The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-05-05
From the Sydney, Australia Herald.
The Massacre of the st. Paul's Passen~
gers..HOrrible Cannibalism.

The Chinese passenger of the St.
Paul, who was rescued by the Steamer
Styx, and arrived on Tuesday, has
furnished us with the following account
of the massacre of the Chinese passen-
gers by the st. Paul, wrecked at Rossi
Island:
'sThe ship went on shore during the
night, and when she struck the passen-
gers all rushed on deck, making great
outcry, upon which the Captain drove
them all below again. When daylight
broke, we landed by means of the
boats, on an island, where we remained
two days without any water, when
some of us went on board the ship
again to get some, as also provisions.
The Captain left in his boat with some of
the crew, and we were not disturbed
by the natives for month after he was
gone; they then came over from the
mainland, distant about three-quarters
Of a mile, and made an attack on us.
Some of us had double-barreled car
bines, but we got frightened and threw
them away. The only white man left
us, after the departure Of Capt. Pennard,
was a Greek, who, having armed him
self with a cutlas, fought desperately,
and killed great many of the natives
before he was oYerpowered. They
then took all our clothing, &C., which
they partly destroyed. Any valuables
that they found, such as sovereigns,
rings, &C., they placed in net bag,
which each man carried round his neck.
A watch particularly excited their atten-
ton, as they were continually opening
it to observe the reflection of their faces
in the glass. AT night we were placed
in the center of clear piece of ground,
and fires lit in several places, the natives
keeping regular watch over us; and
during the day they would select four
or five Chinese, and, after killing them,
roast the flesh and eat it, what was not
consumed being deposited in their nets.
Their mode of proceedings was as
follows: The victims being decided on,
they were taken out and beaten all over,
Excepting the head,) with kind of
club, and then despatched by ripping
the stomach open. The body was then
cut up in small pieces and divided, the
fingers, toes and brains being eagerly
sought after. The bones were then
collected and either burnt or thrown
away. l saw ten Of my fellow passen-
gers killed in this way. On one occa-
sion some of the Chinese took boat
which belonged to the ship, and went
over to the mainland at night to get
some water, but never returned, so we
Thought they had been killed. Every
day they brought us cocoanuts or some
wild roots to eat, and appeared to be
quite friendly with us. This state OF
things continued until / was taken off
the island. When | left there were
only four Chinese and the Greek alive,
all the rest having been killed. l saw
these five the day the steamer came in
sight, but when the natives saw the
boats coming on shore they took them
to the mountains. Twas sick and lame,
and they would not carry me, SO that /
watched my opportunity and contrived
to conceal myself among the rocks
until the boat came on shore. They
are numerous, but do not appear to
have any chiefs among them. They
live on cocoanuts, of which there are
large quantities, and kind of yam,
which they roast before eating; but,
beyond few dogs, saw neither ami
mails nor fowls of any kind.