Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-09-01
MAN-EATERS.

Horrible Feast IN the Marquesas-The
Savages Engaged in n Fierce War
French War Ships to Interfere.
Correspondence of the San Francisco
Chronicle from Tahiti, June Is, fur
nishcs the following:
ssThe savages on the Island of Obeva
hoa, better known to the English read
er as Dominica, one of the Marquesas
group, have again broken out in a fierce
war, and are practicing their disgusting
orgies as cannibals. Dominica is the
largest and most fertile island of the
group, but it's natives are amongst the
fercest savages of the South Seas. Al
though the Marquesas savages were
compelled to acknowledge the authority
of France In 1912, those on the Island
of Dominica have never yielded obedi-
ence. The French claim the islands as
one of their oceanic possessions, and
have a governor and small military
force at Noukahiva. To keep the ma
tlves IN subsection the principal force
relied upon is the was' vessels, one or
mo1e of which is always in some port or
cruising around.
a fierce war is now raging on the
island among rival cannibal chiefs, and
the latest reliable news is to the effect
that In one of their battles the yictors
captured seven of the enemy and i'm
mediately slaughtered them This act
of butchery was followed by horrible
feast on the bodies of the victims, at
which war songs, war dances and the
usual savage festivities were INDUCED
in. AS son as the news reached here
the FreLch authorities took active
measures for moving against the saw
ages. The war vessel lying at Nouka-
hiva is to be reinforced by another waf
steamer and revenue cutter or two
The object this time is to land sailors
and marines upon Dominica and at
temp to capture the cannibal leaders.
1t is doubtful If this can be accom-
plisheo, as the natives always flee to the
interior Businesses upon the approach
OF the French. When closely pursued
by the latter, the rival chiefs unite their
forces to their common enemy.
A few years ago this place was start
led by news even more exciting than
that we now have. It was then first re-
ported that the cannibals on Dominica
had captured and eaten three French
sailors, and also a number of natives
nave
dispatched force to the island, which
was successful in capturing one Of the
most celebrated warrior chiefs. ia fact.
the ambitious leader who claimed to be
King of the island. This warrior, now
quite an old man, IS still prisoner. He
was brought to this place, had a short
trial, and sent to Morea, the island ada
centto this. He is to be seen by the curl
Gus, and more remarkable specimen
of mankind it would be hard to find.
He is tattooed from head to foot, and is
almost naked, never wearing anything
except light cloth about his loins.
One OF his retalners, young warrior, is
allowed to wait upon him. Besides this
e1iled King, there are four other canni-
balls, his friends, On Morea. They deny
the charge of having eaten a French
mai, but admit that a native enemy,
captured according to their laws, makes
an excellent dish, especially if he be
young, and has not INDUCED in the
civilized luxuries of whisky and tobac-
co. The French authorities are in
formed that IL is the cannibaI friends of
this exiled King who are now carrying
on their war of butchery.
"A cOUlpidlut HAS Doou logged WIFI CQo
French officials that the American whal-
ing vessel Helen Snow touched at the
Island of Dominica some time ago and
sold the natives 1900 pounds of powder,
a quantity of lead, and number of old
muskets. The vessel came from Homo
lulu, where it is said she purchased the
articles mentioned. It is against the
law to sell or in any way trade such ar
ticles to the natives, SO that if the Helen
Snow is captured and found guilty, as
charged, we shall have complications of
an international character upon cur
hands. One thing is certain, that
it is only by the greatest vigilance
of the English and French war vessels
in the South Seas that the natives are
saved from pirate Captains, like the
notorious g Bully" Hays and others of
his kind. Strange to say the ferc st
and most blood thirsty pirate and
man-stealers Of the South Sea Islands
are Englishmen Or Americans. 8. Bully"
Hays, OF Samoa, boasts that he was
born in Yankee land. A notorious
man-stealer, Captain of an English YES
sci engaged in stealing natives from the