The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-14
But ONE LIVED
TO TELL THE TALE
Sole Survivor Relates Awful Expert
ence With Canrbals.
DR.. PATTON NOW IN RICHMOND.
The Apostle OF the New Hebridcs'
Tell, of the wfui Fate of His
Co-workcrs at the Hands of
Bloodtbirsty Savagcs.
DR.. PATTON NOW IN RICHMOND.

OF the six Missionaries who landed on
,hc New Ilebridcs, only one escaped from
The cannibals.
The sole survivor. Rev. John c. Patton,
u. Ds Of that noble band, is now in the
city. the guest Of Rev. Dr. James j..
Smith, Editor Of the Central Presbyterian.
Dr. Patton is man OF most pleasing
personality. His manner IS kind ana
gentle. and sincerity is written in every
feature. Ills beard is long and like his
flowing locks. Is white from the frosts
of many winters. He has been called
"1he Apostle of the New Hebrldes.' and
The results that have attended his labors,
among the healthier there, are oonsid-
cred. by those interested IN mission work,
as nothing less than marvellous. Dr.
Patton was appointcd the represen-
iative of the Presbyterian Church
OF Victoria, Australia, at the General
Council OF the Alliance Of Reformed
Churches. which met in Washington last
month ana this IS his first visit to Amer
icd In seven years.
Ills LABoGs.
For over two score years Dr. Patton
has laborcd among the inhabitants Of
these islands Of the sea. For more than
half a century, he has devoted his life and
his best efforts to the spreading OF Christ
teachings.
A native OF Scotland. he was for more
than decade engaged I'm missionary
work la the city of Glasgow. Then he
went TO the New Hebrides. The best idea
of this wonderful work is 10 be gotten
from DR.. Patons own description. Though
modest in the extreme the reader can
readily see that obstacles many ana
apparently unsuTmountable, were to be
overcome IN the evangelization OF tins
portion Of the world:
CANNIBAL'S ATE THEM.
"Our mission" said Or. Patton. sis con-
Quoted on group of South Sea Islands,
thirty In number. having "a population Of
about 5000 The London Missionary So
ciety first tried to introduce the gospel
10 this group in the year SO, By the IA
nous John Williams and Mr.. Harris who
IN landing on Errumanga, were murdered,
cooked and eaten by the natives. Two
others. Messrs. Turner and Nesbitt fol-
lowed soon after ana attempted 10 begin
work on the next island Of the eroup.
Tsnna. but they were forced TO leave and
fortunately escaped with their lives. The
Society then tried 10 propagate the teach
ings OF our Savior by placing native teach
ers on various Islands Of the group. but
those who were not killed ana eaten Dy
the savaees succumbed TO the unheaithN
climate Thus nothing effective had been
accomplished until 1915 when our Preshy-
terrain mission was begun on Aneityum'
the most southerly OF the group, by Rev.
John Geddic who had come from Nova
Scotia and who was soon afterward join
ct by Rev. John Ing,is, of Scotland.
THOUSANDS or CANNIBAIS.
"Ther the population OF this group was
estimated at $4,000 all cannibais' with
out clothing. and without "a written IAN
guage on Aneityum every WldOW was
strangled 10 death the moment her nus
band died-infanticide was common, ana
children destroyed by their parents whcn
long sick or aged. Neighborins tribes
We're often at war with eacn other' ana
ali they killed were Toasted on by the
conquerors. which was also the fate OF
all shipwrecked sailors and strangers
who fell into their hands. while crime OF
the most revolving character were de-
lighted in. but within fifteen years the
whole population of Aneityum, then over
$500. had been led 20 embrace Christianl-
IN. Heather practices were abolished
churches and schools were built, family
Worship was established The SaDbatn
became "A day OF rest And they sent out
about 100 Of their best and ablest men and
women as teachers TO adjoining heather
islands. 10 help in giving them The Cos
pel BY cultivatng and manufacturing
arrow-root the Aneityunese have paid
5000 for printing the complete Bible in
their own language. as translated into II
by their missionaries: and by their ar
rowroot some years they have been able
to give over $1,000 IN support of the gos-
pei.
SLAIN BY SAVAGES.
Thirty. six years ago the mission pass
ed through a baptism of blood IN begin
ming the work ON this group. Five mis-
sionaries were murdered. and two of them
eaten on Errumanga. a sixth fen by my
side. and died in consequence OF a savage
attack upon our lives on 1lnna Other
members OF the mission families died.
and many native teachers with their
wives and children either died or were
murdered and eaten by the heather. The
remaining two, after suffering with me-
and myself finally managed TO escape In
sandal-wOod trading vessel, but We
were so reduced that both Mr.. and Mrs
Mathiesan died, leaving me the only mis-
sionary then north Of Aneltyum living
10 tell the sad tale.
WHAT IS NEEDED.
AT present we are greatly in need Of
a mission ship. We have had three but
all found a hidden reef and sank beneath
the seas. A mission boat is to us mis-
sionaries. what railways. telegraph and
other means OF communication are 10 YOU
We see one another very seldom, and as
there are many yet to hear the Word, Il
would greatly facilitate our work.
yes, ! am going back. / am not alone.
you know for MY dear wife IS by nv
side, and three OF my sons are IN the
service Of the Master Two Of them are
missionaries"
HIS ADDRESSES HERE.
Or. Patton will remain I'm this city until
Monday when he leaves for Norfolk. and
he Will later visi: other Virginia cities
and towns. Yesterday he made an adj /
dress al the Grace Street Presbyterian
Church and tomorrow afternoon he will
addrsss ConvenanterS AZ the Second Pres
byterian Church In the evening a mass
meeting will be held IN the First Church