ISLAND MURDERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 502, 2 November 1909, Page 3

ISLAND MURDERS.

Sydney, October 30,

Another tragedy occurred in the Solomon Islands, where natives attacked the station of Captain Joe Buiskie, a wellknown trader,murdered his native wife and a family of young children, and looted the station during Captain Buiskie’s absence. Steps have been taken to punish the murderers. Three natives ftwo men and a woman) attached to the station were also massacred.

Captain Buiskie’s station is situated on the Island of Baggabagga. The outlaw chief Eito and a band of natives as desperate as himself was responsible for the massacre. The murderers came from the mainland in boats laden with copra, ostensibly to trade. They murdered all on the Island except ten, who swam to the mainland and gave the alarm. A missionary, the Rev. Nicholson, with a body of friendly armed natives, crossed to the Island, but the murderers had gone, A gruesome sight ’ here presented itself. The bodies of the victims were terribly mangled. Mrs Buiskie was killed in the water, and the body washed away. Eito is a terror to white traders in the Western Solomons. It is stated that he has resolved to exterminate not only all the Europerms but the native women who ally themselves with whites. He has threatened the Rev. Nicholson many times.

GERMAN EXPLORER MURDERED.

Sydney, October 30,

News from the Islands states that the German explorer, Dammkohlar, and a companion were prospecting for gold in German New Guinea, when natives surprised the camp and fatally speared Dammkohlar and wounded his companion, who escaped. The two shot down 15 natives before being overcome. A punitive force has been sent to punish the murderers.

Dammkohler and his companion, Oldorp, penetrated 200 miles up the Markham river. Running short of stores they despatched their native carriers for fresh supplies. They were attacked while these were absent. Oldorp put up a desperate fight after his companion was killed. He was wounded, and after suffering great hardships, managed to make his way down the river on a raft to the settlement at Finchaven.