Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-02-09
AMONG THE sAyAGEs
A MISSIONARY LIVES THIRTY
YEARS WITH cANNisALs.

The career of Rev Dr. John @. Pa
ton, a returned missionary from the
New Hebrides, from the time that he
left Scotland, thirty-one years ago, to
his return to America, is a serial story
of adventure and hardship, OF escapes
from death almost incredible. And IL
was not in the path of conquest or lead
ing 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 civiliza-
ton but it 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 a course of study in the
classical and medical departments of
the college at Glasgow, DR.. Patton at
once began work as a city missionary
in Glasgow. His special field was
among the town police, and SO appre-
ciative we're the policemen of his
eleven years labor among them that
upon his departure they gave him a
handsome gold watch. which he now
carries. Dr. Patton has established
clubs and reading circles among the
police, and IL is remarked that both
Protestant and Catholic policemen
contributed to the gift. The watch
bears the inscription: Presented to
DIR. John g. Patton, city missionary,
by the c Division OF the Glasgow Po-
lice as token of their appreciation
of his zeal in the promotion Of their
temporal and eternal welfare, March,
1857"
In 1853 DR.. Patton, accompanied by
his bride of a year, left for the mis-
sionary field In the New Hebrides.
The New Hebrides are group of isl.
ands in the South Sea, an archipelago
of Polynesia, a chain extending from
latitude 13 degrees south, longitude
166 degrees east, to latitude 20 de-
grees south, longitude 40 degrees
east, about five 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 q time the in
trepid missionaries were unmolested,
but white trader visiting the islands
made an unwarranted personal attack
upon DIR. Patton, and following this
the savage natives plundered the
house and hardly a day passed with
out, some attempt upon the lives of
the missionaries compelling them to
leave the islands and seek a refuge
with a native chief in another island
When the party landed at Tanna there
was a fine harbor, capable of accomo-
dating 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 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 to
land again. On the following night
the missionaries were assailed and
the house in which they were stop
ping burned, and the life of DR.. Patton
was attempted. DR.. Patton, in speak
ing of the attGtek, said:
II defied the natives, and, apparent
ly 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 mission passed through bap-
tism of blood in beginning the work
In South Sea Islands, said DR.. Patton.
'The population of the group was then
estimated at 10000, 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.
boring tribes were often at war with
each other, and all they killed were
feasted 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 were mur-
dered and two of them eaten on Err
rumaga. A sixth fell by my side
and died in consequence of an attack
upon our lives at Tanna. Members oi
the mission families and many native
teachers with their wives and chill
dren either died or were murdered
and eaten by the heather. Those as
ISOLATED with me either died or were
killed, leaving me the only missionary
north of Aneityum living to tell the
story.
ut was thirty-six years ago that
barely escaping with my life, l found
my way to Australia, and by consid
cradle effort secured our first mission
schooner, the Dayspring, and since
1 then the work has steadily progressed
and Christian influence has been ex
/ tended TO twenty-five islands. The
Bible has been translated and is nov
read In twenty-five different Ian
/ gUages, and about eighteen Thousand
natives have been redeemed from sav
agery. Out of the savage cannibals
among whom we we're first placed, WI
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"
DR.. Patton married a second tim,
in 1862 and has now two sons engaged
In missionary work in the islands
From one'h received a letter recent,
containing a wonderful story, illustrat
ing the devotion OF the converted ma
tives. It appears that the chief o
an inland town on one OF the islands
invited DR.. Paton's son TO visit him a
his home. The young minister, &C
companied by one OF the native teach
ers, started with the chief They hat
not proceeded far when the chief, sud
denly turning, leveled his rife at thi
intrepid young missionary. Divinini
the chiefs murderous intent, the con
verted native threw himself betweel
the missionary and the rife. receiy
ing the bullet through his heart.
Dr. Patton ia rs years old, and pre-
sents a picturesque appearance will
his long, white hair and beard, hi
face bronzed with years OF exposur
in the tropics. He Is vigorous and az
parently capable o. many more year
Of active labor.-Kansas City Star.