The Johannet Island Murders. Severe Reprisals.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 130, 26 February 1887, Page 3

The Johannet Island Murders. Severe Reprisals.

Cooktown, Wednesday. The ketch Ruby, Captain RobinBon, tender to the echooner Albert, arrived at Cooktown from Johannet Island, with a quantity of pearl shell and beche-de-mer. The following particulars in reference to the expedition sent by the Special Commissioner of !New Guinea, the Hon. J. Douglas, to puniah the inurderera of Captain Craig and his party are given by cne of the crew of the Albert, who accompanied the expedition : — Nicholas Muneter left his vessel at Saba, and took canoes with 85 natives on to Brooker Inland with him. They landed at Johannet Harbour at night, and attacked the village overlooking the harbour. They found about 18 natives. Two were killed, and two wounded. They burnt three villages and destroyed the cocoaaut trees surrounding them. The remainder of the natives fled into the scrub. Nex< morning Munster boarded the Albert, which was lying there, taking on boarn the head of the chief murderer, which was recognised by some of the natives, and also a Winchester rifle belonging to Captain Craig, with which the chief shot Cra-g. Munster likewise obtained a Colt's revolver and a Snider rifle, both being in good order, and J5O rounds of a m muuition in native belts made for the purpose The following night Munster, with two of the ciew of the Albert, who volunteered, and a native contiogent, landed on Sud Est Island, and marched nine miles inland to a village, which they surrounded at daylight, but found that the natives had left the day before. They discovered a quantity of trade belonging to Captain Craig there. The party destroyed the village, containing 30 houses, and then returned and reported the matter to Mr Forbes on board the Coral Sea. Moat of the natives who murdered Captain Craig and party are still in tho mountains. It if impossible to follow them on account of the thick scrub, which is almost impenetrable. The cutter Lizzie and the schooner Alice Mead were at Johannet when the Kuby left.