SEIZURE OF A SCHOONER.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2152, 18 January 1881, Page 3

SEIZURE OF A SCHOONER.

[PBBSS ASSOCIATION TBLEGSAM.] AUCKLAND, January 17.

The Ovalau brings news from Rarotonga of the seizure of the schooner Hammonia, at Fukapuku, by the mate Stoller and the cook Eitchet. The Hammonia was at the time of the seizure trading off Danger Islands. Captain Ellacott was ashore, and the mate, cook, and four native seamen were aboard. On December 7th the captain sent a boat off with copra, expressing his intention of coming on board and going to Nassau Island. On the boat reaching the ship it was hoisted up and the vessel stood to sea, to the captain’s astonishment. Five of the crew were drugged with gin, and on awaking found the island out of sight and the vessel bound for Valparaiso. The natives were dissatisfied, and conspired to overpower the mate and cook at night. They slacked the jib halyards, and while the cook went forward to attend to it, they attacked the mate and cook repeatedly. Fitohet, the cook, died of the injuries received in the struggll. Stoller was bound hand and foot with rope, and the Natives steered back for Danger Island. On December 10th, three days after their departure, the island was once more sighted. Those on shore observed the vessel, and when she came closer they made her out to be the Hammonia. Captain Ellacott procured a canoe, and proceeded on board, accompanied by Mr Harper, a resident, who trades there for Messrs Henderson and Macfarlane, of Auckland. They found the schooner in charge of the crew, and the mate bound with ropes. The crew made a statement similar in effect to the foregoing, and it was entered on the vessel's log by Captain Ellacott and witnessed by Harper. On the following day the mate sickened and died delirious, being buried at sea. An enquiry into the deaths of the mate and cook was held at Rarotonga on 24th December. Extracts from the log book similar in effect to the statement above were read, and the captain and crew were examined on oath, the evidence being consistent and corroborative.