REPORTED POISONING & MASSACRE AT YORK ISLAND.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 915, 31 May 1877, Page 3

REPORTED POISONING & MASSACRE AT YORK ISLAND.

A strange story lias been brought by the schooner Helena, from the islands, which hag caused considerable concern in Auckland, where a great deal of interest is taken in the Wesleyan Mission established on the islands adjacent to New G-uinea by the Rev. G-eorge Brown. It appears that several months since a Q-erman trading vessel (name unknown), commanded by Captain Levinsohn, sailed for the Duke of York Island and the other islands adjacent to New G-uinea with traders for Goddefroi and Son, to bo established there. This vessel took to the Duke of York Island several wives of the teachers who had left Samoa at the instance of the Rev. Mr Brown to carry on the mission work amongst the savages of the islands of New Guinea. It is stated that ton teachers were left on Duke of York Island. Some months afterwards the agents of Messrs Goddefroi sent a second trading vessel, the schooner Helene, under Captain Brick, to see how the traders were getting on, and to bring back any copra they might have collected. On the 12th of April the Helene returned to Samoa, bringing the news that on Captain Levinsohn reaching Duke of York Island, some of the resident natives came off to the vessel and gave the women poisoned bananas, which caused their death. This is rather an extraordinary way of conveying poison, but such is the story. Further, it is said that, in retaliation, Captain Levinsohn fired on the natives, killing some of them. It was then supposed by those on board Captain Levinsohn's vessel that the natives murdered the German trader in the island, as he was not seen afterwards, and a great cannibal feast took place that day upon the beach. The Auckland Herald, having made inquiries as to these reports, believes that there was only one woman poisoned, a Samoan woman, the wife of a man belonging to New Zealand, named Jamieson, who for some time has been acting as agent for Messrs Goddefroi and Sons at New Ireland. Captain Levinsohn went to make enquiries about the giving of poisoned fruit to the Samoan woman; but the natives were very sulky, and pressed upon him and those who were with him so threateningly that they were compelled to fire upon them in self-defence. The natives then went and killed Jamieson. The native teachers at the Wesleyan mission station at the Duke of York Island have had a good deal of ailliction in the death of several of their wives, but they are full of hope, and are longing for the return of the Rev. Mr Brown.