The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-01-27

island. When the party landed at Tan.
na there was fine harbor, capable of
accommodating large number of ves-
sells, but an upheaval of the earth COM
p1etely destroyed it. After the escape
of the party from Tanna they were
given shelter for time with friendly
chief, but the natives were hostile and
an attempt was made to 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-
sionaries were assailed and the house
In which they were stopping burned
and the life of DR.. Patton was attempt
ed. DR.. Patton, in speaking of the at
tack, said:
II defed the natives, and apparently
In answer to my prayer 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
vessel to Aneityum, an adjoining is.
land, 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 bap-
tism of blood in beginning the work in
South Sea islands, said DR.. Patton.
1.-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 stran.
gled to death the moment her hus-
band died. Child murder was common,
and children destroyed their parents
when long sick or aged. Neighboring
tribes were often at war with each
other, and all 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 crimes of the most revolving
character were delighted in. Five mis-
sionaries were murdered and two of
them eaten on Errumanga. A sixth fell
by my side and died in consequence of
an attack upon our lives at Tanna.
Members of the mission families and
many native teachers with their wives
and children either died or were mrr-
dered and eaten by the heather. Those
killed, leaving me the only missionary
north of Aneityum living to tell the
story.
cit was SO years ago that barely
escaping with my life found my way
to Australia, and by a considerable eff
fort secured our first mission schoon.
er, the Dayspring, and since then the
work has steadily progressed and
Christian influence has been extended
to % islands. The Bible has been
translated and is now read in % DIFF
tives have been redeemed from saw.
agery. Out of the savage cannibals,
among whom we were first placed, we
have educated over 300 native teach.
ers. The high chief of one island
cheerfully gave up II wives in obedi-
ence to the creed we taught"
DR.. Patton married second time in
1862 and now has two sons engaged in
missionary work in the islands. From
one he received a letter yesterday
containing wonderful story, illus
trating the devotion of the converted
natives. 1t appears that the chief Of
an lulduQ COWH OH one Oh Cne ISLANDS
invited DR.. Paton's son, few weeks
ago, to visit him at his home. The
young minister, accompanied by one
Of the native teachers, started with
the chief They had not proceeded
far when the chief, suddenly turning,
leveled his rifle at the intrepid young
missionary. Divining the chiefs MUIR
derous intent the converted native
threw himself between the missionary
and the rifle, receiving the bullet
through his heart.
DR.. Patton is rs years old, and pre-
sents picturesque appearance with
his long white hair and beard, his
face bronzed with years of exposure
in the tropics. He is vigorous and APP
parently capable of many more years
Of active labor.-Kansas City Star.
His Instructions.
A cut rate ticket broker of Memphis
tells an amusing incident which oc-
CURED at his Office this morning.
IAN old negro came into my place."
said the scalper, "and said his wife was
Z over in Arkansas and wanted to come