THE ESCAPE OF THE MAORI PRISONERS.

West Coast Times, Issue 127, 13 February 1866, Page 3

THE ESCAPE OF THE MAORI PRISONERS.

MORE OF THE RUNAWAYS CAPTURED.

ONE SHOT AND TWO WOUNDED.

ANOTHER BODY FOUND IN THE BUSH.

From tho Wellington Advertiser, Jan. 29)

We mentioned in our last issue that a vigorous search was being prosecuted for the escaped Maories, and that one of them had been captured near tho Korokoro by a young man named I3assett. Since then two other captures have been effected, and there is good grounds for believing that the runaways are so effectually hemmed in that escape is all but impossible. On Thursday last a body of Porirua Volunteers, under tho command of Lieut. Taylor, entered the bush in iho neighborhood of Tawa Flat, and proceeded with, the search. During tho day they came upon some fresh tracks, which they followed up, and ultimately they came up with some fifteen of the Maories. They at once called upon them" to stand, but the natives quickly made off uttering shouts of defiance. The .volunteers joined in hot pursuit, and for five hours they chased tho runaways without being able to effect a capture, although at times they were very closo upon them. We have it upon ood authority that the volunteers, or any party endeavoring to capture the na-* tives, were ordered not to fire upon them ; but, however that may be, after a five hours' chase some of the Porirua men again came in closo proximity to the runaways, who were then ascending a high hill, and some of tho volunteers fired upon them, as wo are given to understand, without any. orders from tho officer in command. This, at all events, is the substance of our information, and we v believo it to be perfectly reliable. One of the Maories was shot dead, and, there is every reason to assume that two others were severely wounded by the volley. Night coming on, tho volunteers made their way out of the bush, and reached Korokoro at about eleven o'clock at night.

On Friday and Saturday several parties joined in the pursuit, but as in the meantime very distinct orders were given by the Government that fire-arms were not to bo used under any circumstances, the ardour of tho men was considerably .damped, and many refused to proceed at all. On Friday evening, as two men, named respectively Henry Thompson and Jesse Mexted, were returning to Porirua Road from their work, a dog in their company got scent of a > Maori, and ho was quickly unearthed and caught. This man was sent to town, and on his arrival he stated ho had left a comrade (lead on the hills at Ngahauranga, but when yesterday ho accompanied the police to the spot indicated ho told them that the man was not dead when he left him, but . ho thought he would die soon afterwards. However lie had disappeared somewhere in the meantime.

Oil ' Saturday afternoon somo of tho Hutt Volunteers caught another man near tho Korokoro, and he too was sent to town in custody. In all, this makes three taken alive. There is every reason to bolievo that tho Maorics are in small parties, and that they are still in the neighborhood of the Korokoro. Wo undorstand that the search will bo continued to-day.

Since tho above was written we have been informed that yesterday evening Captain Kirwan communicated to tho police the .fact that another dead body of a Maori had been found in the bush near Johnsonville, and it was much decomposed. Tho remains will bo sent for this morning.

Public lands containing tlio precious metals are interdicted by law from snlo or other disposal by the Government. Cases frequently arisoin the General Lund OfKce, in wliioh the land ia of a mixed character, and in suoh cases it has been decided that whero the arable quality' of the tract predominates, individual titles ftio recognised, but where the motulliferoiis, in oytent orvuluo, is the predominating element, the individual claim is invalid. — New York Tribune, Tub Oyster. — Open an oyster, retain tlio liquor in the lower shell, and, if viowed through a miciovcope, it will be found to contain multitudes of small oysters, covered with sholl, and swimming nimbly about — ■ ono hundred and twenty of which extend but one inch. Besides these yonng oysters, the liquor contains a variety of animaleulio and myriads of threo distinct species of worms. Sometimes their light roBonibjcs a bluish star* about the contre of tlio shell, which will I>P boptffully Junjinous }n » dark room,

EXECUTION OF CAPTAIN WIKZ.

The execution took place on the ,10th November' of Captain Wirz, who was convicted of practising murdorous cruelty on the Federal prisoners of war under his charge in tho Confederate prison at Andcrsonvillc, of which ho was governor. On tho evening of Thursday, Nov. 9, the prisoner was informed that lie was to die on the morrow. He appeared unmoved at the information, having fully expected it, and, after eating his supper as usual, retired to rest, and slept soundly during the night. After breakfast on Friday morning he took leavo of Windor, who had been associated with him in the management of the prison at Andersonville. and other friends, and at ten o'clock ho was informed that it was time to proceed to tho scaffold, erected in tho prison yard. His demeanour throughout was quiet, and devoid of any exhibition of fear or nervousness, Referring to the black shroud, ho remarked that he "hoped to have a white gown soon." Tho officers proceeded to pinion his arms behind Ins back, but found the handcuffs would not slip on to his right arm, it being mush swollen. His limbs were therefore all left free until he reached tho scaffold. As they were leaving the roorn^ Wirz turned to tho mantel, and with as much nonchalance as if he had been in a barroom, took up a bottle of whisky, and pouring- out a draught, drank it with apparent relish Then, taking a chew of' tobacco, he took his place in the procession, which was led by tho Pro-vost-Marshal, after whom came the two priests, then Wirz, tljo guard next, and Captain Walbridgo in the rear. Thus they mounted the scaffold, the prisoner exhibiting much steadiness in his movements. Stepping upon the trap, he seated himself upon a stool, the noose dangling over his head. ■ Major Husscl the proceeded to read the order, reciting the finding of tho court, and the approval of the sentence by the President. The order stated that the prisoner was found guilty of the second charge, namely, murder, in violation to the laws and customs of war, and guilty of all tho specifications except the fourth, tenth, and thirteenth, which three set forth that he killed a prisoner by shooting him with a revolver ; that he ordered a sentinel to fire upon another with a revolver ; and that he shot another with a revolver so that he died. The reading was finished at 10.20, and Wirz was directed to stand up. Major •Russell asked him if ho had anything to say publicly, to whom he replied "No." Father Boylo then recited the servico of the Catholic Church for the dying, to which Wirz responded in a low tone. During thoso few moments shouts could be heard from tho soldiers in the tree tops of "Hang' him)" " Andorsonvillo," v Remember Andersonvillo," and others not calculated to increase- his calm demeanour, but ho paid no 'attention to them, and preserved his cheerful expression of countenance throughout.

At' thirty minutes past ton, his hands and legs having been pinioned by straps, the noose was adjusted by L. J. Richardson, military detective, and the doomed man shook hands with tho priests and officers. At exactly thirtytwo minutes past ten, Sylvester Ballou, another detcctivo, at tho signal of tho provost marshal, put his foot upon tile fatal spring, tlio trap fell with a heavy noise, and Wirz was dangling in tho air. There were a few spasmodic convulsions .of the chest, a slight movement of tho extremities, and all was over. When it was known in the street that Wirz was hanged, the soldiers sent up a loud ringing cheer. After hanging fourteen minutes, tho body was examined by Post-Surgeon Ford, and life pronounced to bo extinct. It was then taken down, placed upon n stretcher,, and carried to the hospital, where the surgeons took charge of it. ' No sooner had tho scaffold and tho rope been roliovod of their ghastly burden, than relic-seekers began their work. Splinters from the scaffold were cut off lileo kindling wood and a dozen feet of ropo disappeared almost instantly. Only the interposition of the guard-saved the Avhole thing from being carried off in the manner. The surgeons hold a post mortem, and au examination of tho neck showed tho vortebroo to be dislocated. His right arm, which had been tho chief cause of his physical misery, was in a very bad condition, in consequence of an old wound having broken out afresh. His body also showed sovero scrofu ous eruptions. Agreeablyto a request from Wirz, Father Boyle " received the body on the following day, and delivered it to an undertaker.