The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-12-27
CANNIBALS PUNISHED.
England and France Unite in Dis
ciplinary Measures.
AMERICAN SAILORS AVENGED.
They Had Been wantoniy Murdered by
savdge Pacific Islanders, and In Retail
alton Their Villages Were Destroyed and
Many Prisoners Captured and Sentenced.

Savage Pacific Islanders, and In Retail
alton Their Villages Were Destroyed and
Many Prisoners Captured and Sentenced.
LONDON, Dec. 27.--An officer of the twin
screw British gunboat Boomerang. en-
gagged in the protection of floating trade
III Australian waters, writing from Sidney,
gives q graphic account Of the punish
ment of the cannibals of PenteCost Island
for the massacre of the crew of the Amer
lean schooner Don Henri.
The officer referred to says that reports
reached the commander of the boomerang,
Lieutenant Commander Thomas e. Fen
ton, while at Noumea, capital of the
French colony of New Caledonia, to the
effect that numerous cases of cannibalism,
numbering and plundering were reported
from the neighborhood of Pentecost Isl
land. The Boomerang thereupon was
headed for the Sandwich Islands, where
the captain Of the Don Henri was found
The commander of the American
schooner made statement to the British
officers to the effect that early in Septem-
Der last, when calling ut Pentescost Isl
and in order to engage nntires to work a
plantation, he sent "A boat ashore contain
ing NJ, Lfton, Il French trader, and three
native seamen. Upon reaching tho shore
the party was attacked by snvages armed
with tomahawks, and all four were muir
dered
The commander OF the Boomerang, at
the same place, also received news OF the
murder of the crew of ii boat sent ashore
from the Neptune, French trading YES
sci ut Aurora Island.
Later, in company with the French war;
ship Scortf, the Boomerang proceeded to
PenteGost Island, where each warshp
landed at different points detachment
OF fcrty-eight officers and sailors, with in
structions to converge upon certain viii
lages and thus hem the cannibnls in, and
administer to them severe punishment for
the murder of the boats crews,
When the French and British blue Jack
cts advanced through the bushes upon the
different villages the natives, alarmed at
the advance of the two naval detach-
ments, retreated upon the villages. calling
upon all the Inhabitants to take up arms.
The latter did so, but they made but a
feeble defense with their old Snyder rifles,
poisoned arrows and spears, and soon fled
TO the bush, The sailors then destroyed
the native village of Pentecost Island aud
returned to their ships.
The Boomerang and Scorif then pro-
ceeded to Aurora Island, where similar
tactics were adopted and where two vii
lagos were destroyed. In addition, heavy
fines were inflicted upon the natives Of
several other islands who had been prom
inenr in the i'll treatment of traders and
seamen. The French and British COM
manders also took prisoners on Pcntecost
Island and on Aurora Island, capturing
those directly implicated in the murders,
and they were all sentenced to imprison.
ment for life at the French convict settle
ment Mt Nuumea.
AL Pentecost Island alone over thirty
white men have been massacred and
robbed, and large quantities of human
bones and other remains We're found, indi-
eating beyond doubt that the cannibas
had other victims.