SAD FATE OF A FAMILY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3034, 3 November 1908, Page 5

SAD FATE OF A FAMILY

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

MURDEKS AT SANTO ISLAND.

FULL DETAILS

A PUNITIVE EXPEDITION

Received November 2, 9.30 a.m. SYDNEY, November 2. Details of the murder of the Greig family at the Island of Espiritu Santo, show that the victims were sitting clown to tea in one of the copra sheds, when ten natives rushed the building. Seizing a tomahawk, one native struck Greig from behind, cutting the skull completely in half. Robbery seems to have been the object of the crime. Immediately the blacks were satisfied that Greig was dead, they began looting the station, the whole place being ransackd. The Misses Greig, who were gardening, escaped notice at first, but when their presence was discovered the mob attacked Ada, who was killed with a gun, stolen from her father. There were many bullet wounds in the body. The younger daughter Elizabeth was cut to pieces* with tomahawks and knives. A son of Mr Greig, aged fourteen, I was working a mile away, and escaped. He found the bodies of his father and sisters on returning home, and hurried to the mission station, where he reported the tragic affair. Other settlers on Santo Island have expressed the opinion that Greig saw the bush natives approaching, but as they were not carrying weapons, presumed they were peaceful. These men, who live in the hills, come from a village ten miles inland. The coastal natives, who are Christians, and practically civilised, live in peace with the whites. Friendly natives have stated that the bushmen were heavily laden with loot when they commenced their return journey. 'i'he warship Prometheus arrived at Santo within a day or two of the massacre, and landed « punitive expedition, and the French authorities in New Caledonia despatched the cruiser Kersaint to the island. Assisted by friendly natives, the punitive forces are now tracking, the murderers.