A South Sea Tragedy.—Interview with a Survivor.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 217, 27 August 1887, Page 3

A South Sea Tragedy.—lnterview with a Survivor.

Thkrc was lately at (Ucnelg, South Australia, ft brigantine, the Borealis, which was the scene not long a<jo of a mas'-acie at the Solomon Islamic, in the Pacific Ocean. Captain Mackenzie, the piesent master of the barque, a weather-beaten, grizzled old salt, somewhat below the middlo height, in a convei nation with a reporter on the " South Australian Register" describes what happened in the following terms : — About three yeais ago I was trading in the old boat in the South Seas. I was oft" the island of Malay ta, one of the Solomon (iroup, and being anxious to tiade with the nati\e* I got a boat's crew of Fijian-^ that 1 had aboard to pull me ashore. Pi unto my depaituie eaily in the morning two big canoes and a small one came alongside. I noticed that some of the jneit in the canoes had clubs with them, and I attempted to purchase one. None of the swarthy islandei-s would sell, and knowing the chaiactcr of the men I felt some what suspicion*, and refused to allow any of the men in the canoes to go ashore. I instructed my mate to adopt the same policy. As I was specially desirous of landing I took the gig and went to Mahyla. .between that island and the ship there is a s:nall islet behind which I had to go, and thu*. lost sight of the Borealis. Up to that time I had noticed nothing special, but on approaching tho mainland I was startled beyond explosion to notice all the inlanders who had occupied the beach suddenly iu>»h for the bush. I turned round to go for the vessel, and when I got in sight of ife I at once became assured that a dieadtul iruui«<icre had taken place. I noticed dozens, almost hundreds of natives on boaid my ship. They had loosened the fore&heet and were swarming up the rigging. I tired a few shots at the men I saw on deck, and probably with some effect. 1 then kept off the Borealis, knowing that my boat's crew of Fijians and myself would only meet our death if we attempt to board. As it was some of the islanders got hold of the guns that weie on board, and they replied to my shots. They did not do much mischief, however, although one bullet struck the top of the boat and then bounded on to r,;y foot as I was. steering. When I saw Wiiat had happened I kept away, and after sailing about all day and the next night, I went the next morning to one of the adjoining islands to see if there were any other traders about. I found three ships, and on telling my tale the captains all agreed to help me. We determined to £et as close to land as possible, find passed between the ship and tho island. On seeing the ships coming, the Solomon Islanders left the Borealis and made for the mainland. We noticed also that the small island which I before alluded to was perfectly alive with natives, hundreds of them being on it feasting, drinking, pnd dancing. We attemped to intercept thorn, but they jumped into the watermen, women, ana children —and swam to Malay ;a, soon disappearing in the scrub. " I suppose so," cautiously returned Captain Captain Mackenzie. "I know that not half of those who got into the canoes managed to keep in them till the mainland was reached." " What other vengeance did you take — destroy the village V" "We destroyed half a dozen villages on the island before we finished." " How did you find your vessel, the Borealis ?" " Oh, it had been ransacked. The seven white men and the cook, a West Indian, that I had left aboard, were not to be found, but subsequently the cook was found. There were plenty of marks of the struggle -discernible, and the stores, which consisted of the ordinary objects of South Sea trade, as well as rum, tobacco, and a few guns, were taken. The cook was in a water-tank in a dreadful condition, but alive. He toJd me after I left the islanders swarmed on board and killed the crew, including my son, a fine young man of 19 years of age, He was the last attacked, while he was in the galley. He attempted to defend himself with an hatchet, and in the struggle his two hands were nearly cut off, and he received a dreadful gash on the forehead. He then struggled to the deck and fell down the hatch. He crawled to a tank which contained a little water, and remained there until he was found. We managed to keep him alive until we arrived at Fiji, where he was taken to the hospital. The only part of the ship that was not ransacked was my state cabin. That was because a table full again&t the door, and the natives did not seem to have sense to take it away. The ships that I met each spared me one of their crew, so I was enabled ro return to Fiji." " What do you think made the men attack your vessel ?" " Oh, the love of plunder. They did not want to kill my men, I suppose ; but they wanted the stores, and killed tho crew to get at them. Those marks you see on tfie rail were caused by their attempts to cut away the longboat, which was lashed alongside. It was, indeed, a dreadful experience, and if I had not gone ashore I Bhould have been murdered as well. I think the attack was planned."