The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-14
THE MORNING NEWS: THURSDAY NOVEMBER H. 1901

small Bible that | carried in my pocket.
My wife and l and some native teach
ers locked ourselves in the bedroom.
"A chief in apparent friendliness
called me to the window and as soon
as l appeared, he hurled a tomahawk
at my head. pointed revolver at
him, whereat the savages all threw
themselves on the ground and made no
more hostile moves They went away,
however, with threats to return the
next day and kill us. The next morning
a chief stationed on the beach just
out of reach of my pistol, blew great
conch shell whistle, and almost imme-
diately horde of savages, all armed
with clubs. tomahawks and spears,
rushed down the hill toward the beach.
Some headed for the mission house and
some for the house of chief who was
friendly to us. / saw that ordinary
methods of defense were useless and
eft the mission house to go out and
face the savages. One sprang from be
hind a breadfruit tree and lifted his
tomahawk to hurl at my head. lifted
my hand and cried: If you strike me.
my jehovah God. will punish you! He
protects us and viii punish you. He
is here now to defend met The savage
skunk away.
In Freuzy.
Il Immediately took my wife ana the
little party of teachers who were at
the mission house and FASTENED down,
to the village which was inhabited al
most exclusively by converted natives,
/ enjoined them to fell trees and throw
up breastworks, which would help us
to protect ourselves against an attack.
They worked vigorously at this for
time and then fear overwhelmed them.
They threw their tools and even their
weapons away and cast themselves on
the ground. BY this time the savages
had completed the footing of the mis-
sion house and were gathered about
three hundred yards away.
Having in mind my success in aw-
ing them a few minutes before and
knowing that, with out native friends
so paralyzed by fright we could make
no human defense. went out again to
meet the savages, taking friendly
chief along with me. We were surround
ed, but the savages, while very threat
ening, hesitated to kill us. The CHIEF
and I stood with our backs against a
tree. parleying with the savages, ana
the while they were urging each otner
to kill us. Every moment we expected
some one, holder than the rest to hurl
the tomahawk which would be the
signal for our immediate slaughter, and
we could smell our own flesh roasting
over the Goals of fire that was al
ready buring. When we could stand
the suspense no longer we turned and
fled. Instantly, a hundred tomahawks
and killing stones were hurled at us
The chief was hit, but l escaped injury
For some inexplicable reason the saw
ages did not pursue me, nor ola they
attack the village again.
shortly after that DR.. and Mrs
work with me in the mission on the
Island of Tampa, which was particu-
larly lawless. They had only become
fairly settled when one day native
came and asked DR.. Gordon to go and
see his boy. who was sick. The way
lay across a raVine, and as DR.. Gordon
came to the edge of II native spranS
up and struck him dead with single
blow from a killing stone Mrs. Gordon
heard the commotion, and, running out
inquired the cause. The natives told
her il was only boys at play. and she
started to return to the mission house.
Just then q native stepped up behind
and killed her as the other had killed
her husband. We tried to save the
bodies, but could not, and both We're
eaten.
Determined to Murder.
After the death of DR.. and Mrs,
Gordon the savages were more de-
termined than ever in their attempts
to murder us, but they sought always
to accomplish their object by stealth
instead of by open attack. One day
three of them came to the house for
medicine. Mr.. Johnson, a missionary
who was with us then, refused to adj
nit them. as they had their faces
painted black, which was a token that
CtTf fn.. h
that with Johnson and myself in the
room there was no danger and let two
of them in. / kept a pretty close watch
Upon them while preparing the medi-
cine, but must have relaxed my vigil
lance for moment, for the first thing
/ knew both saVages were upon me
with their clubs raised. / thought it
was all over, and was wondering why
Johnson did not do something, when
my two dogs sprang at the savages and
startled them so that before they had
collected their wits Johnson and
thrust them both out of doors. The
savage who was outside however, threw
his tomahawk at Johnson before the
door could be closed, striking him on
the head. l pulled his body into the
house and dressed the wound as best
1 could, but he was beyond help and
died shortly.
After this all restraint over the saw
ages was gone. Our only apparent
hope was in flight to another mission
where the natives were more friendly.
1t was two days before we could get
away. In the meantime we remained
barricaded in one room at the mission.
On the second night occurred an event
which restored my control of the ma
tives and made possible a continuation
of the work on this island. We were
watching for an opportunity to leave
the mission, when we discovered that
the. savages were preparing to burn
the mission house and the church adj
joining. Soon the church was in flames
and the fire was creeping along the
bamboo fence which connected IL with
the mission house. 1t looked as If we
had only choice between cremation
and a more horrible fate, and we were
trying to choose. Seeing but one posi-
BILE hope, / opened the door and rushed
out, thinking to tear down the fence
and get back into the house uninjured.
The natives were nearer at hand tnan
/ thought, howe yer, and while / WIS
Euling the burning fence TO pieces and
thu owing 1t back on he fire they sur
.COnded me. / tr ed MY old eXpcdient
OF warning them solem".y that Jehovs h
would strike them dead IL they harmed