Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-12-02
A TRAGEDY IN THE SOUTH SEAS.
A Horrible Story-Massacreb by Coolies
-Retribution-The wretches Blown
Overheard.

From the San Francisco Bulletin, Nov. 10.
By the brig Nautilus, Capt. Turner.
which arrived from Tahiti Yesterday, max
ing the quickest trip on record-67 days Tor
the round trip-news is received by bus
mess house in this city of one oi the most
thrilling tragedies ever enacted on the high
seas. 1t brings to mind the fearful scenes
witnessed ON board the African slavers
years ago, and surpasses any of the dark
deeds on ship-board that have been chron-
icled for long time. Some two years ago.
the French bark Muriadi Was fitted up by
the Tahiti Cotton Company, and sailed Tor
the Gilbert Islands, near Auckland, osten-
sibly on q trading expedition, but really Tor
the purpose of securing a cargo OF coolies,
to be used as slaves on the plantation. She
was provided with stocks, and arranged In
all respects like SLAYER. She procured her
human freight, and after considerable diff
Guilty succeeded in completing her voyage
in safety, in spite of the obstacles placed in
her path by the French government and
the natives.
The Muriada venture proved so remun-
erative that the company could scarcely
curb their impatience and wait for the ex-
citement to die out before sending for
another cargo of coolies. About six months
ago, the cotton company purchased the
bark Margaret Brander, arranged her SIM
liar to the Muriadi, and sent her to the
Gilbert islands, under the Tahitian flag,
after more ''laborers' for their plantation.
No unusual precautions were taken II
eqsipping the vessel to enable the officers
and men to withstand any outbreak which
might take place, and the owners saw the
gallant bark sail away with no apprehen-
sion that the voyage would prove disas-
trouslv.
The Brarder arrived at the Gilbert ISL
ands in due season, and Immediately set
to work procuring the ''laborers' wanted
In doing this, more trouble was experienced
than had been anticipated The natives of
Gilbert islands are fierce and revengeful,
and are bitter in their hatred toward the
whites. At last, however, the complement
was obtained, and the vessel sailed away
with 800 men and women. BY
some means or other, the ma
tives discovered the destination of
the Brander, found that they were to be
subjected to slavery, and the Muriadi's
cargo had been converted to that purpose.
Instantly they became sullen, and eyed
their captors with a wicked look. Feeling
somewhat insecure, Capt. BlacSett, who
had charge of the vessel, ordered the strict
est watch to be kept of the movements
made by the coolies, and all possible pre-
cautions for the safety Of the vessel, Off
GERS and crew. were taken. His fears were
not groundless, for when some two weeks
out the coolies rebelled in the night, killed
Capt. Blackett, two of the officers and sew
eral Of the men. and charged around the
vessel in The widest fury. hacking their
victims in the most frightful manner
While the poor wretches We're carrying on
their horrid work of mutilating and disfiG
uring their victims, the mate of the vessel
managed to secrete himself below His
absence was soon discovered, and the half
crazed savages set to work to discover his
whereabouts
SIistrasting their intention. and with
presence of mind seldom equaled he placed
a keg of powder under the main hatch, and
arranged fuse. Then calling ont 10 the
coolies above. he scampered back frcm the
powder as far as possible. When the fel
lows had crowded around the hatchway,
and wefe peering down To see him, he fired
his fuse, and the explosion which followed
killed nearly all on board. The rest were
so demoraliz d that they jumped overheard
or fell easy victims to the remorseless war
fare waged by the mate and the fewremain-
ing men. Singular as it may seem, the
vessel was not SO badly damaged that she
would not float, and the mate succeeded in
bringing her back to Tahiti.
The cotton company feel dissatisfied with
their investment, but are not discouraged,
and it is currently reported that the vessel
is being fitted up for another cruise.