A PLUCKY FIJIAN BOY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 194, 16 August 1880, Page 2

A PLUCKY FIJIAN BOY.

Auckland, Monday. The Southern Cross from Fiji briuga news of a native attack on the schooner Levuka on the 15th. She had ou board one native of Apia, New Hebrides, who was to be left at home on the way, (he vessel being bound for Solomon's Islaud with 73 time-expired laborers. The ebip'a boat went asliore in charge of Nichols, the Government Agent, Stewart, Erazer, and a crew of Solomon Islanders. The natives seemed friendly, and warned Nichols not to go to the village or up the coast, as there had been skirmishes with some Frenchmen shortly before. He was, however, told he might go to a nearer place, and, thinking it desirable to make enquiries, he went, and on arriving at the spot indicated the boat was grounded ou the beach, none of i(s occupants quitting it. Suddenly about 100 guns loaded with ball were fired at the boat, killiug Stewart, Eraser, and the mate (shot through the heart) four bullets having passed through him. Mr Nichols was hit by five bullets, one through the shoulder and two through each leg. One of * the crew of the boat (a Solomon Islander) ' had one of his thigh bones shattered by n bullet, and he is now lying in the hospital at Levuka in a hopeless condition ; the Fijian (Johnny) had two bullets through one leg. The other two Solomon islanders who were in the boat jumped overboard and swam towards the vessel, and the Apia natives then rushed towards the boat, evidently with the view of capturing it and its occupants. The only firearm in the boat was a Snider, as, the place being well known as one accessible for obtaining wood and water, and the great majority of the natives speaking English or Fijian, no danger was apprehended. On the Apian natives approaching the b<-at, the Fijian boy Johnny, half wounded though he was, jumped up and seized the rifle and fired without aiming. This stopped the rush, and the Fijian boy then, single handed, shoved the boat from the shore amidst a shower of bullets and sculled her towards the vessel. Captain Jones at once hove up for Havannah harbor for assistance and advice from the white residents there. . j