The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-12-29
lew Zealand Correspondence Of the Alta Cal

New Zealand Correspondence Of the Alta Ca
nornia.
Murder of Bishop Patteson and of
Several of His Companions in the
South Sea Islands.
On Oct. 81, the astounding intelli-
gence was received in Auckland of
the murder of Bishop Patteson, of
the Malanesian Mission, Rev. Mr..
Atkins and a native, while on the
customary cruise on the missionary
schooner Southern Cross, among the
South Sea Islands. The circum.
stances attending the murder will
best be given in the words Of Capt.
Jacob, of the missionary schooner.
"During Mr.. Atkins stay in Won
ga he was speaking to the Captain of
the Emma Bell, who told me he was
going to Santa Cruz for labor. This
news made the Bishop very uneasy,
as he very well knew if a vessel went
there mischief would result from it.
He made up his mind to go to the
Reef Island and to ascertain if any
vessel had been about. On the 18th
of September made santa Cruz; very
light winds. Sep. 20, light winds off
Nukapu. About four miles distant
saw five or six canoes coming out.
When within a mile or two from the
vessel they lay to. We thought it
strange that they did not come along
side; on former occasions they would
have been alongside and have
boarded US five or six miles off the
land. The Bishop had the boat
lowered and went to them. This
was the last we saw of him alive. J
1t being low water, the boat could
not go over the reef The Bishop,
as it was usual, for him to do, got
into a canoe and went on shore, ac-
companied by two chiefs, Tabla and
Montu, the remaining four canoes
remaining with the boat. About
the time the Bishop would have got
on the shore the natives in the ca
noes attacked the boat, firing sever
al rrrows at the crew before they
could get the best of the shot. Mr..
Atkins was hit in the back of the
shoulders; Stephen, native OF Bou-
70, had six arrows in him, one in the
breast; John a native Of Monta, shot
in the side. The boat made for the
Bassie, and we got the wounded out
of her. Mr.. Brooks looking after
them. 1 Immediately sent Mr.. Bou-
gard innate with three acting as pi-
lot flor none Of our people knew
anything about the place., to see
after the Bishop. 1 told them to
keep outside the reef till they were
sure they had plenty of water to
cross, then pull toward the shore,
and keep out of arrow shot, and if
they saw the Bishop not to go in.
All this time the Bassie was be-
calmcd. Shortly after the boat left |
the vessel a breeze sprang up, and
worked the vessel cii2se to the boat,
so that her presence might lntlml-
date the natives from attacking the
boat. We saw the natives put off in |
two canoes from shore. One OF
them turned adrift; the other went /
back to the shore. Presently the |
boat went toward the drifting canoe, |
and found the dead body of the
Bishop in her, rolled up in Il native
mat. What the palm with the knots
meant we could not not tell. He
was stripped of his clothes, his head
smashed, and several
wounds in the body.
at is quite certain some vessel
lad been here ill-using the natives a
very short time previous to our com
ing, or they never would have killed
5he Bishop. Every year he called
1T this place, and he would give the
chiefs and people presents, and re-
main considerable part of the day
IN shore with them. We stood on
5he northeast; 2lst September, com
nittec the body to the deep, Mr..
Brook reading the service. 9th,
poor Atkins died; he was in great
agony four hours before his death;
28th, Stephens died, he being in
dreadful suferings for two days; Mr..
BROOKS read the burial service in
Maori and English. We committed
both bodies to the deep.
Nukapu, where the Bishop was
killed, is one of the small reef
stands in the swallow group, about
,hree miles in circumference and $50
'eet above the level of the sea; pop
llation about one hundred all told.
It lies about north-halfeast from
Iraciosa Bay; Santa Cruz about
thirty three miles. The natives in
are like the Maoris.
Their language, too, is like the Ma
,ri with a sprinkling Of Spanish
yords) which enabled the Bishop
20 converse with them.