THE MASSACRE ON BOARD THE BOREALIS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2088, 2 November 1880, Page 3

THE MASSACRE ON BOARD THE BOREALIS.

fPBB PEESS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WIBB.I AUCKLAND, November 1. Particulars of the massacre on board the Auckland brigantino Borealio at Fiji are at follows:—On Monday, 13th September, the Borealis was lying outside a small island called TJru, situated in a deep bight formed by the mainland, and separated from it by a channel about half a mile broad. ' About seven o'clock in the morning a boat, with Captain McKenzie, Mr Hankin, Government agent, one European and two Fijians as boat's crew, left the vessel for the purpose of recruiting, leaving on board Daniel Creemer, first mate, James Malherward, Wm. Kerstar, A B.; Wm. McKenzie, the captain's son; Wm. Edward Huntley, apprentice; Geo. Ward, steward ; and Johnny, a Fijian. When he left the vessel the captain states that there were but six islanders aboard. He gave strict instructions to the first mate to keep a sharp look out against a surprise. After being ashore for about three-quarters of an hour he heard screams, and immediately returned to the vessel. The recruits and interpreter at once jumped over from the boat, and on getting within hail he found the ship in poßßeasion of the natives, and was saluted with a shower of arrows and spears. He could see none of the vessel's people. Having made every effort to re-take her until ammunition ran short, and while at the same time canoes were rapidly approaching from the mainland, he determined to pull for Sua Bay, about forty-five miles to leeward, where he hoped to find some other vessels anchored. He arrived some time after midnight, and found the schooners Flirt, Dauntless and Stanley there. . Ban alongside the Flirt, which quickly communicated with the other vessels, and all made sail for the scene of the disaster. Half a gale of wind was blowing dead ahead at the time, and progress ■was slow. The Stanley arrived first, on the afternoon of the 15th. They found Ward, the steward, terribly wounded, but still alive, in the captain's cabin, but the bodies of the other men were not seen. The decks on both sides showed evidence of sanguinary work, and a portion of an arm was found in the scupper. The ship was gutted from stem to stem, and chopped and hacked about in every direction. Everything lying on deck had been thrown overboard, and the stores and provisions broken open and scattered about the decks. As the Stanley's boats came alongside the Natives were seen attempting to escape from the island, and were at once pursued and four captured. The prisoners—two men, one woir.an, and a boy—are now on board the Stanley, and will be brought to Levuka. The steward's narrative is as follows: —After the captain left the vessel all hands wore engaged setting up the rigging and putting the ship in order after the bad weather. He was occupied in the galley. He saw some people arriving, but paid no attention to them till, while he was stooping, he heard a signal given and heard the rush on the other men, and saw a Native aim a blow at his head with a tomahawk. He partially dodged the blow, but reoeived a fearful gash on the side of the head. It staggered him, but before it could be repeated he aimed his revolver, and shot the man who wounded him. He then tried to fire another shot, but found that some one had emptied all the other chambers. He then seized a large knife, and fought his way outside. He found about eighty men. on deok, " evidently having despatched the crew, as he saw none of them amongst the crowd. He defended himself with his knife until he received a cut from a tomahawk on each arm, which completely disabled him, when he was knocked down the main hatch. He contrived to creep into the half empty water tank, where he remained for upwards of three hours, until the natives deserted the vessel. He then orawled on deok, where he saw the bodies of all the murdered men except the young apprentice and Fijian, both of whom he supposed were killed in the fore part of the vessel. He managed to crawl into the captain's cabin, where he bolted himself in, and remained for three days, until relieved by the people from the Stanley. During the interval the natives repeatedly visited the ship. They broke in the head of the tank whioh formed his first hiding place, and aotually smashed the skylight in the roof of the captain's cabin, but being a thick deck the light still hung together, and prevented their discovering him. His escape seems nothing short of a miracle, sinoe had they attacked the cabin door with tomahawks

nothing could have caved the poor fellow'B life. iJappsij, when the door is closed, it appears to be part of the main cabin wall, and to this fortunate ciroamstance he doubtless owe* his preservation. No reason whatever beyond the thirst for blood and plunder can be assigned for the attack. From the island 900 recruits have been taken during the present year, and it has been looked upon as the safest cruising ground. The Dauntless and Flirt arrived soon after the Stanley, and each lent hands to bring tbe Borealis back to port. Mr Hutchinson, first mate of the Stanley, was transferred from that vessel to the Borealis. The steward, George Ward, whose life was so miraculously preserved, is rapidly recovering.