MURDERS BY THE NATIVES OF SANTA CRUZ.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 55, 6 October 1864, Page 3

MURDERS BY THE NATIVES OF SANTA CRUZ.

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE BISHOP OF MELANESIA. By the Southern Cross, which arrived in harbor yesterday, we have the following account of an attack made upon Bishop Patterson, by the natives of Santa Cruz Island, and the death of two of the crew from wounds there inflicted: — The Southern Cross left Auckland for the South Sea Islands on May 10th, calling at Norfolk Island on the way, where she arrived on the 17th, and left again on the 18th May for Erromanga. Anchored in Dillon Bay on the 23rd, and took in provisions, &c. (sent from Sydney to meet her), which were kindly stored by Mr. Henry. Left Erromanga on the following day, and anchored in Port Patteson, Banks Islands, on the 27th. The day after leaving New Zealand had a sharp and short north-easter, and before reaching Norfolk Island strong winds from N. and W., the fine weather being with winds in S.W. and S.E. quarters. On the edge of the tropics strong S.W. and S.E. winds with thick weather and rain. The flrstjthree weeks in June were spent in visiting the New Hebrides and Banks Islands ; the weather generally fine, but with several interruptions to the trade wind, on one occasion for nearly five days. On the 25th June left Port Patteson for Curtis Island, Australia ; anchored in Keppel Bay on 2nd July, having carried a brisk trade across. Left Eeppel Bay on the 11th ; had thick dirty weather fill clear of the Barrier Reefs, and a very protracted passage to the Solomon Islands ; for a great part of the way light W. and S.W. winds. Arrived at Ulaua on the 2oth July, and visited the different islands as far aB Isabel to the north-west. . There was one American whaler reported by the natives at anchor at Makira Harbor, San Cristoval, and called by them Oneka. Very unpleasant thick weather at north-west part of Indispensable Straits. In . the channel between Isabel and Florida found an unusually -strong set to the Straits Solitary "Roci : or Islet,- which lies near midchannel, should be avoided, as the tide (?) sweeps by or on it, at say' two knots per hour.. The 'Southern Cross was some time inj drawingaway from it with light winds. „ i From Isabel proceeded to the Santa Cruz Islands, arriving off, Santa> Cruz .qn the 13th, having Scarcely had any trade wind all the way, but light . 'N. E.- and northerly airs with hot <jlose weather. J Remained two days off the north-west part of Sarita'Gruz. ; On the Ist, -it being Sunday, daUe.d.^jiosdy>:.along, heaving? to occasionally ioff iihe different viUages^iwhicli afeiere both niuneijouß- and'?populous ; many canoes t following, as many- as 50 at« tinie aboat the vessel, ail merry • and good-humoured.. , : . On ? Monday; morning,- the lsth 'Augujjt,) Bishop, Tatteson as^ usual in^his^^>oa£*to visit , tte*"3iHerenV*villa§eßr where he had met with ...a very, friendly. .reception, two years bofdre ; the Southern r Ott»s ' folWing i •' . *

■• along shore. \ Having spent the!foretioon\in this manner, they arrived at the laßt village on^the north-west coast,. -at. the entrance to Graciosaj Bay, where Bishop Patteson— who had already] landcdlit Two" populous^ villages— "again "went onj shore, wading some distance over tllfi reof, /un- s covered at low water, the boat,. "as. :usual in suchj cases, lying off. . Notlcss" than 200 to_4pQ natives -were assembled^ "in J : about ■ lfalf-an hour the Bishop returned tp^the boat,- without, a^s^ot sub- , pecting'anyuriffiendinesß'bn'tJie'part of- the natives/ •'-But', 1 on the 1 - boat' atteinpting, tp 'pull out,; several'; natives who We're : swimhiihg" round her, 1 'attempted li i& hold and drag Oier ■-'back, while others on the reef, close at hand", ; menaced them with theirbows/ andj on the men, in -ths water being- obliged to let.go.as the boat^ gathered way.j those, on. the reef commenced shooting, and very* quickly tlirce of tKe crew were struck, viz., E. JPearce, in chest „ (disabled .at once) ; Edwin Nobbs, in cheek, and Fisher Young through the wrist • (both, however, managed to pull till the sail was hoisted). The natives now gave chase in their canoes, shooting repeatedly, And shouting to others wlio were returning from the schooner to cut them off, which they endeavoured to do. At length, getting into the breeze, Bishop Patteson was enabled to make sail- and -so reach the vessel. No cause can be assigned for the above attack; alt having been civil and apparently friendly up'to the time of Bishop Patteson's getting into the boat, The wounds of Fisher Young and Edwin Nobbs appeared slight in themselves, and for a few days seemed to do well, but in the case of F. Young symptoms' of lockjaw soon appeared, of which he died on the 22nd" of August. He tins buried at Port Patterson. In E.'Nobbs's' caso^ ; the s>me symptoms did not present themselves for severaldays after this, and were less, acute. He died on the sth September, and vfas buried at sea. E. Pearcc's would is nearly well: Previous to this melancholy affair it had been Bishop Patteson's intention to have visited the Reef Island, north of Santa Cruz, which had now to be given up, as well as any other plans which may have been formed, and the return voyage immediately commenced. Arrived at Banks's Island on the 20th, much retarded by -lightfe and variable airs. Found the half of the Bonny Doon, whaler, of Sydney, Captain Francis lying high and dry on RowO Eecf — a dangerous reef lying five miles north of Vanua Lava, the largest of the Bank's Islands. They had called at these island to get pigs and yams previous to proceeding to the wlinlr g ground, and were lo3t on this reef on the night of the sth July. All hands were saved, together with most of the provisions, ,the boats, &c, her whaling casks.&c,. anchors and cables still in her. The master and twelve of the crew left in one of their boats sopn after for Espiritu Santo, sending up the trader Sea Gull, in which the mate and fourteen more ofthe crew left. The second mate, five white men, and two Solomon lads were still living at the . neighbouring island of Valua when the Southern Cross arrived there on August 21st. The natives have treated them very kindly. One man, G. Wood, came on in the Southern Cross to New Zealand The remander preferred waiting the next trader's arrival to the offer of a passage to the nearest port of call. Having collected the scholars, &c, the Southern Cross left the Banks' Island on the 25th of August for the New Hebrides, and having to work down for the most part against a fiery breeze, did not get away from the latter till the 31st. The wind then being far to the southward, obliged her to go as far cast as 173 ° before any southing could be made, and even then Norfolk Island,— which under the peculiar eirurnstances, Bishop Patteson wa§ especially deisreous of visiting, — was not made, and on the continuaneof baffling winds the attempt to reach it. was given up, and advantage taken of a leading wind (it being still necessary to lose no time in getting to New Zealand, for landHad a strong new breeze, with much sea, off the Three Kings and off Cape Brett, on the night of the 15th, when we were becalmed for some hours, arriving at anchorage in the harbour at 9 a.m. yesterday. The Southern Cross brings two Norfolk Islanders and thirty-seven Melanesians. This appears to have been an exceptional season among the islands as regards weather, &c. Very little steady trade wind; much hot close weather, by which the natives appear to ha\e been somewhat sufferers. The Thermometer on board occasionally at 90 ° or 91 ° ranging only to 87 ° ; at other times from 80 ° to 84 ° . Yam crops had partly failed in some Islands. Health on board good throughout. — New Zealander, 17th Sept.