Desperate Fight with Savages

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 155, 10 June 1886, Page 3

Desperate Fight with Savages

(PSE OKITBD BfiESB ASSOCIATION.) June 8.

Hobart papers by the Doric contain the following telegram from : — The •chooner Yonnit Diet, which has arrived at Maryborough, reported that a desperate conflict with the Natives occurred at Malay ta Island on May 30, resulting in the death of about fifteen persons, including Mri Popham, Goverament agent, and Marten;* the coot, the sailmaker, a rßcruifc,' and'; about a dozen Natives. While -the : captain and <|Wo boats crews were ashore recruiting, abmt fifty 'Natives, with their tomahawks concealed ii the jams and. .leayes. boarded the vessel in canoes ostensibly, to recruit, and at a signal given . b^y ,a .Qhjef, . the entire party attacked the! crew. The mate, Mr Marr, threw £>j£ his assailants,, a/xd seized the firrarms on board and successfully defended hinraelf from the half closed door of <the cabin. A , seaman named Cuttenien, who was asleep below, hastened on deckjwith arms, and encountered the the Natives. He then ascended the foretop and shot down a number of savages and forded them to retreat. He then descended and .released the mate, whose rifle wits broken, and who Jwas incapable of farther fight. He also shot another savage whom he found in the captain's cabin. They then armed the recruits, ■urn -ering 14, with toWkawks, and were prepared;to resist a second attack, which Vas' 'threatened, but did" not come off. On the captain's return to the vessel an awful scene of carnage met his view. Four white men were hacked to pieces and their brsins bespattered about the deck, Me Fophsmiraß lyiuffinhis cabin with pen and paper in his hands and head split open. One recruit who joined in the resistance and five Natives who were shot were lying about the decks. Marr and Cuttenden aver that^hey' shot many others who ■went overboard. The bodies from the ▼etsel were buried at 'Ma, and the Young Pick sailed/ home. The, brig Janet Steward was attacked successfully and looted at the same plaoe by the same tribe five scare ago,: