The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-13 00:00:00

MASSACRE OF THE CREW OF

THE SHIP MARY.

We regret to state that information has at length ar-
rived announcing the wreck of this vessel, and the
dreadful fate of her crew, who sailed on a whaling ex •
pedition about three years since to Sydney, thence to
Woodlark Islands. The particulars are obtained from
a survivor, named Valentine—the only one—seven of
the crew having perished in the shipwreck, and the re•
maining 28 were horribly massacred by the natives of
Woodlark Islands. The escape of Valentine is most
extraordinary. He is now on his passage to England,
having been rescued by the crew of the brig Tigress.
From his statement, it appears that the ve.:sel arrived
at Sydney in September, 1843, and proceeded in a few
days direct for Woodlark Islands, and reached them in
the month of November, having had favourable winds
all the time, as well as remarkably fine weather. The
Lady Anne and the brig Tigress, he says, accompanied
them. They cruised upon the north-west side until the
21st of that month, when the weather changed, and be-
fore 12 at night an awful storm came on. It sprung up
at about 9 from the westward, and afterwards veered
round to the north-west with such fury as to destroy their
small-boat, galley, bulwarks, &c., and sweep away all on
deck. The next morning matters were worse. At 12
o'clock their main and mizen-masts were carried away
by the force of the hurricane, and at four the ship struck
on Loughlin's-reef, where she became a total wreck. The
crew took to the rigging, where they remained exposed
nearly forty-eight hours before the sea had sufficiently
abated to enable them to construct a raft to gain the
shore. In the meantime several of the crew, including
the chief mate, Mr. J. Settle, perished. On reaching the
shore, several natives came down, and kindly treated
them, by furnishing cocoa-nuts and provisions, and after-
wards conducted them to their village. The master,
Captain Stein,
jug with a ship, resolved to build a small vessel that
on finding there was no chance of speak-
would enable him and his men to proceed to sea. Ac
cordingly all hands were set to work to save as much of
the wreck as possible, and in this they were fortunate.
For nine months they enjoyed the utmost friendship
with the natives and received a good supply of such
provisions as the island afforded. Suddenly, how-
ever, just after the launching of their newly-
built schooner, and within a few days of their intended
departure, they (it it was supposed in retaliation for
some offence committed by one of the crew) came down
upon, and murdered Captain Stein and six of tine men.
Having no provisions whatever on board, and being with-
out water, the survivors endeavoured to treat with the
natives ; the latter, however, resisted their relanding,
and they made for Woodlark Island in a six-oared
whale-boat, a journey which occupied five days, during
which they subsisted on sea birds and fish. Here they
were kindly received, and remained preparing for a
lengthened voyage, until some natives of the Loughlin
Island arrived, and apprised the chiefs of what had
occurred there, when the natives rushed to the spot
where they were encamped, and massacred the whole of
them. Valentine, who it appears was in an adjacent
wood, escaped. The poor fellow endured tho greatest
privation, being compelled to make the wood his habita-
tion for several weeks. Having been the means of sav-
ing the life of a native, he contrived to make the party
aware of his perilous condition, who assisted him to a
distant part of the island, where the Tigress brig soon
afterwards anchored to obtain water, on board of which
he instantly found refuge.