Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-03-17
A SOUTH SEA FIGHT.
4 Battle with Savages on Board a 81,

The Sydney australia Empire, of
the 18th of December, gives an account
of q collision between South Sea Island
ers and the British schooner Sandtiv,
gun, Lieut.. Howell, which returned to
Port Jackson on the 10th of December:
''The Sandfy commenced her cruise
on the Cd of July, on which date she
cleared Sidney Heads, and proceeded to
Norfolk Island. Nothing of impol cance
occurred till reaching Tapona, on the
18th of September, In quest of water.
A large number Of canoes came off on
the 18th but brought no trade. The
natives were very friendly, and offered
the crew inducements to go on shore.
A watering party landed, being accom-
panied by some of the natives, and
searched for water but found none.
Early in the afternoon, when most of
the crew were below, the natives began
firing arrows at those on deck. Orders
were at once given to get ready to repel
the attack A few shots were discharg-
ed and they dispersed, many taking to
the water and deserving their canoes.
Twenty of these were destroyed and
two villages were fired. On the Goth
of September, the Island of San
ia Cruz was being approached,
and extreme caution was exercised, as
the treacherous and warlike nature of
it's inhabitants was known. Canoes
fully manned came out to meet the YES
sci. The largest canoe pulled astern
and made signs for a rope to tow with
the schooner. They appeared annoyed
at not getting one, and became impa-
tlent. At half-past 10 A. NJ, anchored
in IA fathoms, 200 yards from the shore
and inside Carlisle reef. Natives came
off in great numbers, many of them
bringing pigs, cocoa nuts, &C., which
trade. Several canoes, however, were
well armed, and they began to get very
thick round the schooner. It was no
ticed that the boys were all swimming
for the shore, and as the natives were
detected uncovering their bows and ar
rows, it was surmised that they meant
mischief. The marines got their rifles
on the after deck, taking care to keep
them out of sight. The natives, who
thronged the gunwale in great num-
bers, were becoming noisy and in
solent. A blank shot was fired
from the ships gun, but had little
effect in frightening them. At quar-
ter past eleven A. NJ, the natives opened
fire with poisoned arrows. Lieutenant
Howell discharged his revolver at the
leading native, and gave the order to
his men to commence firing, which the
crew responded to with deadly aim. In
an instant the natives were panic strick-
en-. Those on the vessels gunwale
either fell or jumped into the sea,
many of them dead, others wounded and
struggling for the shore. The canoes
crews were SO astonished at the effect
of the rifle shots that they jumped over
board and struck out for the shore.
During the short time the engagement
lasted about thirty natives were killed;
the majority escaped into the bush.
The SandHy lowered her boats and the
crews spent the afternoon in destroying
all the abandoned canoes, some of
which were very large, and set fire to
two of the natives villages. In the
evening the schooner hoisted in the
boats and kept good watch, in case of
another attack. On the Dist of Septem-
Der q watering party proceeded on
olIOlO IOI NduSI, Wal 1OChCO LII
the boat, and fired at random into
the bush. They managed to get
a supply under cover of the rifles of
another boat. On the Odd, watering
the ship was continued. The bush was
thick with natives, and few shots were
fired to keep them off. A shell was also
thrown from the gun on deck. After
the boats had left, at a quarter past 3
P. NJ, the crews saw the natives at the
ruins Of their village. One Of their
number came down to the beach and
fred two arrows at the vessel. In re-
turn for this shell was lodged in their
midst, and they at once scampered off
for the bush They were not again
visible until the 23d, when they came
on to the beach, but few rife shots
soon dispersed them. On the Oath the
Sandfy left for Havannah harbor, and
then went to Cherry Island. The ma
tives of this place were friendly, and
were fine stalwart men. The schooner
called at Api Island on the Goth of
August. At this place boats crew Of
the Zephyr had been murdered and
eaten some time since. An attempt was
made to capture the perpetrators of the
crime. AS this failed, the village was
shelled."