The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-06-19
THE FEJEE ISLANDS.
Horrible Massacre of White Men and
POlynesianS by Mountaineer Savages.

Polynesians by Mountaineer Savages.
The Australian mail brings intelligence
conirmatory of previously received briei
reports OF the massacre in Fejec of a
family of white settlers named Burns, and
some imported Polynesian laborers, by a
mountain tribe Of King Cakabau's fellow
countrymen and subjects There seems
to have been no survivor who could give
any Ineligible account of the affair. The
following particulars were supplied to the
Fejee Times:
About half past seven on Thursday
morning some of the imported aborers from
Mr.. Burns plantation arrived at Rara-
wal, stating that the mountaineers had
killed Mr.. Burns and his wife Mr.
Macintosh Immediately despatched Mess
RS. Stirling and M'Grath, with abou I
forty imported laborers, to render assist.
ance. In about half au hour they got in
sight of the wretches. and saw them cum
ing out of the house as thick as BEES
When they saw the two white meu COM
ing they quietly walked away. Stirling
and M'Grath followed them up the plan
tation until they crossed the river, where
they managed to fetch one down at long
distance. In looking about the panta
tion they saw the bodies of Mr.. and Mrs.
Burns some distance from the house, both
quite naked and mutilated In a short
time after nearly all the settlers on the
river were on the place.
At the examination of the bodies | saw
that Mr.. Burns had been clubbed and
tomahawked He only managed to shoot
two OF them before they managed to give
him his death blow Mrs Burns, poor
lady, must have suffered agony by the
look of her. She must have received two
cuts with an axe or tomahawk on the top
of her left shoulder on the first attack !;
her left hand was raised to the wounds,
and still remains in the same position
now In her grave. She had a cut under
her left jaw, part of her teeth down her
throat. Two holes, one each side, evident
ly made with spear, which had passed
through her body before she iell. be-
lieve her death was caused by club
The mountaineers, on doubt, were taking
her away with the intention of eating her,
but were too closel y pursued and CON-
PEELED to leave her.
The little boy was found outside the
house, with deep cut on the right side
of his head, and three deep cuts in his
right grion, and his little head clubbed
to pulp.
The little girl, an infant, was shock
ing sight. 1t would appear they had TAX
en- her by the legs and dashed her brains
out against the post of the bedroom door,
and then dropped the child among its
scattered brains. The four bodies were
brought and laid out under the verandah
side by side.
As Tar as L can ascertain at present
there are ten Erromanga men, FIVE Tanna
men, and one Solomon woman Killed
Two Tanna men, found with their legs
cut of and carried away by the noun
taineers, also several other bodies, no
doubt for cannibal feast. A number of
clubs, spears, etc., were picked up in and
about the house, which, by their appear
ance, have done a great deal of work in
murder and destruction of property.
After ransacking everything they com
meuCeu u uestroy all tney pOSStUiy cOulu.
Some money, a check and other valuable
papers, letters, clock, jewellery and
gold watch were found all over the floor
papers, ETC., recovered in good preserva-
tion. Everything in the bedroom, with
the exception of one large mirror and
medicine chest (unbroken) were taken
away. They were very successful in taxi
ing away number of guns, think not
less than twenty, but they did not get
much ammunition.
Next morning the mountaineers were
plainly to be seen with large amount of
their plunder spread out upon the rocks
to dry. The mountaineers sent us word
that they do not intend stopping at this,
as they have had complete success,
murdered twenty in ALL carried great
deal of property away and destroyed very
much more.
We are informed that Tayua, Mr.
Berry's plantation, is to be the next place
visited by the natives.