Evening journal., 1900-02-06
AMONG THE,SAyAGES
a MISSIONARY LIVES THIRTY
YEARS WITH cANNiBALs.

Experience Of Rev. Or. John c. Patton
in the New Hebrldes lslands--He
Saved His Life by Ruse--Misslon.
aries Eaten by the Natives.
The career OF Rev. DR.. John G.. Pc
on, returned missionary from the
New Hebrides, from the time that lac
elt scotland thirty-one years ago, 70
his return 10 America. 20 q serial story
of adventure and hardship, OF escapes
nom death almost incredible. And II
vas not in the path of conquest or lead.
irg the serried ranks OF battle that
Dr. Patton met and surmounted dan
gers and difficulties and brought many
thousands OF Ignorant savages TO an
understanding OF the art of clvillza-
ton. but 1t was In preaching the Cos
pei that Dr.. Patton and his associates
wrought their work.
Educated In the parish school in
Dumfries. In southern Scotland, and
finishing course OF study In the
classical and medical departments OF
The college at Glasgow. DR.. Patton at
once began work as a city missionary
So NNHHN"ANNH AAAA NNNNNNAN ANAN WNtt
among the town police. and so appro-
claLiye were the policemen of his
eleven years labor among them that
upon his departure they gave him a
handsome sold watch. which he now
carries Or. Patton has established
clubs and reading circles among the
police, and &c Is remarked that both
'rOtcstant and Catholic policemen
HHINHHfnH HFt tHIN fNH. witch
lonrs the inscription. Presented TO
Dr. John C. Patton. city missionary.
BY the g Division OF the Glasgow Pc.
Ice as q token OF their appreciation
81 his zeal In the promotion Of their
cmporal and eternal welfare, March,
1851"
In 1858 Or. Patton. accompanied by
aia bride Of q year. left for the mis-
sionary field In the New Hebrldcs.
The New Hebrides are n group of isl.
ands In the South Sea, an archipelago
Of Polynesia, q chain extending from
latitude l3 degrees south. longitude
l66 degrees east. to latitude 20 de-
grees south. longitude 10 degrees
east. about Eve hundred miles long.
and adjacent to the island OF Borneo.
Weeks later Dr. Patton arrived at
the island OF Tanna, one of the north.
ern islands Of the group, and landing
began his labOrs. For a time the IN.
trepid missionaries we're unmolested.
but white trader visiting the Islands
made an unwarranted personal attack
upon DR.. Patton. and following this
the savage natives plundered the
house and hardly n day passed with
ont some attempt upon the lives OF
the missionaries, compelling them 20
leave the islands and seek q refuge
with a native chief In another island.
When the party landed at ranna there
was a fine harbor. capable Of accomo.
dating a large number OF vessels. but
an upheaval OF the earth completely
destroyed a. After the escape OF the
party from Tanna they were given
shelter for a time with a friendly
chief, but the natives were hostile
and an attempt was made to escape
from the island In an open boat. but
rough sea compelled the workers Il
land again. On the following might
the missionaries were assailed and
the house Ia which they we're stop
ring burned. and the life Of Dr. Pator
vas attempted DR.. Patton, in speak
ing OF the attack. said;
Il dehed the natives. and. apparent
" In answer to my prayer. a tornado
came with incredible swiftness, and
20 alarmed the natives that they ran
away and molested us no more"
"The mission passed through a bap
tism Of blood In beginning the work
IN South Sea Islands. said Dr. Patton
the population Of the group was then
estimated az 100 900. all cannibals
without clothing and with no written
language. On Aneityum. where We did
our first work. every widow was
strangled to death the moment her
husband died. Child murder was com
mon. and children destroyed their par
ents when long sick or aged Neigh
toring tribes were often at war with
each other and all they killed were
reasted upon by their conquerors
which was also the fate OF all ship
wrecked sailors and strangers who fell
into their hands. while crimes OF the
most revolving character were delight
ed in Five missionaries wero muir
dored and two OF them eaten on Err
rrmaRa A sixth fell by my side
and died I'm CONSEQUENCE OF an attack
upon our lives at Tonne Members oil
tho mission families and many native
teachers with their wives and chill
drcn either died OF were murdered
and eaten by the heather. Those as
7ociated with me either died on were
.illed, leaving me the only missionary
north OF Aneityum living to tell the
tory.
1T was thirty-six years ago that
barely escaping with my life, ! found
my way TO Australia, and by n consid
erablo effort secured our first mission
schooner the Dayspring, and sine,
hen the work has steadily progressed
md Christian influence has been ex
tended to twenty-five islands The
Chile has been translated and is now
read In twenty-five different Ian
s., guages. and about eighteen thousand
natives have been redeemed from saw
Ggery. Out of the savage cannibals
among whom we were first placed, W,
have educated over three hundred ma
tive teachers. The high chief In on,
island cheerfully gave up clever
wives in obedience to the creed W,
taught
Or. Patton married a SECOND tim,