THE MASSACRES AT NEW GUINEA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1642, 4 October 1887, Page 2

THE MASSACRES AT NEW GUINEA.

A telegram from Cooktown, dated September 19, gives the following particulars of the massacres at New Gaines:— “tI.M.S. Harrier arrived yesterday from Dinner Island. H.M.S. Diamond, with. Admiral Fairfax on board and accomy panied by H.M.S. Rapid, have gone to Orangerie Bay for the purpose of punishing the murders of H>eret and Hansen. Private letters received from Dinner Island by the Herrier give further pm- j ticulars respecting the massacres. The ' Cecilia was taken there to clean her tom, and obtain wood and water. The T natives appeared friendly, but suddenly attacked the crew, when Heeret and Ha"sen were transfixed by several spears each, and thrown overboard, where they were done to death with stone c übs. Riccins was struck over the head with a stone axe, and knocked overboard, where, while swimming, h« had his arm pierced by a spear, H; s. ,vam ashore, a distance

o£ four miles, and was followed by the natives (after they had looted the boat), who surrounded him in the bush. He made a run for It, but was speared in the back and clubbed. When he regained consciousness he found himself in a native house, where the inmates treated him kindly, and protected him from the tribe who wanted to kill and eat him. One gun was handed him when he was able to fat about a little, and he had to shoot irds, only one cartridge being handed to him at a time. The last cartridge in the gun exploded, through a native carelessly handling the weapon in the hut. It shot the native in the side, and he eventually died. Biccins bad a very narrow escape in consequence of the mishap, as the tribe wanted to avenge the death on him. Eventually, after being three weeks in the village, he was rescued by Captain Ah Gun, who heard from the natives of Dufaure Island that he was alive. The cutter Albatross, which was supposed to have been seized by the natives of Woodlark, has turned up all well at Dinner Island. Whitten and Oscar Solberg lost the dingy, but otherwise they had no trouble.