THE DOVE EXPEDITION TO NEW GUINEA.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1567, 26 February 1879, Page 4

THE DOVE EXPEDITION TO NEW GUINEA.

Respecting the loss of tho schooner Dove I which left Melbourne for New Guinea in August last, wo extract the following particulars from the “Japan Gazette”: — That journal, hi its issue of 17th December, states that tiie little vessel was provitioned for six months, and sailed from Melbourne on the 3rd August, B-fore sailing, Mr Alexander M'Leod j m ed the party as a passenger. The proppcctims had every requisite with them necessary f . r tho expedition they were bound upon, and left. Melbourne full of hope and courage for the comparatively unknown, inhospitable, and unhealthy country of New Guinea. The little craft'made fair progress, and behaved handsomely when struck with a thunder squall on the night of the llth. The darkness was intense, and rendered all the more so hv cccosional flashes of the most vivid lightning, which for the instant lighted up the vessel, and then left the mariners in greater darkness than before, Although severe, tho atom wus not of long duration, and the Dove was found afterwards to be nothing the worse for it. After a good passage of twentyfive days, tho schooner entered the Gulf of Astrolabe, and cast anchor in Port Constantine, on the north-eastern part of Now Guinea. Hero preparations were made for prospecting. Thirteen of the adventurers armed themselves, not only with rifl s and revolvers to protect themselves against any treacherous attack from the natives, but with picks and shovels, and the usual outfit of a digger, and went to seek for the precious metal they had come so far for. Their search was unsuccessful, and so they determined to return to the vessel ar d try their luck elsewhere. A number of the natives were seen, but they were perfectly friendly. On the 9th September, the Dove’s anchor was raised, and with a fair breeze her head was pub to the north-eastern entrance of the gulf, casting anchor among the detached group of isiands not far from the mainland. Five men here went out in a boat to endeavour to find a river, as well as to see if the country looked inviting for prospecting. Not finding any rivor, and not liking the look of the country, the explorers returned to the Dove. Here again the natives appeared and proved to be very friendly, trading freely, exchanging pigs, oocoanuts, potatoes, bananas, and other fruit and vegetables, for old hoop iron (which savages are proverbially very fond of), beads and sucti like trinkets. On the 12th the vessel proceeded on her way along the coast. Shortly after leaving, their troubles commenced, and five of the men fell sick with fever. The vessel’s head was put to the north, in anticipation of falling in with a river, or at all events a good harbor, where they might safely remain and recruit. However, the sickness of the men increased until all hands, the captain as well ns the rest, were laid up. Unable to manage ths v-s*el, her sails were clewed up, and she lay to for a fortnight, during which time two of the men succumbed to the fever, and were buried by their comrades in the deep, Thefi'Stman who died was Ge-Tee Wilcox who departed this life on the 23rd September, and was followed by Arthur Stephens on tho 2Gth. Although all hands were sick, three or four were not altogether disabled and Captain Rennie managed to keep tho reckoning. These men now exerted themselves, and got the schooner under way once more, steering for Threshold Bay, where they expected to get some assistance, at it was known that some Malays resided there, looking after the interests of some Dutch traders. The day before th>y arrived there another man, John Kellott, waa buried. On casting anchor in Threshold Bay, the Malaya and natives came on board to trade. Finding tho helpless condition of the crew, the natives p'anned an attack upon the vessel, which they cnvr ; ed into execution on the second night. Fearing no treachery, and exhausted by aickmss and fatigue, the crew were in their bunks seeking rest, when, about two o’clock in the morning, they were aroused to a sense of their danger by the barking and yelling of some dogs chained forward. The natives had come cautiously upon the vessel, and clambered over the bows without being seen, but as soon as they set foot upon the deck tho dogs barked furiously, and were at once attacked by the natives with spears. Hearing the noise, and having an instinctive knowledge of the cause of it, those men who were able to raise a rifle or point a revolver, at once rushed on deck, and a furious struggle ensued. The dusky outlines of a number of the naked cannibals wore observed forward, and formed marks for the rifles and revolvers of the diggers, while the air was rent with their savage yells. For about five minutes it was uncertain which way the tide of battle would flow, as the natives hurl d spears and shot arrows with great rapidity and force. A spear penetrated the fl shy part of the mate’s arm, passing through it and entering his side. However, tho natives retired with a yell, leaving tho prospectors masters of the field. Thankful for their escape, and considering tho place unsafe for a further stay, sail wus set, and tho Dove proceeded to sea. It was anticipated that there were about fifteen canoes engaged in the attack, each holding from four to six men, though probably not more than a doz-n men boarded tho schooner. To make more sure of their intended victims, the savages had despatched a canoe in advance of the main party, with the object of scuttling the vessel On arriving alongside, these worthies attempted to make a hole in the schooner, close to the water’s edge, and it was found out the next day that they had nearly accomplished their purpose. Once more at sea, the distressed mariners steered their little bark tor Amboina, which is situated on the north-west of New Guinea. Soon after sailing it was found that the schooner was leaking very badly, and an examination of the cause proved that she was worm eaten, a consequence of the men being too sick to clean her bottom. On the 2nd November, the Dove was in Manipi or Boura Strait, about forty miles from Amboina. Head winds and strong currents, however, made progress impossible, and though the few men able to do any work were kept at the pumps, it, became apparent, to all that the leak was gaining on them. On the 9t,h the welcome sight of a sail was observed in the distant h rizon. The Dove’s longboat was got ready, manned, and started to intercept the vessel. With animus hearts the men pulled for four long hours, and tlun were rewarded by being seen. The ship thus intercepted proved to be the Sir Lancelot, bound from London to Japan. The sorrowful story of the distressed men was told in a f' w words, and the captain of the Sir Lancelot agreed to carry all the men and their effects to his port of destination. The Dove was brought alongside the Sir Lancelot, and the goods and chattels of the unfortunate prospectors being taken on board, she was left in a sinking condition, with 2ft. of water in her hold. “ The Sir Lancelot then headed for Yokohama, the captain tending the rick men from his private medical stores, and the crow willingly made room for them. Under this kind treatment most of the men began to revive, though on the 25th November another of the sick men, Charles Greenwood, succumbed, and wus buried at sea. The Sir Lancelot made slow progress, owing to the light winds and calms, but on the llth December Japan was sighted, on the 14th the pilot came on board, and on the 16th she arrived in harbor. Mr Rennie, in a letter dated Yokahama, 17th December, and addressed to a relative in Melbourne, says:— This letter will surprise you, I dare say, coming from this quarter of the world, I will not write much on our late expedition. It proved unsuccessful, as you will see by the newspaper I shall send along with this letter. You will be able to jucl e of our sufferings, although tho editor of the paper does not magnify over what our real position or state was. I may state that I have been one of two of the strongest of our party, although by far the most exposed. 1 was able to navigate the craft and keep a rough journal all the time, with the exception of one day, when I was very feverish and weak. Mr Bull has been down most of tho time, and was sent to the hospital yesterday along with other four, one of whom is very ill. I did not expect that he would see Yokohama, but he is a little better to-day. Bull and the

Ollier three are not seriously ill ; they are weak, and have a shake, and are feverish occasionally. The cold weather here, with a good supply of fresh food, is bracing us up fast. The people in Yokohama have been very kind to us. I expect to bo hero about a month; then the consul may send us to Australia, where we came from.