The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-14
TpIRTY YEARS WITH CANlHALS.

THE career OF the Rev. DR. John G..
| Patton. "A returned missionary from the
New Hebrddes. from the time that he
left Scotland. 81 years ago, TO his re-
turn 10 America is a serial story OF ad-
ventures and hardships, II escapes
from death. almost Incredible. says the
Kansas City Star. And II was NOT I'm
the path Of conquest. or leading the
seriied ranks OF battle that Dr. Patton
met and surmounted dangers ard DIFF
hculties and brought many thousands
OF ignorant sayages 10 an understand
ing og the arts of civilization. but "
was i'm preaching the Gospel that Or.
Patton and his associates wrought fhcir
work
Educated i'm the parish school In
Dumfries. i'm southern Scotland. and
finishing a course Of study ln The clas-
steal and medical departments OF the
college at Glasgow. DR. Patton imme-
dately began work as a city mission
airy In Glasgow. His special field was
among the town police. and 50 appre-
clativa were the policemen Of his IL
years labor among them that upon his
departure they gave him a handsome
gold watch, which he now carries. DIR.
Patton had established clubs and read
ing circles among the police, and 1t is
remarked that both Protestant and
Catholic policemen contributed 20 the
gift The watch bears the inscription.
"Presented 10 DR.. John c.. Patton, city
missionary by the G Division OF the
Glasgow Police as token OF their ap-
preciation OF his zeal In the promotion
of their temporal and eternal welfare,
March. 1851"
/, In 1875 Or. Patton. accompanied by
Ig.fs 10. fea4C
s.onary field in the New Hebrides. The
New Hebrdes are "A group of islands in
the South Sea. an archipelago of Poly
nesia. "A chain extending from latitude
13 degrees south longitude l66 degrees
east, To latitude 20 degrees south, longl-
tude 10 degrees east, about 800 miles
long and adjacent TO the island OF
BorneO.
Weeks 'ater DR.. Patton arrived al the
Island " Tanna. one of the northern
islands of the group. and Landing be-
gan his labors For "A time the IN
trepid missionaries were unmoleSted,
but a white trader visiting the Islands
n ade an unwarranted personal attack
on Dr. Patton. and following this the
savage natives plundered the house
and hardly a day passed without some
attempt upon the lives OF the mis-
sionarles. compelling them to leave the
islands and seek a refuge with ma
tive chief i'm another island. When the
party landed at Tanna there was
fine harbor, capable of accommodating
a large number OF vessels. but an up
heaval OF the earth completely destroy
ed sc. After the escape OF the party
from Tanna they were gwen shelter
for TIME with "A friendly chief, but
the natives were hostile and an at
tempt was made 10 escape from the ISL
and i'm an open boat. but rough sea
compeledThe gallant workers 10 land
again. on the following night the
missionaries were assailed and the
house i'm which they were stopping
learned and the life of DIR. Patton was
attempted DIR. Patton, i'm speaking OF
the attack said.
Il defied the natives. and apparently
i'm answer TO my prayer tornado came
with incredible swftness and So alarm
ed the natives that they ran away and
molested us no more"
The next day the party escaped by
vessel 70 Aneityum, an adjoining ISL
and. one Of the missionaries and his
wife dying on board before the port
was reached from the hardships and
dangers through which they had
passed
THE mission passed through q bap-
tism of blood i'm beginning the work In
South Sea Islands" said Or. Patton.
THE population of the group was then
without clothing. and with no written
language ON Aneityun, where we did
out first work, every widow was
strangled To death the moment her
husband died. Child murder was com
mon. and children destroyed their pa
rents when long sick or aged Neigh
boring tribes We're often at war with
each other and all they killed were
feasted on by the conquerors, which
was also the fate II all shipwrecked
sailors and strangers who fell into their
hands while crimes OF the most re-
voting characters were delighted in .
Five missionaries were murdered and
two OF them eaHen on ErIumanga. a
sixth feil by my side and Died I'm con
sequence OF an attack upon our lives
at Tanna. Members OF the mission
families and many native teachers
with their wfes and children either
died or were murdered and eaten by
the heather Those associated with mo
either died or were killed, leaving me
the only missionary north OF Aneiiyum
living to tell the story.
1t was 30 years ago that barely es-
Gaping with my life | found my way
10 Australia and by a cons derable ef-
fort secured our first mission schooner,
the Dayspring. and since then the
Christian influence has been extended
10 % islands. The Bible has been
translated and Is now read i'm - differ
eut languages and about $4,000 natives
have been redeemed from savagery.
out of the savage cannbals among
whom we were first placed. we have
educated Over three hundred nadvs
teachers. The high chief OF one ISLAND
cheerfully gave up II wifes In obedience
To the creed We taught
Dr. Patton married second time In
1852 and now has two sons engaged In
missionary work In the islands. From
one ne received q letter Yesterday con-
tanning a wonderful story. Illustrating
the devotion df the converted natives.
Ii appears that the chief of an inland
town on one OF the islands invited Dr..
paton's son. a few weeks ago. To- visit
nm at his home. The young minister,
accompanied by one of the native
t,achers. started with The chief. They
had not proceeded Tar when the CHIEF
suddenly turning levclled his rife az
The intrepid Young missionary. OWN
ing the chiefs murderuus intent the
converted native threw himself be-
tween the missionary and the rifle. re-
ce.Ving the bullet through his heart.