ATTACKED BY SAVAGES.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 407, 1 October 1875, Page 3

ATTACKED BY SAVAGES.

The Maryborough Chronicle (Queensland) has the following :—“ The schooner Stanley reports a fracas at Lepers Island. Two of her boats had been engaged during Tuesday, July 13, trading along the N. W. coast, but had not secured any recruits. About halfpast 4 p.m., when the boats were about a quarter of a mile apart, but not in sight of each other, and the vessel lying about a mile from shore, two islanders volunteered for Queensland. The boat was accordingly taken in, and the two boys came on board, accompanied by three friends, who were apparently desirous of seeing their kinsmen off. The boat was manned by four islanders, Mr Crank, supercargo, and Mr Money and Dr Arclidale, passengers. A third boy expressed a wish to join the recruits, but the other islanders objected to his leaving the island. In the altercation which ensued among the natives the boat was surrounded. Suddenly, at some pre-arranged signal, an attack was made on the men in the boat. Messrs Money, Archdale, and the boat’s crew were thrown down. Mr Crank dodged the blow of a tomahawk aimed at his head, and received the blow on his shoulder. It, however, inflicted no greater injury than a severe bruise. With admirable presence of mind he used his fists to good advantage, knocking the two newly-acquired recruits from the boat into the water, their three friends taking a “ header” after them. By this time one of the boat’s crew who had been knocked down and had his thumb cut off in the struggle, regained his feet, and, raising his musket, shot one of the natives. Messrs Crank, Money, and Archdale also managed to get their revolvers, and fired upon the savages. In the momentary panic which ensued, Messrs Crank and Money pulled for the schooner, Dr Archdale standing in the stern and keeping the enemy at bay with his revolver. The boat was, however, followed by flights of arrows, and on coming alongside, over a dozen were found in the bottom, and several sticking in the sides. It is believed that two natives were killed, and others wounded. Of those in the boat, Mr Crank received an arrowwound in the hand. One of the boat’s crew

was tomahawked on both hands, and had his thumb cut completely off; another was tomahawked on the head, the skull being slightly penetrated. A Futuna man was injured in the head, and a Tanna man ha I a large bone-headed arrow driven right through the flesh part of his arm. Fortunately, the schooner carried a medical man, and to the remedies promptly applied, most of the wounded men probably owe their lives. There is a great deal of sickness at the islands just now, mostly dysentery and measles, and the belief—not an unreasonable one—is -said to have gained ground amongst the islanders, that these diseases have been introduced among them by the white men. Hence great difficulty in encountered in recruiting, and to this cause may be attributed the murder of Commodore Goodenough, as w’ell as this unprovoked attack on the Stanley’s crew.