NATIVE OUTRAGES IN FIJI

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 969, 4 September 1871, Page 3

NATIVE OUTRAGES IN FIJI

MURDER OF MESSRS M'INTOSH AND -.„•;,-... , SPIERS. The following particulars of the taxxcder of the above-named gentlemen are taken from the Fiji Gazette: — July 10. 'It is with very painful feelings I write to give you the particulars of the horrible deaths of M'lntosh and Spiers, who were barbarously murdered by the mountaineers on the bank of the river yesterYesterday morning the deceased gentlemen, in a boat, proceeded up the river to a small spot they had often visited before to fish, accompanied by three Solomon 'Islanders, their servants. During the afternoon they were beckoned to the •shore by a party of natives, who invited them to land and have some food. As ■■ they »had often met these natives before to buy yams and taro from them, sometimes to the number of 200, and having no suspicion of treachery, they went to the Bhore and lauded, Mr M'lutosh taking with him his gun, and Mr Spiers leaving his in the boat. TBe three Solomon . Island men remained in the boat where the unfortunate gentlemen landed. The ... bank of the river is steep, but they ascended it, and soon - disappeared from . vie w , of the boat. Almost immediately afterwards the report of a gun was heard, ..and,. the men left the boat to see what the firing was, and no sooner mounted the bank, than they saw their masters lying on the ground, and the natives dancing around them, one having Mr M'lntosh 's shirt and gun in his hand. The wretches then made a rush for the boat, but the "Solomon Islanders were 1 too quick for them, and on having gained it, took up Mr Spiers' gun and presented it at them. It was not loaded, nor capped, neverthe- * less the mountaineers would not face it, turned tail and ran away. The boat then returned, and the men related the sad news. Immediately on having heard of the horrible deed, accompanied by six whites, and a number of Fijimen, I proceeded up the river to search for the bodies. On arriving at Mr Burn's plantation, 1 met some Fijimen carrying the remains of Mr M'lntosh, tied up' in leaves, and slung | to a pole. They laid the corpse down, and we examined it. There was a large j gash on the left side s of the head, at the back of the ear, and a piece cut out of the left cheek. Two shot wounds were in the body, and the arms and legs had been cutoff? The body was cut through at the small of the back, from which the bowels were protruding. There were some entrails, bits of flesh, and a piece of bone from the shoulder-blade, separate. And these were strewn on the ground. All the clothes and the gun had been taken away, We • than proceeded to the scene of the murder and found Mr Spiers' body lying on the ground. The unfortunate gentleman had evidently been clubbed ; the back part of his head was quite soft, and the skull broken to pieces, 1 think after he was dead they cut his throat and took out the windpipe and tongue, for we found them lying on the ground near the bodies. His right arm and thumbs were much cut, and his ' legs cut off at the hips. 1 He also had a shot wound in the shoulder. They had taken everything but his shirt, and the rest of his clothes were, gone. The ground on which the murders were committed was where Messrs Oliver and M'lntosh had often been before to buy yams and taro, and had met them there in hundreds, always in the most friendly way. It was purchased by Messrs M'lntosh, Spiera and Co., some time since, and was on the boundary of Muir and <; Connolly's land. On the latter land we found scattered a quantity of entrails and bones. These we collected, and buried under a mound the jnuideTers had : raised to bark 1 the spot. The bodies we brought down to M'lntosh and Perkins' plantation. We held an inquest over them, and buried them in one • grave. We have written to Tavua and Nandj Bay to ask assistance to search out, anc punith these dreadful murderers, for non< <: < & j u# feef safe.' They 'told I ' Mr Burns whom they threatened to attack, as hehai a large quantity, of goods and no house t( leave them in, that there was no notici taken of their murder of Mr Baker, anc they had no fear of doing; the same again We hope you will do what you can t< enli»fc-»ympathy for us, and get some as sistance from Levuka. The greatest ex citement prevails. Taißau has .promisee to send men to catch the murderers, if h< has the co-operation pf the white men The natives say that they are only & smal tribe, and could easily be taken. The] also say that they are the same men tha killed Baker.