The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-15
SAILORS KILLED
BY CANNIBALS.
Fate Of the Sea Ghosts Crew in the
Solomon Islands.
BODIES OF KILLED WERE EATEN.
The Sailors We're Slaughtered on the
Vessel and Then the Bodies Carried
Ashore to Make n Cannibal
Fcast-Two Escape.

SAN FRANCISCO. CAL. Nov. H.
When the unfortunate Baron Won Nor
beck and his party of sailors and marines
OF the Austrian gunboat were attacked
by the fierce natives of the Solomon ISL
ands and nearly all of the explorers were
killed, several months ago, the world
was rudely reminded that the natives of
the Solomon group were still far from
being conquered and that race of can
nibals was terrorizing the South Sea
traders who trafficked with the dark men
Of the islands. lying off Australia and
the coast OF Asia. Since the murder OF
Baron Won Norbeck the crews of three
schooners have been taken by surprise
and slaughtered. but about a year ago
the men Of an English war ship chastised
the Solomon Islanders severely, and for 4
time thoy were quite docile.
Believing in the supposed peaceful m
tentions Of the islanders, Captain Kohl
shon, a German trader, and owner Of a
cutter called the Sea Ghost, started from
Queensland in the early part of Septem-
Der for the island of Buka, OF the Ger
man solomon group, with the intention
VI procuring a. Cargo VI tOpfd. Itie-
graph dispatches stated In brief a few
weeks ago that the Sea Ghosts crew
had been killed by the natives. Mali
from sydney yesterday brought these
details OF the cruise OF the little vessel
and her doomed seamen:
Captain KohlshOn had been warned that
the natives were not as friendly as they
had protested TO be. but he did not think
1t worth while TO listen to stories of the
traders with whom he was associated, az
he believed they were simply jealous of
bis success and desired to keep him from
going to a lucrative business. He sailed
from the Bismarck Archipelago with two
White mates and crew OF seven natives,
intending TO go direct to the largest ISL
and of the Solomon group. but as Buka
lay I'm his course he changed the route
of his vessel and proceeded TO the native
village known to exist on the north side
OF the latter place.
The Sea Ghost arrived at Buka at night
and waited until morning. There was
somewhat of mist close inshore and it
was we'll on toward 8 o'clock when the
skipper went into the rigging with the
Idea of steering the schooner through the
reef to an anchorage inside. The first
officer was sent forward and the other
officer was In charge OF the wheel
Soon Captain kohlshon gave word that |
several boats were putting off from shore |
for the schooner. but the occupants were
waving palms branches and giving other |
signs OF peaceful intent. Anchor was |
dropped inside the reef and sails lowered |
The captain kept his position in the rig |
ging, as the channel had not been fully |
passed, and his orders were to warp in |
closer to the mainland by means of a |
kedge, to be carried inshore by a small !
boat.
HOW THE MEN WERE SLAIN.
Eve or six native boats came alongside. |
and In a few moments the Bismarck men |
and white mates were chatting and maxi |
ing friendly signs to the Solomon Island |
ers. Before the vessels crew had made a |
move 10 go below for goods the island
ers drew knives from under their belts
and attacked them furiously. The mates
and the Bismarck men seized pieces OF |
wood. iron or anything that could be used
as an instrument OF defense. A desDer-
ate conflict followed Two native sailors
went down at the first attack. The mates
and other members of the crew backed
up against the galley and fought against
great odds.
Several more boatloads OF armed ma
ives arrived. and fell upon the vessels
rev quickly despatching all but three
)ne man jumped overheard. swan ashore
md was taken prisoner. and his two sur
living comrades were oyerpOwered and
led with ropes.
Captain Kohlshon was still in the rig
ring He was desperately wounded as
he spearmen Of the Solomon Islanders
lad flung their lances at him and struck
lin several times He saw that Il was
Useless to remain aloft and be "potted"
Ike a bird in a tree so he slipped down
o the deck, seized an axe and knocked
wo OF his assalants down. He was soon
'vercome however, and his body was run
through with spears. The body was then
brown over the side OF the schooner
The natives then started ashore with
heir prisoners, taking with them the
'odies of the mates and the other dead.
The two prisoners were thrown into a
anoe. landed on the beach and left on
he sands. while the Solomon Islanders
repaired a meal of the bodies OF their
TWO OF THE CREW ESCAPED.
While this grewsome feast was being
lade ready several warriors put out TO
he schooner and found in the cabin a
eg Of liquor. There were wild shouts of
eight, and in less than an hour the en-
Ire party was stupidity drunk The Bis
iarck men managed TO escape from the
hongs that bound them, took a boat and
at out to sea. After floating heiplessly
bout for two days the surviving mem
ers OF the schooners crew were picked
D by a trader and afterward transferred
} the trading steamer Moresby and taken
} Queensland. where they related their
dventures New York Herald.