ATTACK ON A BOAT'S CREW BY APIAN NATIVES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 16 August 1880, Page 2

ATTACK ON A BOAT'S CREW BY APIAN NATIVES.

(IIY TUUiOUiAVII.)

AiTOKliANi\, August 16,

The Southern Cross, from Fiji, brings news of a iu\tiyo attack on tho uohoonor Lovuku on tho 15th ulfc. Sho had on board ono nativo of Apia, Now Hebrides, who waa to bo loft at homo on tho way, tlio vossol boing bound for Solomon's

Island with seventy-three time-expired laborers. The ship's boat went ashore in charge of Nichols, the Government Agent Stewart Fraser, and a crew of Solomon Islanders. The natives seemed friendly and warned Nichols not to go to th' village or up the coast, as thore had boon a skirmish with some Frenchmen thoro shortly before. Ho was, howovor, told h 0 might go to a nearer place, and thinking it desirable to make inquiries, on arriving at the spot indicated the boat was grounded on the beach, none of its occupants quitting it. Suddenly about 100 guns loaded with ball were fired at the boat, killing Stowart Fraser, the mate, who was shot to the heart, four bullets having passed through him. Mr. Nichols was hit by five bulletlj one through tho shoulder and two through each leg. One of the crow of the boat a Solomon Islander, had one of his thiU bones shattered by a bullet, and he i* now lying in tho Hospital, Lovuka, in a hopeless condition. Tho Fijian (Johnny) had two bullots through one log, other two Solomon Islanders who wore in the boat jumped overboard, and swam towards the vessel, and tho Apia natives then rushed towards the boat, evidently with a view of capturing its The only fire-arm in the boat was 4 Snider rifle. As tho place was so wollknown to recruits as one accessible fop obtaining wood and water, tho groat majority of the natives speaking English or Fijian, no danger was apprehendod. On the Apian natives approaching the boat, the Fijian boy Johnny, half wounded though he was, jumped out, seizod tho rifle, and fired without aiming. Thij stopped tho rush, and tho Fiji boy thon single-handed, shoved the boat from the shore amidst a shower of bullots, an<£ sculled her towards the vessel. Captain Jones at once bore up for Havannah Harbor for assistance and advice from the white residents thoro.