NEWS FROM THE ISLANDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 42, 17 January 1884, Page 2

NEWS FROM THE ISLANDS.

Terrible Tragedy.

Shocking Massacre of Natives.

(by telegraph.) (united pb*ss association.) Auckland, January 15. Captain Hayward, of the Kate McGregor, which arrived to day from the Line Islands, reports that the Julia, a vessel of Honolulu, landed on the. island of Narouti, one of the Gilberfc Group, twenty to thirty returned people of Apiang and Tarawa, two islands south of the Equator m the same group. These -men were armed with Winchester repeating rifles, sixteen shooteis. From accounts Cap-i tain Hayward obtained, these Apiang and Tarawa men were constantly causing trouble, both at Honolulu and on board the ship, but on their first arrival on the Island they behaved themselves for a little while. Their ambition, however, became, awakened, and, knowing their power, they showed themselves m their tine colors. Ten young girls of very tender years were publicly ravished, and when two old men went to expostulate with Lhe ravishers they were shot down. Then followed a scene of butchery of a most revolting kind, meu, women and children sharing the same fate. Mothers cast their children- from them and,, with their husbands, took to small canoes, preferring t6 trust to the mercy of the- elements m tliesefrail vessels, than to the pitilessnesa of these fiends of their own race, for some natives of of Ramaufci had, through fear, joined the Apiang people, and, inflamed by drink, and emboldened by the possession of soine arras, prooured either with the consent or through the negligence! of a white trader; who said, on enquiry ■ "Yes, he had sonic guns, but they were iff an .old store, and probably would bt, given away by his brother-in-law." The same man said that there were eighteen killed to his knowledge, besides some who died ! in' the bush and weie eaten by dogs. The people who escaped after this encounl.er being m small canoes, without water and under a tropical sun» made their' way to Kurea and Apamama, where they heseeched Tinihunaka, the King, "to give them succor; also telling him; tliat certain subjects ot his own, who were on a visit, to. Nar-duti-along with a. missionary: and two white traders, were m constant danger, of their lives, if they were^'not already butchered. The King having a; ohartered vessel lying a.t Apamama, .re- ! quested the master to take off his peoj" pie to Narouti. The master, • .after some deliberation, and having received the King's promise that there should j be no bloodshed, but that the Chief Calicoa and his adherents should only be disarmed, considered it would save a great deal of bloodshed and murder acquiesced, and the vessel with Timbunaka on board arrived off' tfanvuti on the morning of December 6, and was -boarded by a canoe containing two men. These were taken on board by the King, were fed, and then entrusted with a message to Calicoa, to the effect that Timbunaka had not come to make war, but only to succor his people, and to disharm the murderers, and compel their good behaviour, ancVthat if they quietly laid down their Jarn^s, -no harm should come to them. At 4 a.m. on the 7th three boats were sent away from the Vessel, but, before a landing could be obtained a volley was fired. ait" them, which had the effect of killing" two and wounding one ' Apamama. The iKTQp'le then laniled and- requested those of Apianga to lay down their" arms. This demand was not compiled with, and a fight ensued, the result being that on the side of the Apianga. people seven were killed, including, two. killed m the boat, and nine wounded. Several prisoners were taken on to Apamama on Uie following day, and. amongst them was one Paulo, the se-. cond m command, and a notorious bloodthirsty man of a most repulsive; appearance. Mr Glecson gives full de-

tails of the shocking scenes enacted on the island by these returned labor people, who cume armed with Winchester repeaters. He states that if Timbunaka and his men had not come, the lives of the two European traders and the missionary would have been taken.