ANOTHER MASSACRE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2211, 28 March 1881, Page 3

ANOTHER MASSACRE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

"The schooner Leslie, which arrived at Sydney on March 13th from the South Seas, reports another massacre. Captain Schwartz and a boat’s crew of the Leslie landed at Cape Marsh on one of the Solomon Group on the 19th February, for trading purposes. Towards evening those on board the schooner observed the boat returning lo the vessel, but without the master, and containing only five of the native crew. Simultaneously the natives were observed mustering on shore in hundreds and making hostile demonstrations. They fired at the vessel, and the crew returned the fire, when all the natives vanished into the scrub. The boat’s orow reported that Captain Schwartz had been killed by the natives, and as there was a possibility of recovering the body, the vessel got under weigh and was towed by the boats, the sea being calm at the time. The hostile natives however had such a supply of rifles and ammunition that the Leslie party were unable to approach the shore, and after a consultation between the mate and all hands on board, it was decided to proceed to Sydney. From the statements of the boat’s crow it appears that after Captain Schwartz left the schooner with his native crew, they pulled up an inlet and landed at Trader’s ) Village. Captain Schwartz and his native boy went ashore, and were soon surrounded by natives who had tomahawks. The captain sat down on a log of wood, and some high words ensued between himself and the chief of the tribe about his trade, the former using some expression to convey that ha would have some satisfaction from them, when be was struck on the head from behind by a savage with a tomahawk. This was the signal for a general onslaught, for as he threw up his hands a number of other blows were dealt by the savages, who soon despatched their defenceless victim. The savages rushed for the boat, but the native crow had regained it and pushed off. The savages pursued in a canoe, but one of the vessel’s crew presented a fowling-piece at them. They sent one shot at the boat, and then appeared to turn their attention to their victim, whose body they placed in a canoe, and hurried off with it to another part of the inlet. The captain, it seems, had previously been ashoro unmolested and was taken unawares.