THE MISSING EXPLORERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 258, 10 March 1911, Page 5

THE MISSING EXPLORERS

REPORTED MASSACRE BY NATIVES. NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION. 8y Gable —Press Association —Copyright. Sydney, March 9. A Thursday Island story which is being circulated states that the Administrator, Mr. Smith, reached the Purari river, built rafts, and began to descend towards the coast. On the way natives with the party went to search for food, but did not return. Others followed, and, meeting a tribe of natives,, were killed. Little is known of these natives except that they behead their victims, and wear the heads as trophies of valor on a string round their waists. It is believed that the authorities are aware of the fact that all the members of the expedition are dead except two natives who ran away and reached Goaribari. Absolutely no official news is available, however. Melbourne, March 9.

This story appears to be a repetition of that told by Goaribari pilots, except that the disaster is transferred from the Upper river to the Purari river, which is not in the direction in which the expedition was proceeding. To reach it the expedition would have had to turn right about and go 150 miles on a course never contemplated. A STORY DISCREDITED. Received 10, 12.22 a.m. Melbourne, March 9., The Department of External Affairs places no reliance on the reports pointing to the wiping out of Mr. Staniforth Smitii g party. There is no definite official news yet.