Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-03-22
NEW SOUTH WHALES

al the massacre vi SeNcTdi W he' e"'
the Trials crew, by the New Zealanders.
at Trial Harbour at the estimated differ
ence IF $50 miles S. E Of the Missionary
Station at the Bay Of Islands, being be-
tween he River Thames and Mercury
Bav. The Tial sailed from the Sidney
en- the a5d of May. for the Marquesas.
to call at New Zealand, and
there join the Brothers, which had fe
DAYS previously taken her departure tor
that place, CHIEF, for the purpose OF col
lecting FAX. They remained month
a, the Bay Of Islands, aud from thence a.
dopted south rasterly course, trading
with the natives as they went along.
Mabins a short stay at harbour which
did not appear to have before frequent
ed by any Europeans. they named il
Trial Harbour. and received very friend
IL treatment with promise OF having a
quantity Of Oak provided against the re
turn Of the vessel They went toward
Cooks Straits. and after running down
a considerable extent Of coast. returned
to Trial harbour, which proved scene
Of carnage The natives appeared no
less friendly than before, but not having
procured the fax according ts the pro-
mise. Mr.. Howell and Mr.. Burnett pre-
pared for quitting the place. They de-
signed sa,iing thence on Mon ay 2lst Of
August, but were attacked on the noon
of the preee1ing day, and the decks of
both vessels taken possession Ofby an i'm
,rense number Of the natives.
MIR. Hove.l's account"f the transaction
states, that half past IL, A NJ. he OBJ
served a number OF canoes alongside
both vessels, nut that from the friendly
terms he was on with the chiefs and the
natives-he had no suspicion OF any d..
sign against the vessels, both of which
were provided with boarding nets. tLro'
The interstices of which they battered
their commodities with the Islanders.
The Trials crew were down at dinne'
Mr.. Howell was on the quarter deck.
folding a mat with friendly chief the
latter Oh some signal supposed to have
been given BY the iorTer, sprung upor
MIR Howell with his club, AID struck
him on the back Of the head, he reeled
half stunned, second blow was aimed
at him, which he avoided by rushing for
ward and prccipitatips down the tor
castle hatchway The ASSISTANTS now
upon the upper tecs, of which
they had obtained complete possession
while several who had intruded them.
selves between decks were oppe.ed bv
The people and killed Those above
tried to ship the main hatch, in order t.
shut the crew below, but 20 prevent this
two men were stationed al the hatchwsv,
who kept them Of with their muskei..
Their numbers increased, ard rush
-sas momentariiy expected A constsn'
fire was kept up { ON below, and the ma
tives crowded all on the quarter deck
to keep clear Of the fring'up the batch.
way. The cabin sky light aff,rded an
opportunity Of firing upon them there, tn
occasion was emb' accd, and two dis.
charges drove them OF the qua ter deck
They were astonished and confounded a,
the unexpected attack through the *
light, which was fatal to several the
ran forward, still determined. h0weve,
10 persist in their attemptsof capturing the
vessel.
In passing forward they again were
ired at from the hatchvay; bat a, mi
critical msmen., arrived Jacky Warry ::
, native who had before belonged to the
rri,l, and BY his directions to cut hr
cables of the two vessels, the crew were
.educed to the last extremity. They
soon driftcd ashore, and the assaiIants,
TO avoid the firing, crowded in and a.
,out the long boat. All appeared lost !:
yet TO avoid the horrors of falling alive
INTO the hands of the assailants, the
crew came to the resolution of blow
ug the vessel up, and inv Giving their e.
lemes in their own destruction -Des-
perstion redoubled exer.ion, and a stea.
ly utSCUdESc vi SSNCh WusktlS al QUO
volIey drove them overheard. and thu,
the crew regaired the deck. Of .hich the
enemy had possession of four hours.
They now saw the Brothers within 4
half cables length also 4 grosnd with
upwards of one hundred natives on tl,r
deck. The Trials swivels we're now
employed in aid of her musketrv. ard
soon cleared her. MIR. Burnett and hi,
people regained the deck Of the Bro
Tiers, from whence they also had been
driven. and joint Gre was kept up as
long as the atives were within its reach,
which did considerable execution.
Mr. Burnett's report nfthe affair states,
that at half past twelve O'Clock he heard
a shout from the Trial and immediatel
his own deGks were crowded viii ma.
tiyes who had been previously a!ony ,ids