SHOCKING MASSACRE AT THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9418, 20 May 1882, Page 3

SHOCKING MASSACRE AT THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.

The following particulars of the murder of the crew of the Janet Stewait are given in a Brisbane telegram to the Argus ; Captain Si Thomas,, of the brig Janet Stewart, with the second mate, arrived at Mackay yesterday by the schooner Isabella, from the South Seas. He re* ports that on February 12, while he and the mate were away recruiting in the ship’s boat, leaving the vessel anchored off Malata Island, one of the Solomon Group, the .natives went on board and murdered Lockhead, the Government agent, who was suffering from fever. They also killed Penny, the chief mate, and four of the crew, and then plundered and set fire to the vessel. Cfiptain Thomas, on returning to his vessel, found the bodies of the murdered men on deck. Gustavus, a German, one of the crew, was saved by concealing himself in the forepeak of the vessel. The survivors bad to abandon the brig, and sailed in the boats to Aji Island, where they were received by a white trader. There were 38 recruits on board at the time of the massacre. All the natives of Malata are supposed to have participated in the outoutrage. Malata is the island where a sailor named John Renton lived with the natives for a number of years.