The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-10-16

himself by seizing the tomahawk by
the handle just as IL was descending on
his head. Lieutenant Budik. who for
tunately had his revolver in his hand
shot native just as he was about TO
strike him with heavy club. This ma
tive, at the time the attack took place.
was endeavoring through the medium
OF signs, to induce the lieutenant to
give him the revolver in exchange for
the club, which was very fine wea-
pom. The sailors. being prepared with
their rifles, at once opened fire on the
attacking party, and after a few min
utes put them to flight.
considerable number of natives
were shot in the affray, but il is impos-
sible to say how many. Baron Nor
beck, who was the only one seriously
wounded in this attack, was able to
walk slowly back to the camp, where
all was done for him that could be done
under the circumstances, but he gradu-
ally sank, and died about half-an- hour
afterwards.
The scene that presented itself to the
Baron's party when they came back TO
the camp was a very melancholy one.
They found-what of course they had
suspected before from hearing the shots
that the detachment at the camp had
been attacked almost simultaneously
with themselves, and apparently by
much greater number of bushmen.
Midshipman De Beaufort was cut down
before he had time to draw his revol-
ver so that he must have been taken
quite unawares. After a severe scrim-
mage, lasting several minutes, the
bushmen were compelled to fly, but
not before they had killed Midshipman
De Beaufort and three sailors. One Of
the native guides, who was wounded
in the hand, fought with very great
bravery, shooting several bushmen,
and in one case saving a sailors life.
This act was reciprocated by the same
or another sailor who saved the guides
life Immediately afterwards by shoot
ing bushman who had his axe up to-
brain him. A great number of BUSH
men were shot In this attack, but under
the circumstances 1t is impossible to
ascertain even approximately the num-
ber. In one case, it is stated that five
men were coming up through narrow
path to attack the party, and that
bullet from an Austrian rifle went
through the whole five.
The question then with Lieutenant
Budik was to get the wounded men
back to the ship, as to secure medical
assistance, for no messenger could be
sent through the hostile country. The
tents and all empidementa were, there
fore, abandoned, as the men could not
carry them for the two days retreat
which was made under the most anxi-
Gus circumstances until the village of
Aroti was reached. The wounded were
carefully escorted, and every precau-
tion was taken to guard the men from
attack by the bushmen, who were be-
lieved to be watching an opportunity
to attack the party. From Aroti a ma
tive guide was sent to the Albatross
with the news of the disaster, and a
party was at once ordered to be in
readiness. Fortunately the Deputy
Commissioner for the Solomon Islands,
Mr.. Woodford, was at Titiri on his way
to Ugo to inquire into the murder OF
Hamilton and Wright. He was noti-
fed by the Austrian officers of the oc-
currence, and so he decided to accom-
pany the relief expedition, as from his
knowledge of the place he felt that he
could be of service. Mr.. Mahen states
that, having a wish to see the interior,
he also volunteered to go, and his SER
vices were welcomed. The relief party
comprised Lieutenant Bublai, Mr..
WOodford Mr.. Mahen, the doctor Of the
Albatross. some of the officers and thir-
ty sailors. A start was made at p. m.
and the camp was reached that night,
a great portion of the journey having
to be taken by candle light through
the bush After attending to the
wounded the doctor reported that they
must be got on board as soon as pos
sibIe. 1t was therefore decided to re-
turn the next day to the ship with the
wounded. leaving the disposal of the
dead for future consideration. Accord
ingIy. at daylight next day the wound
ed were conveyed to the Albatross, one
man having to be carried on a stretch
er all the way.
That day another expedition, under
the command of Lieutenant Bublai,
with two sub-lientenants, a midship-
man, and thirty-fve men, together
with Captain Erickson Of the schooner
Narono Mr.. Woodford, and Mr.. Ma
hen. left for the scene of the fight TO
recover the bodies of the dead. After
great trouble two coast natives were
pressed into service to act as guides,
but after passing Aroti they were found
TO be useless, as they had no knowledge
of the country. One of the Barons
servants then attempted to guide the
marty. but he mistook the track. AFTER
retracing their steps, the party plodded
on. up and down hill, through dense
bush and falling rain, until late IN the
afternoon Lieutenants Bublai then de-
cided in view of the extreme difficulty
of making any progress through the
bush, the exhausted condition or his
men who were laden with their rifles