Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-01-10
A sorYu SRA MASS ,cRE.

The steamer Kildare arrived as
Cook,own on November 10th, bring
ing David Brown, the sole survivor
from the schooner Eibsnk Castle,
which Was wrecked on the solomon
Islands. The survivor brings intelli-
gsoce that Captain Routch and the
whole Of the crew. except himself.
were msssacred Immediately after
the vessel was wrecked. The Eliosnk
Castle left Brisbane 3 few months
since on q copra trading expedition,
in charge of Captain R0utch. On q
previous cruise two of her crew were
nsssacred, she being then owned
by Captain ROutch. but not sailed by
him. On the last trip he determined
TO take personal charge, in order TO
work up friendly business with the
natives. He was between fifty and
sixty years Of age and has q wife re-
siding in Edinburgh.
Brown SAYS that the EiIbaDk Cas-
tie left Brisbane in October OF last
wear for the solomon Islands. AT
Bentley Island Captain Howit bought
q piece Of land from the head man OF
the island and built on it shed
10 store coprs and other goods. Two
of the crew were left in the shed and
the vessel proceeded TO Goodwin
Island, took in some copra and then
sailed on 10 the solomon group, TAX
ing four native boat boys. While
there trading with the natives the
Captain went ashore with one Euro
pean seaman aud three natives, and
about : O'Clock he returned with q
boat load of copra, accompanied by
some natives who took the articles
given in exchange. Captain Howit.
with the same crew, went ashore
again to trade, and when the boat
reached the beach they were attacked
by the natives and all were murdered
Then the natives began firing at the
vessel with rifles. Those on board
then slipped the chain and made sail
for Port Douglas. The vessel left
gain for the solomon Islands, un.
der the command of Captain Routch,
The owner. He touched again at
Teste and Bentley Islands, where he
heard that one of the men left there
on the previous voyage had been
murdered aud that the other made
his way to Queensland.
The vessel went to the Solomon
Islands and anchored. Fifteen OF
twenty natives came on board, carry
ing tomahswks and spears, and the
Captain was showing them trade
when they suddenly attacked the
crew. David Brown was in the fore
castle when he heard the cries. he
took revolver and was going or
deck when one of the natives struck
him with tomahawk and drove him
below. Another seaman, named
Hugh Glide, came down also, hav
ing one side of his face split open
with a tomahawk. They both re-
manned below until evening, while
the natives were stripping the vesse
of all her cargo. Then. hearing nc
noise, they went through the bulk
head into the hold and up the main
hatch, just as 1t was getting dark
They saw light in the cabin, ant
on going aft they met a native com
ing out. Brown fired at him. but tn,
revolver missed and the native crap
pied with him, when the revolver
went of and the bullet went through
Browns hand. He called on Glide
to fire, wheTeupon the latter shot the
native in the head, and he fell dowr
the cabin ladder. The sailors then
closed the companion-way and free
through the cabin Windows at thu
two other natives inside, and killed
them both. 1t then got dark, ant
they slipped the cable and made sail
In the morning the dead bodies o
the Captain, mate, cook. one seaman
and u native boy were all found lyin!
on the deck, terribly gashed. and wer
buried at sea. The vessel driftet
about for a week. They then sighted
what Brown supposed to be New
Gninea, and stranded on the reef
The vessel got off. but leaked so bad
ly that the men put all the provisions
water and the ships papers into
boat. On the southwest side of New
Guinea they got into gale, and tn
sail. gliding suddenly, Knocked Gil
die overheard, Brown being unabl
to help him owing to the heavy sea
Brown then sailed and dritted abou
for full forty-eight days, when h
reached Key Island, and was pickle
up by Danish brig on Septembe
25th. He had exhausted all the pre-
visions in the boat The Captain too
him to Kadula, and he was theme
taken to Sourabaya by a Dutc
steamer, where he reported himsel
to the British Consul, who forwarde
him to Singapore. The crew of tn
Elibank Castle consisted of the Cap
tain. mate, cook, three seamen, ant
q native boy. all of whom perishe,
except Brown.