A Native Attack at Star Guinea.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2844, 27 March 1878, Page 2

A Native Attack at Star Guinea.

[By Elbctbio Tiugbaph.] Syditky, Wednesday. A letter from Mr Goldie to a resident in Sydney gives the following full par. liculan of the attack on Captain Dadfield, of the schooner Mayri, at Sooth Cape,, New Guinea. He was lying in his cabin, ; when he happened to cast his eyes up and | caught sight of a spear coming right down [on his hd-rt. lie gar* • snddew spring, : but not sufficient to escape* as the spear I went through his side and nailed him to ! the deck. He seized the spear, broke it, ; and released himself. Three oilier spears n in like manner were thrown* all of which/ wounded him, one through the thigh, another through his right hand, and a fourth through the shoulder, tart, fortunately, none dangerous. Ha received kit worst wound from - a large trade knife, which cut the sinews right across the foot. The cabin was swimming with blood, but Captain Dadfield fought for his Jife bravely. The arms were all loaded. He tried several times to getjo-deek, but the attempt showed him (kal to do to would be to meet death. He fired his revolver through the scuttle, whioh waa '" speedily closed, the native* standing oa it to keep him down, but he soon'showed \ them that the position wastoohottohoUL " as he sent 12 charges through .the wood , of the Seattle, wounding .several aativef. He also sent a charge from a brsssh >■ loading gun right through the deck, Baking a clear hole, and sending th* splinters. flying. One native fromthis charge wai wounded very severely; The captain than ; shot dead a native who had overpowered and was about to murder one of the crew in the hold,' The natives on deck closed the hatch of the hold when they saw their comrade's death. The natives shortly after found it,too hot for them. When the captain crawled on deck after the natives had decamped, he found the deck » of the vessel swimmidg with'blood from the wounds of the natives, all of whom vwere carried away exoept the dead man, in the hold.—Correspondent of the Australasian, Maroh 9. ,:■;>'..