Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-04-16
From the Alta California.
Murder of a Noted Adventurer by Can
nibals.


| nibals.
MURDER OF Mr.. BOYD, OF THE YACHT WAN
DERkR.--Most of our citizens will recollect the
visit to this place, last Spring, OF the beautiful
yacht Wanderer, owned and commanded by an
adventurous English gentleman, who, possessed
of fortune, had passed many years of his life
| in roaming about the world in his elegant little
vessel Mr. Boyd had sailed in almost every
sea, and visited all the principal ports of Europe
and Asia, and had dropped into our harbor for the
purpose of refittng for another cruise in the
Wanderer. His vessel was visited by many OF
our citizens, and the luxury with which every
appointment and provision about her was made
betokened life passed in elegant, adventurous
and profitable ease
| We are panied to learn, by the recent arrival
from Sydney, that Mr.. Boyd has fallen victim
to his Unsuitable thirst for adventure. Among
the savage cannbal tribes ofthe South Sea Isl
ands, whittier he had gone on a touy OF discove-
ry, he has met sad fate. The following par
tlculars of his death we copy from tile Sydney
Morning Herald Of Nov. %.
MURDER OF Mr.. BENJAMIN BoYD.-VVe have
with much regret 10 announce the death, BY the
hands of the natives of one of the Solomon ISL
! ands, of Mr.. Benjamin Boyd
Mr.. Boyd had touched at the Sandwich and
other Islands, from which places he had shipped
| natives as seamen. He then proceeded to the
Solomon Group, and purchased the sovereignty
or right of one or two of these islands, for the
object of establishing the headquarters of Pau
puan Republic he had been on shore on these
islands previously shooting birds. On the morn
ing OF the 18th of October, in coasting along one
of the islands, he noticed an inlet or cove, and at
half-past six left the Wanderer in his boat for
iDl o,l,, b,, II
he had engaged at Ocean Island. He took with
his double barrelled gun, with his bel, contain
ing wadding and shot; and he left orders to get
breakfast ready, as he should return very short
ly. On going over the side of the vessel, he
told favorlte native, whom he called "Friday,'
not to allow any OF the natives of the island TO
| come on board, as they We're very treachcrous,
would take the vessel, and murder all hands if
they had an opportunity After Mr.. Boyd left,
! canoes tuIl OF the natives came round the Wan
| derer, but they were kept off Firing was heard
several tunes, but 1t was supposed that Mr.. Boyd
was merely procuring specimens of the birds of
the island. One o'clock came, but he was not
! seen coming off to breakfast; the large gong
was therefore sounded, when the natives in their
canoes around the vessel appeared to derdc and
jeer at the endeavors to sgnaise those on shore,
made anindcscrlbabe fiendish kissing noise, and
said something in their language, which Mr..
Boyd's native seaman translated to be /" long
| sleep-white man dead, and would not come
! back "
This dreadful ntimation made the white and
native crew Of the Wanderer frantic. At the
| same moment the natives in their canoes tried
their utmost to board The vessel, using their
! clubs, spears and round stone in long Sings
but the crew were prepared for them and fortu-
nately beat them off, killing about twenty-five of
| the cannlbals at that time. None Of the crew
were injured by tho spears hurled on the deck
| Some OF the native crew wished to eat the bo-
dies of those killed to CRAFTY tie utmost limit of
their revenge, but they were restrained by the
whites. The islanders then reireated into their
canoes, and collected in groups near the beach.
The long guns of the Wanderer were then loa-
dcd with round Shot and grape, and discharged
at them Numbers were seen to fall, and the
wounded were carried away. After this TIE
crew armed themselves and landed, and sho,
some more of the cannibals, the remainder run
ming away, and then the crew went in search of
the remains.
They found only the top of the skull of the
murdered native boy who accompanied Mr.. Boyd,
at least they felt positive from its appearance it
was his. Near this spot were the marks of Mr.
Boyds shoes, which marks were numerous on
the sands, and around were the naked toot-marks
OF the islanders, indicating that there must have
been desperate fight before Mr.. Boyd was
overpowcrcd. They saw plainly the deep i'm
pressons also OF his knees and elbows, where
he had finally fallen, and also marks of blood
Nearly close 10 this spot found the belt which
contained the wadding, &c, but it had been all
used. They searched in all directions for ira
ces of Mr.. Boyd, and they remained on the spo.
for fortnight to be certain that there were no
further hopes, going or shore daily, until their
continuing with the vessel became dangerous
Mr.. Crawford says that Mr.. Boyd was in most
robust health at the time, and possessed great
bodily strength The sailing master of the yes
sci was an American After they had ascertain
ed the fate OF their unfortunate commander, the
Wanderer bore up for the coast of New Hol-
land, and was wrecked at Port Macquarie, as des-
crbed in our shipping intelligence.
The subsequent loss of Dir. Boyd's vessel is
described in the same paper from which the a
boye account is taken.