The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-11
SOuth Sea KIdnappcrs.

case recently brought under investigation
at the Water Police Office "ItappearS
that the brig Carl left Leyuka on the 4th
of July, 1871, for the New Hebrides
group, her mission being labor and n
search for lands suitable for cotton
plantation. The crow consisted Of the
captain, j. Armstrong tho mate, Charles
Dawden; the cook and steward, Davas-
cove also George Heath, William Lewis,
and two natives of SOmoa. Besides these
the following gentlemen accompanied tho
vessel DR.. Murray an intended sharer
in any land or cotton.growing speculation
that might be ayailable) aud four others
Mount, Wilson, Scott, and Norris. The
vessel arrived at Al without taking any
men or being successful in exploration,
but block of land was purchased from
the natives. No whites were on the
island. Yans in largo quantities were
purchased here, and all went well. Tho
natives came Off In large numbers to
trade with the people on the ship. While
trading, however, boats crew was sent
to sound for an anchorage, but tho boat
was fred at by other natives. It Is
alleged that this conduct so incensed the
crew and passengers that on the return
of the boat IN attack was made on those
trading. Some dozen men were captured,
and some few were shot. Every one
Joined in the outrage. They next sailed
along Espiritu santo, not touching, and
sighting Cape Cumberland They stood
for tue Solomon group, and at the lslet of
Santa Anna many natives came to trade.
Here, when tho canoes came alongside
they wero upset, and the vessels boats
picked up tie natives when they were
attempting to swim to shore. On this
occasion there was n native shot In the
water because no happened to be armed
with bow and arrow. About twelveI eImen
were taken. They then sailed along the
coast of Maylayton. No men were obtain
cd here. They proceeded to the Straits
Of Maylayton and Ysabel Island. Natives
came out, and having traded with them for
some time, their canoes were captured
and broken in the following manner.
Either (when their canoes were alongside)
q number Of the men jumped into one OF
them, and SO by their descent upset or
sank 1t, or else heavy weights, such as
pieces Of pig.iron attached to rope,
were suddenly thrown down, and thus
the canoes were broken up. The natives
invariably took to the water, and most OF
them werO picked up by the ships boats.
Several natives were taken on this oc-
CaSlon. There were no lives lost. They
then proceeded to tho Florida Island,
shortly after the scene of the murder Of
the crew Of the Layinia schooner, Of
Sydney, as detailed below, when ono Of
the boats took three or four men, the
number being uncertain. No violence In
the way of shooting occurred at Florida
Island, as no canoes came out except In
the case of those taken. Tho Carl re.
mained but short time there Tho
Herald adds: "Thc sooner Lavinia
arrived in port q few days since from the
Solomon islands. During her cruise
among the group q terrible catastrophe
occurred to q number Of her crew, insti.
gated, no doubt, by the outrages that
have been committed on the natives by
vessels in search oflaborers. The follow
ing particulars Of what may be termed
massacre are taken from the log Of the
Lavinia, and have been furnished to US by
captain BrOdie "0n the 2GtlI Of April
wo anchored in o small bight at the
eastern end Of the Florida Island. We
fished here for ten days very successfully,
the chief Domo rendering his assistance
in keeping ,urder among the natives on
shore. 1t was. by his advice that we
shifted round to MobOli llarbor, about
four miles from where we then were.
On Monday the 9th of May, We arriyednt
Mobon, and got our house up, ready for
curing beche.de-mer. The natives at
that place indicated treachery. Friday
the 10th, everything looked very quiet on
shore and not many natives about. After
We had our breakfast told Louis Nixon
and five natives to got into the whale.
boat, as | was going away to look for
another harbor. Before getting into the
boat Iparticularly told the three men on
board the steamer to allow no natives on
board. We started with fine breeze
right aft. After we got away about four
miles the wind begin to freslen into a
stiff breeze, and begin to be afraid,
II we went away any further, the natives
would not be able to pull back, SO 1 turn
cd round aud made for the schooner.
When we got about 600 yards from the
vessel We heard q shrek, and, looking
toward the shore, we saw q native swim.
ing OIL to tho boat, We pulled towards
him, and, to our surprise, found him to be
one Of our own men, and, from what We
could make out Of him, and seeing no
movements on board the schooner, We
pulled along shore. The Florida natives
werc yelling and brandishing their spears
at us, and surinised their must DO some
thing wrong. AS we pulled up to the
schooner We all got ready for boarding,
and on getting alongside we jumped up
oil together. Seeing no natives on deck
we rushed to the matches to see II they
had got possession, but there were not
living soul on board but we saw one of
the most horrible sights imaginable.
James Shearer was lying alongside the
windlass with his head split open, and
several woundsl In his side. Charles Wolf
was lying amldships, with his head batter.
cd in and his brains scattered over the
matches. George Sellers was lying with
his head nearly severed from his body.
| think, from tho appearance of the bodies,
that Sellers was the only one that had a
struggle with the natives. Shortly after
We got possession of the schooner our
own natives rushed out of the bush into
the water, and sent the boat and picked
them all up.
pnEss sEenErs.-A curious press case