Shocking Cannibalism

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 12, 15 July 1890, Page 4

Shocking Cannibalism

Advices received at San Francisco Btate that the schooner Eliza Mary, x bound for Australia, having 79 perBoas on board, was driven upon the reefs off Mallicolo in a gale of wind and that 51 of the crow and pas sengers were killed, roasted, and eaten by the cannibals who captured them. Maliicolo is a large island of the New Hebrides group ; it is about 60 miles long and 28 broad, and lying to the south east of Espiritu Santo. The island is low, well watered, and fertile, but it is inhabited by a race of cannibals of tbe lowest order. The schooner's crew consisted of 1 8 officers and A.B.s included, two firstclass passengers and 59 coloured labourers, bound for AustiaMa. The Eliza Mary encountered a series of violent gales which slowly drov6 her -towards Maliicolo island in spite of the efforts made by the officers and crew of the schooner to beat ciear of the island. At last the raging surf beating upon the reefs off the island was distinctly heard by the terrorstricken passengers and the struggling crew of the illftid ciafr. Finally the situation became so desperate that four white men and 48 of i he coloured labourers sprang into the sea and swam for the shore. A crowd of cannibals were by this time gathered on tbe beach watching the struggles of tbe storm-beaten schooner. As tbe men swam ashore /from the Eliza Mary they were apparently cordially welcomed by the inhabitants, of Maliicolo island, and were it appears, invited to a * feast,' but the half drowned men were no sooner among the natives than they were killed and eaten amid horrible scenes of cannibalistic rejoicing. One man managed to escape, and succeeded in swimming back to the schooner, and owing to a blessing of Providence, the wind changed slightly and enabled the Eliza Mary to beat clear of the reefs and put to sea.