WHITE CLIFFS MASSACRE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 660, 1 March 1869, Page 3

WHITE CLIFFS MASSACRE.

The Taranaki Herald, Feb. 20, supplies full particulars of the recent massacre at the White Cliffij. We extract as follows : FINDING THE BODIES. At about 6 a.m. on Wednesday, (17th), the forces started for the White Cliffs, for the purpose of disinterring the bodies and bringing them to town. The boat was sent on under the charge of Captain Hoiford, Harbor Master, and a crew of the Lighter Company's service, and arrrived at about a quarter past 8 a.m. The body of the Rev. John Whiteley was first seen. He was lying on his face, a few yards from his dead horse. His coat and waistcoat were gone, and one leg was doubled under him. He had five bullet wounds; and must have been killed by a volley fired from some bushes to his right, as he was going towards the blockhouse. They next disinterred the family of the Gascoignes. Lieutenant Gascoigne's face had marks of bruises on it, and his head had four deep tomahawk wounds on the back of it. Mrs Gascoigne had two tomahawk wounds at the back of her head, and the left side of her fac9 much bruised, as though she had been beaten with the clenched fist of a man. The skin was off her knees, showing that her body must have been dragged along the ground. The third finger of hor left hand had been chopped, and the wedding ring taken therefrom. The body of the eldest girl, Laura, had a mark as if something had been drawn tightly round the body ; and two wounds at the back of the head. The boy Cecil John Gascoigne had three wounds on the back of his head, and the baby, Louisr Annie, had its head nearly severed from its body. While these bodies were being disinterred, Major Stapp, Dr O'Carroll others were looking about for the bodies of the wounded men Dr O'Carroll went into a whare near where the redoubt formerly stood and here he saw the remains of two cats and a dog. They were all tomahawked. He then went to where the redoubt stood, but could discover no signs of any bodies being buried there. On his going down the road which leads to the beach, he saw the body of a man. He then informed Major Stapp and having got a covering party, he went further on and found the bodies of the two men, lying dead—one-a little in advance of the other. Theone nearest the redoubt was Edward Richards, who. appeared to have been hit by a long tomahawk, as he was in the act of running away. He was dressed, but his cap was off his head and was lying a few feet from him. About eighteen yards from him the body of John Milne was found, and underneath his body was a part of the handle of a tomahawk. Dr O'Carroll then went on the beach where, he says he saw several naked footmarks in the sand. THE FUNEEAL. At about three o'clock, the time appointed for the funeral, the settlers met at the foot of Mount Eliot. The bodies were prepared for burial immediately after they had been viewed by the jury. The following is a list of the names and ages of the deceased, as they appeared on the platea fixed to the coffins:— Rev. John Whiteley, aged 62 years John Milne, aged 40 years Edward Richards, aged 35 year* Bamber Gascoigne, aged 38 years Annie Gascoigne, aged 27 years Laura Gascoigne, aged 5 years Cecil John Gascoigne, aged 3 years Louisa AHnie Gascoigne, 3 months The bodies of Milne and Richards were put into the first conveyance, and covered with a union jack. The chief mourners, Skinner and Gutterman, wore comrades of the diseased. In the next carriage was placed the family of the Gascoignes, followed by Major Stapp, Captain Messenger, Ensign Hursthouse, and Assistant-Sur-geon P. J. O'Carroll. The hearse containing the body of the late Rev. John Whiteley, then followed, the chief mourners being Dr Rawson and other male rela« tives of the rev. gentleman. The pro* cession then fell-in, the following order:— The Civilian Settlers. The Taranaki Light Infantry Volunteers. The Militia. The Taranaki Cavalry Volunteers. The 18th Royal Irish. There must have been over a thousand persons in the procession. The public offices and the bank, besides the stores in town were all closed; and the ensign at the signal station raised halfmast till after the funeral.