THE POVERTY BAY MASSACRE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume 42, Issue I, 28 November 1868, Page 5

THE POVERTY BAY MASSACRE.

(From the " Hawkes Bay Herald.") ADDITIONAL EASTICULABS. "We append some additional particulars which have reached us of thiß fearful tragedy. So far as can be gathered, the Hauhaus arrived from an inland direction between two and three a.m. on Tuesday the 10th inst. The first house they came to was that of Messrs. Dodd and Peppard, both of whom were killed, as well as two men in their employment. Sergeant-Major Butter was the first to discover what had happened here. He reached the woql shed between four and five o'clock on that morning, he having engaged to shear there. The house was about 400 yards off, and, seeing no movement thore, he walked over to it. When he reached it the dogs were barking furiously. Passing by them, to the back of the building, he saw Mr. Dodd and Mr. Peppard both lying dead, shot, the latter lying across the doorway. He immediately returned to the shed, took his carbine, and rode over to Waraangaheka, to warn Atkins and his wife, also a shearer named Spence. He then fired off his piece as-a warning to others, and proceeded to Messrs. Hawthorne and Strong's,, to warn them. Having seen Mr. Strong and two pthers, he proceeded to the house pf Major Biggs. When he got there he saw horses saddled in front belonging to the Hauhaus ; he then turned round and made for Turanganui. Major Biggs, Capt. "Wilson, Lieut. "Walsh, Mr. Cadle, Mr. Mann, and others who have lost their lives in this fearful massacre, lived near to each other, and there is no data as to which was first attacked. Capt. "Wilson's house was the nearest to Major 1 Biggs, and about half a mile from the latter. Eespecting the death of Capt. "Wilson and family, Mrs. James — who, with her six children, escaped from Matewhero into the bush, upon the alarm being given, and reached the stockade in course of the day — states that, when passing Capt. Wilson's, she saw that gentleman aud his wife lying dead at tlie gate of the garden, both shot, he with three shots in his body- She also saw John Moran, alias Jack Pimple, lying on hia bed, burnt almost to a cinder. When Major Biggs' house was surrounded, a lad named Ciiai'les James, 17 years of age, who lived there as servant, managed to make his escape. He states that Major Biggs was aroused by a Juiooliiag, 'and on opening the door was shot. The boy rushed to the front door of the house, and was met by a number of Hauhaus. He then ran for the back door, aud made his escape, although in doing so he fell over Major Biggs, who was then on the floor, wounded. When in the flax, where he concealed himself, lie heai'd Major Biggs call out to his wife, " Emily, dear, make for the bush ; the Hauhaus are here." He then heard the screams of Mrs. Biggs. At the same time, Captain Wilson's house burst out in flames, and he heard shouts in that direction. The man Atkins, mentioned above as living at Waraangaheka, states that, •after being warned by Sargeant Butter, he and his wife proceeded, to the house of Major Biggs, five miles distant. When they got there, they saw Major Biggs lying dead on a platform that connected the dwelling house with the kitchen, shot, but co much mutilated with tomahawks that he could not be recognised from his features. Mrs. Biggs was lying inside the house — her child with its brains dashed out, clasped to her bosomjJLHe saw nothing of the gjEyMJ^Rri^eut^Walgh (who, it shewed signal occasion) stood Major Biggs Early named employ of going on. to Mrs. in and after) to Mrs.j a servant boy Thomas Newton, telling HHnthatthe Hauhaus had murdered rmajor Biggs. The lad thought ho was only joking, and would not get up till he neard a shot ; he then jumped up and awoke the inmates, consisting of Mrs. Bloomfiejd (whose husband lately died) and her three children, Miss Stagall, and Miss Minnie Parker (formerly of Napier, and then on a visit to Mrs. Blooinfield), They hurried on a few clothes and took to iihe bu3h, carrying the children. In this way they ran eevsn or eight miles, &nd. eventua||y reached the stockade, in safety.' Garland, after- leaving Bloomfield's house, proceeded to Lieut. Walsh's. *He saw Walsh, his, wife and child, lying' outside, shot. He then proceeded to Cadle and Blair's store, about a' hundred yards from Lieut. Walsh's. He. P&w Mr. Cadle lying dead, shot, a|so a friendly native named

Hoera Wakaoneha, and a returned Hauhau ex-prisoner named Paul. He (Garland) then proceeded to Uren's ; he found the' place deserted, and then made his way to Turanganui. Atkins, after leaving Major Biggs' and the ghastly spectacle it presented, passed Mr. Mann's house, about a mile j nearer Turanganui. He saw Mrs, Mann lying outside, with a portion of her clothes burnt, and the pigs gnawing at the body. Mr. Mann and his child were lying inside, Bhot dead. He reached Turanganui about 5 a.ni. Daniel Munn, formerly of Napier, had a very narrow escape ; his statement is as follows : — About half-past five on Tuesday morning, Peter Moren and I went over to Mr. Parker's for the purpose of getting shears and Moren's horse — our destination being Mr. Scott's station, inland, to shear. When we got to Mr. Parker's, we found that nearly every one had crossed the river. One or two persons whom I saw asked me if I had seen the Hauhaus ; I said no, and that this report would turn out like other false reports that had lately been current. They said they heard shots in the direction of Wyllie's. I advised them not to be in a hurry to run away, saying that I would go there and get information. I crossed the river and went to my own house, caught my horse, took down arms and accoutrements, and rode in the direction of Toanga reboubt. All being quiet there I proceeded to tho whare of Tutare, a friendly chief. I there saw a man like Tutare, dressed in black clothes and white cap. He was talking to a friendly native who was on horseback ; there was also a friendly native lad. I rode up to within three yards of him, and bade him " Tena koe," when he said, where are you from, presented his rifle, and fired at me. The ball passed through a portion of my arm and out at my back. My horse wheeled round, and I galloped towards Makaraka. Close to Tarr's I met Edward Brown, a halfcaste. I told him I was shot, and asked him to get me a drink, aud I gave him carbine, revolver, and sword. He escorted me to Turangauui, where I was lifted off my horse, and my wound carefully dressed. [Mr. Munn is at present in the Napier hospital.