Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-03
RAISING THE ENGLISH FLAG
-
Great Britain Does the Annexation Act in
the Pacific et.a1,
STAKE POSSESSION OF SOLOMON GROUP
Gold ecker Murdered by Natives in
the Interior of New Guincn-
Troops Sent to Punish
the Murdercrs.

VANCOUVER, b. c., Aug. 1.-The steam
ship Miowera from sydney has arrived here.
It left Sydney on the evening OF July 10, and
made the fastest passage on record Of the
Canadian line.
The Miowera brought details of the re-
cent annexation of the Solomon group. The
work of annexation was done by her Brit
ish majesty's ship Wallaroo. The first is
land made a colony was Bellona. which
the Wallaroo reached on July 16. The
union jack was hoisted with the usual cere-
monies. The natives were very shy at
first and were much frightened by the sa-
Lutte, but they became treasured on the
ship leaving and removed the notice of the
board of annexation and dug up the bottle
containing the proclamation. The entente
cordiale was first established by the ship
rescuing a native blown out to sea in a
canoe.
Runnell island was also placed under Brit
ish protection the same day. The island
is difficult of access and no natives were
seen. The Wallaroo called at Maru sound
and proceeded to the Stewart islands, an
nexing them. The natives are of a very
high type and very friendly. They were
much pleased at becoming British subjects.
Runnell and Bellona lie to the southwark
of Guadalcanar in the Solomon group, and
were apparently discovered by Captain Will
klnSOn IN Iue luuISptuSdplt III liJV. II ~
said that copper ore is abundant on them.
According to Lieutenant Richards, Runnell
island is about forty-five miles long and six
or seven broad, of a uniform height of 400
feet, densely wooded, but apparently affords
no anchorage. The natives resemble those
on Tanna, in the New Hebridee. All the
islands are rich in cocoanuts.
MURDERED BY NATIVES.
The Miowera brings information that news
of still another massacre has been received
at Sydney. Not long ago great numbers of
Australia's army of unemployed were at
tracted by stories OF fabulous gold panning
at Papua and other interior New Guinea
points. Their ranks have been terribly
th,uned by murder, starvation and fatal
swamp fevers. To make matters worse,
every native who helped a white man was
marked for the tomahawk. The remnant of
these white pioneers went to Van Apa for a
final effort to make their fortunes and re-
turn. Their stores gave out and for months
they lived on "damper" and tea. Natives
in the vicinity say they have been ill-treated
by the government in the way Of scant stores
and decided to teach the government a les
son by massacreing all whites within reach.
The whites were raided at night and put to
death with tomahawks, being easy victims.
After long suffering they were sick and
emaciated and could not defend themselves.
Many massacres had occurred in the same
place previously, but the government has
never attempted to punish the murderers.
Later news confirms the massacre, which
occurred eighty-five miles from Port Moresby.
The entire settlement off natiYes and whites
had their heads split open by a large band
of savages. The government has sent a
large body Of military police to surround the
natives and shoot them IL necessary. Whole
sale arrests will be made. The natives will
be brought back manacled in the hold of a
steamer chartered for the purpose,