The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-04-24
A WHITE TRADER EATEN BY CANNIBlls.
Thomas Duncan Met q Horrible Fate
In the South Pacific Ocean.
Patterned, KILLED AND SERVED AT
A ROYAL FEAST.

Patterned, KILLED AND SERVED A
A ROYAL FEAST.
| From Australia comes q horrib
story of white man being devoure
by cannibals in the New Hebride
down in the South Pacific. Thoms
Duncan, peaceable trader anon
the treacherous natives, was first ia
tened and then killed for the feas
Brown men, who professed to be hi
friends and enjoyed his hospitality
subjected the unfortunate Dunca
TO frightful ordeal.
When it was decided that a feas
would be in order, the victim va
bound to tree and fed for thre
days. Then, when considered ia
enough, he was served at a triba
banquet, with the usual ceremonie
attending such orgies.
Duncan was a man we'll know,
and liked in Sidney, where the new
Of his death was received a shor
time ago. He arrived in Australi;
from South Africa last year with
plenty of money and an ambition
to trade among the islands. Wher
Duncan announced his intention Of
locating in the New Hebrides, his
friends warned him of the danger
The cruel and treacherous nature
OF these savages was pointed out to
Duncan, but he said he did not fear
the natives. He was a peaceable
man himself, he said, and had made
firm friends among the wild tribes
of Africa. So, disregarding all ad-
vice, Duncan fitted out a schooner
for trading and sailed away on his
last expedition.
The natives received him kindly.
All the big chiefs joined in pow
WOW, babe the trader to feast in his
honor and said he was their white
brother. Then the chiefs called their
people together and built a large
native house for Duncan, in which
be laid out his stock Of goods.
Being the only trader there he was
literally patronized. The natives
soon bought of him, promising to
pay for value received when they
had cut their copra and secured
enough coral.
But one morning, while Duncan
'at smoking in the door of his house
wo gigantic savages bounced upon
lis back. They bound him hand
md foot and fastened him to tree
n sitting posture, and with his
Jack to the trunk. A general call
or the cannibal population was
hen issued, and the hapless traveller
ay watching the preparations for
N elaborate feast. At first he did
lot realize the intent of his captors,
ut when a huge hollow was scooped
n the sand and lined with stone,
nd then filled with wood, Duncan
new that his end was not far off |
Tor three days the savages, under !
he direction of an aged cannibal,
7ho had attended such functions
efore, pursued systematic fatten-
ng process from his own store.
Young pigs baked in the ground
18th taro root, species of sweet
otatoes, were forced upon the man,
'ho had no appetite. But they
him to eat. Steamed
ananas, shellfish, game and native
Kinks were served in turn, until
'uncan was considered fat enough
, tickle the palate of the chief and
is invited guests.
At the end of three days Duncan
as stuffed to repletion and nearly
cad with horror and fear The
eadsman did his work and the
ody was prepared for the oven
hen the pile of wood, lighted
'me time previous, had burned
own, part of the redhot stones
ere removed from the pit. With
le remaining cobbles spread in
yer at the bottom, the body OF
uncan was laid thereon and COW
ed with hot stones. Over these
ere placed thick layers Of green
mana leaves, and the whole was
mixed over with damp earth and
'ush.
In this crude oven the feast Was
epared, round which the guests
sembled with weird songs of re- :
icing. Members of the royal !
from adjoining islands :
IRE present and the CHASTITY spread J
ssed off with what the host no ;
ubt considered great eclat.
The women and children joined ,
the festival, which, supplemented :
tn other viands, lasted one day ;,
d night. The traders stock OF {
Iuor, mostly gin, was appropriated :
: the occasion, and under the in :,
ence of the fiery stuff. the hideous
enc was prolonged. Huge bon
es were started at night, around = !
itch the cannibal crew, mad with =
ink and frenzied by the taste OF :
man flesh, danced until daylight. u
he Caldwell Record says: Harry "a
lis, tonsorial artist, commedian <
social star, left last week, by r.
, light of the moon, and for parts q