A FATAL MUTINY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2444, 18 January 1881, Page 3

A FATAL MUTINY.

The following additional particulars concerning the seizure of the Schooner Harmonia in the South Seas are telegraphed from Auckland :—The schooner was, at the time of the seizure by the mutineers, trading off Danger Island. Captain Ellacott was ashore, and the mate cook, and four native seamen were aboard. On December 7th, the captain sent a boat off with eopra, expressing his intention of coming on board and going to Massan Island. On the boat reaching' the ship, it was hoisted up, and the vessel stood to sea, to the captain’s astonishment. Five of the crew were drugged with gin, and on awaking found the island out of sight, and the vessel bound for Valparaiso, The natives dissatisfied, conspired to overpower the mute and conk. At night they slacked the jib halyard, and while the cook went forward to attend it, they attacked him and the mate repeatedly. Field, the cook, died of the injuries received in the struggle, and Stoller was bound hand and foot. The natives then steered back for Danger Island, and on December 10th, three days after their departure the island was once more sighted. Those on shore observed the vessel, and when she came close thej' made her out to be the Hammonia. Captain Ellacott procured a canoe and proceeded on board, accompanied by James Foster Harper a resident who trades therefor Henderson and McFarlane of Auckland, aud found the schooner in charge of the crew, and the mate bound with ropes. The crew made a statement similar in effect to the foregoing, and it was entered on the vessel’s log by Captain Ellacott, and witnessed by Harper. On the following day the mate sickened and died delirious, and was buried at sea. An enquiry into the deaths of the mate and cook was held at Earatonga on 24th December, the principal European residents being present. The Hammonia is a fore-and-aft schooner, of 62 tons, flying the Bora Bora flag, and owned by Captain Ellacott.