Captain Cook’s Death.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1922, Page 3

Captain Cook’s Death.

XFAY VERSION I’UBLISHED. SYDNEY, August 16

An important manuscript has been purchased bv the Mitchell Library of Sydney, which, is the repository of many valuable papers hearing ou Australian history. . . , The new purchase is the original journal kept hv Lieutenant -Tames Burner on board H.M..S. Discovery, which was a companion ship to the Resolution, commanded by Captain James Cook, on the navigator s last vovage round the world. The journal hail never been published. Some now light is thrown upon the circumstances surrounding the death of Captain Cook which came about through the tneit of a cutter belonging to the Discovery, at Hawaii. Captain Cook went on shore to invite the king and his two sons to talk the matter over, and was returning to his boat with King TCerribo'- when lie was killed. ■ The journal, describing the incident, relates*tlmt “Captain Cook was about to irive orders for embarking when lie was"provoked by the insolence of a man armed with, a thick mat and a lone spike, at whom, lie fired with small shot which neither penetrated the mat

nor frightened the Indians, as was expected. Another man with an iron spike came near Mr Phillips, who, suspecting his intentions, drove him back with the liutt end of his musket. Two or three stones were thrown, ami one | of the marines was knocked down. Captain Cook, who had a double-barre - led gun, immediately fired with hall. The sergeant said he had shot- tic wroim man. on which he told the sergeant' to shoot the right one. The Indians gave a general volley of stones, and began to close, and Captain t ooi. thereupon gave the order for the marines to fire, which they did. among tl." crowd, and were seconded by the boats The Indians at first gave hack, hut directly after, before the marines ban time to load, again advanced. Oapta'" Cook called out to take the boats. I lie boat was near the shore, but distant from the rock where the marines stone ten or twelve yards, and this shon space was uneven, slippery rocks, so that being pressed upon in their retreat tliev were obliged to take to the water. Captain Cook, in coming down was struck behind by an Indian helm"; him with a staff, on which he turn" and heat the man hack with his musket. He was again followed, and rceived at the same instant a blow on the head and a stab with a spike in the neck, which tumbled him into the water. Being no swimmer, and stunned with the blow, he turned towards the shore again, and a number of the Indians surrounded and dragged mm th" rocks, where they heat and stall—'hi,,, i„ several places, snatching the daggers from each other out of eagerness to have their share in killing lum The whole o’f this affair, from - apt am Cook’s leaving the Resolution to the return of the boats, happened in the short space of an hour.