Melancholy Death of Captain Bissett.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 305, 6 October 1888, Page 4

Melancholy Death of Captain Bissett.

A little before 3 o'clock Gapt. Bissett, o* the schooner Vindex, expressed a desire to go to the British Consulate, which issituate at the east end of Apia and immediately in front, of the position taken up by the war party. Mataafa's army were manoeuvring to cut off tho Government soldiers ; the firing on both sides were necessarily of a straggling character, the ground being of a scrubby nature ; the bullets were flying in all directions, some penetrating the dwell ing houses of Mr Cevruthors, Mr Chatfield Mr Smith (harbor master), and others, all of which are within a few hundred yards of the British Consulate. When near the residence of Mr Carruthers several shots passed close to where Capt. Bissett and his companions were travelling. They carried to the dwelling house, and as soon as Capt. Bissett placed his foot on the steps of Mr Carruther's verandah he received a bullet in his temple, which passed out through his brain. He was seen to raise hi3 hand to his head, and then fall on his back. His death must have beon almost; instantaneous. Mr. Beyerlen, one of the persons who accompanied Captain Bissett in his attempt to reach the Con sulate, hastened to Apia to convey the intelligence of Capt. Bissett's death. His other companion, Mr Adam Main, with tho assistance of Mr Carruthers and Mr Lawrence, conveyed the body under cover, and as quickly as possible procured a boat and carried "the body to the schooner Vindex. which was at anchor some 400 or 500 yards off. There remains no doubt in the minds of the white population that Capt. Bissett met his death solely by accident. By which party the bullet was fired it is impossible to tell.