The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-04-28

PUNISHMENT or THE FEGEE CANINE ia brief
statement of facts in relation to the destruction of n
Fegee village. by an armed detachment from the q.
). sloop-of-war pandalia, in October last. in punish
ment for the murder and cannibalism committed on
two American seamen and a boy, was published in
our columns some months since. 1t seems that the
murdered persons were Louis Bauer, a Prussian, but
q naturalized American citizen. Henry Homer Of New
York, and a Rotumah boy, named Charley. These
persons, while in 8 small schooner on . trip TO the
Felee Islands, for the purpose of purchasing oil, shell,
bechle-mer, &C., at Wawa, one of the group, were
offered . bottle Of oil of bad quality, by one Of the
natives which they refused to purchase. High words
ensued the schooner was surrounded and overpowered
BY the natives, and the whites were killed, their
bodies taken ashore, cooked and eaten by the natives.
The vessel and her contents, valued at from $500 to
$500. was destroyed. The cannibals who perpetrased
this crime inhabited the town of Lomati. and subse-
quently boosted Of their achievements. At that time
the paHdaiia was at Levuka, about one hundred
and thirty miles distant, and on hearing of the out
rage, Com. Sinclair Immediately chartered a small
New London schooner, the Mechanic, and despatched
her, with q party of fifty men, under command of
Lieut. Caldwell, to demand the surrender of the muir
derers. and payment for the property destroyed.
The schooner arrived safely at Ba, one of the Fegee
group, and thence a message was sent by q native to
Wawa. The demand of Lieut.. Caldwell, however.
was met with defiance and insult, and threats were
made that if the force landed they would be treated
in the same manner as had been their murdered
countrymen.
This bold and insolent conduct was doubtless in
duced by the strong natural position of their village.
situated as it was on the summit of q mountain 1900
feet high, accessible only through ravines, and de-
Tended by three hundred warriors. The force landed
however. and after a march of four and a half hours,
beset by almost incredible difficulties, the height was
gained. and the village stormed, the natives flying,
and concealing themselves in the thick wood. After
resting awhile, the order was given to fire the village
which was done, and soon one hundred and ten
houses, many of them of good structure, were in a
blaze.
When ready to depart, however, the expedition
found that the natives had rallied in the ravines,
if possible, to cut off their retreat. On
approaching the first pass, a desperate struggle en-
sued. the savages charging bravely, and using guns,
arrows, clubs, slings and stones. The party how
ever repulsed them, and under a series of attacks re-
gained their vessel, having been absent between ten
and eleven hours.
The loss on the part of the enemy was known to be
killed, aud sixteen wounded. The Vdnda-
Tia papy did not lose a man, though six were
wounded, and all suffered severely from the intense
heat. and the severe fatigue experienced in ascending
the mountain. In all, one hundred and sixteen
dwellings were destroyed, and while the expedition
on shore, the crew Of the Mechanic landed, and
burned all the canoes of the natives.-S. F. Prices