13 .J The Rev. Dr Steel, as agent for the New Hebrides Mission, has received intelligence by way of Tanna and Queensland, that the Rev, James D. Gordon, of Erroraanga, had been murdered on the 25th February last. No particulars are given, and the tidings are contained in a very brief postscript to a letter from the Rev. William Watt, of Tanna, dated I4th January, to this effectP.S. Poor Gordon has been murdered at Erromauga, 25tli February,” It is feared that the tidings may be too true ; but further intcdligence may be expected by a vessel daily looked for in Sydney from Havauuab Harbor. Mr Gordon was a native of Prince Edward Island, British North America ; he was brother of the Rev. G. D. Gordon, who, along With his wife, was barbarously murdered by the natives of Erromauga in 1861. Mr Gordon has been alone on the island since the death of the Rev, James McNair in 1870. He was unmarried, and trusted himself unreservedly among the natives. The following notice appeared in the shipping celumn of the Herald on the 2 1st ult. —Captain Rosengren, of the Lyttoua, reported to the Rockhampton Bulletin that he arrived in Portinia Bsy, Erromanga, on 9th May. A native on board explained the circumstances connected with the murder of the Rev, Mr Gordon. He states that a native from Portinia Bay came down to the missionary station, and asked Mr Gordon to come and see his children, who were lying sick. He went, and on arrival found the children were dead. The man charged him with witchcraft, and immediately tomahawked him. His tribe buried the body, and immediately made war against the other tribe. The missionary’s boat was lying on the beach in Cook’s Bay. Captain Hosengren met and boarded the Day Spring, missionary vessel, at Tanna, on the 11th May ; she was then bound for Erromanga. Full particulars may be expected after the visit of the Day Spring.