MISSIONARY'S TRAGIC DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 55, 26 August 1911, Page 9

MISSIONARY'S TRAGIC DEATH.

SHOT WHILE CONDUCTING SERVICE,

The following further particulars of the tragic death of Mr. Daniels, a member of the South Seas Evangelical Mission, are taken from a Sydney excliange: The steamer Minindi, which has arrived from the Islands, brought news of the tragic death of Mr. Daniels, a member of the South Sea Evangelical Mission. Mr. Daniels, who lost his life at Uru, wag stationed at Nongasila, about six miles dißtant, and divided his time between that place and Sinorango, also visiting several schools on the mainland.

On Wednesday, July 14, he proceeded to Airama-rama, and sent his boat and crew back to Nongasila, intending to remain where he was until the Evangel called for him. After the boat had left the teacher said he was sorry he had come, because there was much talk among the heathen of a big reward that had been offered for the murder of the white man; and they had wanted to kill Mr. Hopkins when he was at Uru, but lie had returned to Ngorefou, and so thwarted their plans. Simon, a teacher, feared it might be unsafe for Mr. Daniels. However, those most concerned apparently did not take much heed of the report, such threats being common in Malaita.

Mr. Daniels and his little cook, Mesac, a schoolboy from One-Pusu, therefore stayed on. Each day they had classes, and on Sunday, June 18, four meetings were held. _ The last of these was a praise meeting in the open air, between two houses. Mr. Daniels had an acetylene lamp, and was seated on a rock. After singing many hymns, the missionary said, ''Let us sing just one more hymn."

limn, as (lie familiar words of the particular choice rose ami fell on the evening breeze a native who had concealed himself fired a shot at Mr. Daniels, and struck him on the breast.

"Lord, save me!" exclaimed the vietim, as he fell, but nothing more. Xindly worshippers rushed forward, and fount a bad wound in the chest, the hymn-book the leader of the service had been using having fallen where the bullet had torn it was into the victim's heart. It wa» stained with the life-blood of one oi the most respected workers in the South Seas. "One moment," wrote a fellow-mis-sionary to the secretary of the movement in Sydney, "praising God on earth, with all life's limitations, the next with Christ most blessed for ever.* The boys of the mission did all they could for the murdered teacher. Mesac ! gathered his belongings and locked theni up, and the body was taken to Nongasila in a canoe, and there a coffin was made from boxes. A crew was sub*equently found for the Houe, a whale-boat, and the long journey of 50 miles to Marloo set out upon. Mr. Daniels some time previously had spent a happy six weeks' holiday at the place to wl'iieh his remains were being slowly conveyed. The Marloo people were much attached to him, and heard of the shocking news with sorrow. On arrival at Marloo the body rested in the church during the night, and in the early morning the elders carried it to the grave, round which had gathered the whole of the populace within a reasonable distance, Mr. and Mrs. Faucar and Miss McLaughlin, missionaries, were present to see the last of their comrade. Mr. Daniels worked single-handed along 100 miles of coastline, and no missionary is available to take his place, for many other centres are crying for workers. "As missionaries," wrote a gentleman to the secretary of the South Sea Mission in Sydney, "we are not depending on our Government for protection, for whether in life or death we are safe in God's care."