The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-14

fries, in Southern Scotland. and finishing
a course of study in the classical and med
ical departments of the College at Glas-
gov. DIR. Patton Immediately began work
as a city missionary in Glasgow. His
special field was among the town police,
and so appreciative Were the policemen
of his eleven years labor among them that
upon his departure they gave him hand
some gold watch, which he now carries.
Dr. Patton had established clubs and
reading circles among the police. and it Is
remarked that both Protestant and Cath
Ole policemen contributed to the gift.
The watch bears the inscriptions Pre-
scented to DR.. John G.. Patton, city mis-
siouary by the c Division of the Glas-
cow police as a token of their apprecIa-
ton of his zeal in the promotion of their
temporal and eternal welfare, March,
1857.
In 1858 Dr. Patton. accompanied by his
bride of a year, left for the missionary
field in the New Hebrides The New He
brides are a group of islands in the South
sea, an archipelago of Polynesia, a ch9ln
extending from latitude 10 degrees south,
longitude 1866 degrees east, to lattude ~
degrees south, longitude no degrees east
about 500 miles long, and adjacent 10 tne
Island of Borneo.
Weeks later DR.. Patton arrived at the
Island of Tanna, one of the northern ISL
ands of the group, and landing began ms
labors. For a time the intrepid MISSION
aries were unmolested, but a white trad
er visiting the islands made an unWar-
ranted personal attack on DR.. Patton, ana
following this the savage natives pun
dered the house and hardly a day passed
without some attempt upon the lives of
the missionaries, compelling them TO leave
the islands and seek a refuge with a ma
tive chief in another island. When the
party landed at Tanna there was me
harbor capable of accommodating a large
number of vessels, but an upheaval OF
the earth completely destroyed it. After
the escape of the party from Tanna they
were given shelter for time with friend
" chief but the natives were hostile, and
an attempt was made 10 escape from the
island in an open boat, but a rough sea
compelled the gallant workers to land
again. On the following night the mis-
sionarieg were assailed and the house in
which they were stopping burned, and
the life of DIT. Patton was attempted. DR..
Patton, in speaking of the attack, said:
II defied the natives, and apparently In
answer to my prayer a tornado came with
incredible swiftness and so alarmed the
natives that they ran away and molested
US no more"
The next day the party escaped by YES
sci to Anetyum, an adjoining island, one
of the missionaries and his wife dying on
board before the port was reached from
the hardshlps and dangers through which
they had passed
1.-The mission passed through baptism
of blood in beginning the work in South
Sea Islands, said DR.. Patton. ''The pop
ulation of the group was then estimated
at 10000 all cannibals without cloth
ing. and with no written language. on
Aneityiff " irr-re VIC nd our first work,
every widow was strangled to death the
moment her husband died. Child murder
was common, and children destroyed their
parents when long sick or aged Neigh
boring tribes were often at war with each
ether, and all they killed We're feasted on
by the conquerors which was also the
fate of all shipwrecked sailors and stran-
gers who fell into their hands, while
crimes of the most revolving character
were delighted in. Five missionaries were
murdered and two of them eaten on Err
rumanga. A sixth fell by my side and
died in consequence of an attack upon our
lives al Tanna. Members OF the mission
families and many native teachers with
their wives and children either died or
were murdered and eaten by the heather.
Those associated with me either died or
were killed leaving me the only missionary
north of Aneityum living TO tell the story.
1T was thirtyq-siX years ago that barely
escaping with my life l found my way
10 Australia and BY considerable effort