Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-08-16
THE SAvAGEs ON THE ISLAND OF FOR
MOsA-MURDER OF THE CREW OF THE
RAROJIE ROVER


Dispatches have been received ct the Navy
Department from Rear Admiral II. n. Bell,
commanding the Asiatic Squadron, dated
.srlag Ship Hartford, at sea, Latitude o. deg.
81 min. north, Longitude 123 deg ~ min. east,
June Sd. 1867" en- closing the report or Com.
mander John T. Febiger, OF the steamer ASH.
ueiot, and the letters received by Commander
Formosa. Com mander Febiger with the Ash
uelot was sent to Formosa to rescue the sur
viving officers and crew OF the American
barque .'Rover," which had been wrecked 10
the sOuthw ard OF that Island. In his report to
Admiral Bell. dated April 26th, 1867, hs says
he arrived at Tat War. Foo on the morning OF
April 18th, and Immediately for wardeda letter
TO the three principal authorities ON the Island
General, Taotai. and Prefect) Informing them
of the reported murder of the Rover's crow,
and requesting that an immediate investiga-
ton OF the case should be made that ia case
there were any OF the crew sstIi surviving in
the hands of the savages immediate steps
should be taken to recover them aud that
proper armed force be- sent so that all impti-
Gated IN the murder be caught and punished
in accordance with Chinese law, also
Onering to assist in carrying out these objects.
An answer was received the folio wing day
stating that inform alton Of the case had been
received. that steps had been taken to nvesti.
gate, and that an armed force should be sent to
bring the perpetrators of the outrage TO pun
ishmenr. After the letters were received,
Commander Febger called upon the General,
Toatai and Project individually, andthey stated
they had received reliable information that all
the crew Of the Rover had shared the same
fate. leaving Tai wan Foo on the 2lst OF
April, Commander F. went to Lsang Kiavu
Bay, near where the murder was committed,
and communicated with the head men there.
bat they would give NO information, neither
would they furnish q messenger TO the saw
ages, some ten or twelve miles distant. He
then proceeded to the place where the murder
was committed, where he found q Chinese
boat with a crew of four men; they were Ia
n N fnYr oti h
tanned from them. The savaxes made their
appearance on the hills several miles distant
Accompanying the report is the letter from
Commander Febger to the General. Taotai,
and Project OF Tai wan. Foo, dated April Il,
announ cling that the American baraue Rover,
on the 18th OF March, 1867 ran upon a rock on
much injured that the officers and ere " had
to leave the barque TO save their lives. The
captain, his wife, second mate, and three sea-
men went in one boat, and were murdered,
after landing. except one seaman, who escaped
The other boat, with the chief m ate and seven
seamen, landed near the same place. and it is
supposed shared the same fate. Commander
+. then requests the authorities to search for
and seize all implicated in the murder, that
they may be punished. The reply of those
officers states that they will do all in their
power to arrest and punish the perpetrators of
the crime. but the savages are Lying in the
mountains and woods, and 1t is almost impos-
sible 10 use an armed force against them but
one will be sent.
mosa is divided between three different ra css
of man-Chinese, alf-breeds of aborlginals
and Chinese and wild savages, who wear
scarcely any clothing. Many American and
European vessels have disappeared off the
south end OF Formosa at various times, and it
has long been surmised have persisted by the
hands Of the natives and half breeds infesting
that part OF the coast. Admiral Il. says:-As
there Is no government TO deal with in this
matter. shall proceed at once with this ship
and one or two others to the south end OF
Formosa. and break up whatever nests the
wretches may have there. / am satisfied that
the barbaritles of these savages cannot be per.
manently stopped until the Government at
Picking be induced by the action OF American
and other foreign ministers at that court to
occupy all the villages and bays on the coast
and drive the aboriginals back to the interior
of the island
The letter Of H. B. M. Consul Chas Carol,
Esq, to Commander Febiger, Offering any as
sistance or information in his over, accom-
panies the despatch. Also, the proclaim att ~
OF the authorities at Tat Wan-Foo, for the
arrest OF the murderers. 1t will be remember.
ed that in form alton was received a few DAYS
since to the effect that Admiral Bell had made
an attack upon the savages, and one OF our
men was killed, but it will be several weeks
before a full report can reach the Navy De.
partmen'.