Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-12-05
A g''rightfuI Story and its Moral.

commerce pursued in the South Seas
under the British flag, and with the
sanction of British authorities, which
is somewhat similar to the coolie trade,
with the exception that in the South
Sea traffic no prctence Of any contract
with the emigrants is made, Instead
Of tins, the living cargoes picked up
by vessels here and there are kidnap-
ped outright, and talked to the most
profitable port for disposal. Fccjee is
the great market for the involuntary
cmigrants who form the basis Of this
traffic. The eveidence taken Oh trial
which lately occurred in Sydney, New
South Wales, affords some interesting
development in regard to the manner
in which Il very thriving branch of
British enterprise is prosecuted.
1t appears that in June, 1871, the
brig Carl owned bya DR.. James p.
Murray, who held an appointment IN
der the Victorian Government as local
Health Officer at Sandhurst, sailed
from Melbourne, Victoria on voyage
to Leyuka, Feejec. She took on
board Il general cargo, and was appa-
rently destined for a legitimate trad
ing expedition, DR., Murray going with
her as surgeon. Arrived at Fcyuka,
the cargo was disposed OF, and new
captain named Armstrong was shipped.
Capt. Armstrong obtained authority
from Mr.. March, the British Consul at
Leyuka, to go on labor cruise, and
took his departure from Feejee in
search OF emigrants. DR.. Murray con-
tinucd to occupy his place as surgeon
under the new captain as the Carl
sailed away on its expedition among
the Polynesian Islands. The crusie
was successful 50 far us obtaining a
good lumber of emigrants was con-
cernod but unsuccessful in regard to
bringing them safely into port and
rumors having gained circulation that
irregularities had been practised, a
British mal-oi-War seized the vessel at
Levuka on her return from a second
and more profitable voyage, and sent
her captain and some Of her crew to
Sydney for trial.
On the 10Th of August Armstrong
was arraioncd before the Water Pol
Ice Court in Sydney charged with the
Murder of Il Polynesian islander. The
chief evidence against him was that
of DR.. Murray, the owner of the Carl,
who turned Queens evidence in the
case. From DR.. Murray's testimony
it appears that the vessel had nearly
completed her living cargo before any
trouble occurred The method prin-
cipally employed to induce the unsus-
pcious islanders to emigratc was to
decoy them in their canoes along side
the vessel, when the canoes were sud
denly smashed by heavy pieces of iron
being thrown into them, While
struggling in the water the poor wretch
es were caught, hauled on board the
BRIG, and thrust into the hold. DR..
Murray said that in throwing the iron
great care was taken that none of the
natives should be injured, though he
admitted that some Of them escaped
wounded. Pie added that those who
were caught in this manner "came on
board almost voluntarily" This was
in reference to natives captured at the
Solomon group Of islands, At Boug-
ainville, however, an island densely
inhabited by warlike natives, where
eight men were caught, the victims
did not yield so quietly, but ''resisted
very much.
1t was entirely owing to the per-
verse and unaccountable conduct Of
these Bougainville savages after being
captured that all the trouble occurred
which resulted in bringing Capt, Arm
strong into his present unpleasant
position. If they had acted quietly
and reasonably like the other natives
the Carl might yet be engaged in her
authorized labor cruises, with great
profit to her owner and advantage to
British commercial enterprise. But
these warlike fellows, some forty-eight
hours after their capture, began fight
ing one evening in the hold. 1t is
said that the tiercest of them wished to
set fire to the ship, while the others
wished to prevent it. In order to
quiet this outbreak Capt. Armstrong
and the crew began an indiscriminate
slaughter Of their captiyeS, firing pro-
miscuously into the crowd, The quell-
ed the disturbance. The next morn
ing on the matches being taken off it
was found that no fewer than seventy
of the natives. were either dead or
wounded. The dead were at once
thrown overheard. Then the wound
ed had their legs securely bound, after
which they were also thrown over
board to follow their dead compan
ions.
The result of this voyage was only
eighteen laborers, who were Fortunate
ly saved from the general massacre.
Twelve of these were landed at Apia
and the other six at Levuka. Then
Capt. Armstrong procured from the
British Consul at that place an auth
orization to continue in the labor trade,
and proceeded to other islands, where
one hundred natives were captured.
These were safely landed at Levuka,
after which the vessel was seized.
AS the result Of the examination at
Sydney, Armstrong and one Clancy,
sailor, were committed to take their