Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-21
0fFormer Captivity Among
New Guinea Canniba|s
Told by Indiana Clergyman.
Saw His Associates Eaten.


New Albany, 1nO., May N.-In0
Rev Edmund A. Neville. rector of st.
i Pauls Episcopal church, this city,
who will leave May 26 for London.
| Eng, as one Of the delegates from In
| diana to the Pan-American church
| conference, which will meet at West
| minister Abbey in June, has filed ap-
| plication in the Floyd circuit court
| for naturalization papers. which will
be granted before his departure. He Is
a native of Melbourne. Australia, and
although still a young man. he has
travelled in all parts of the globe and
at one time was a captive for Is
months of cannibals on the Island of
Guinea, northwest of Australia, near
the equator.
In 1892 he joined an English mission
airy party, consisting of six young
missionaries and number of con-
verted South Sea Islanders, which
sailed from Australia for New Guinea.
and, after reaching the island, steam
ed in launch up Fly river to an I'M
explored region, 600 miles from its
mouth. They constructed their thatch-
ed huts and had settled down for
their work among the natives when
they were attacked one night by
savage band and the settlement was
wiped out, DR.. Neville being the only
survivor Of the party. The others were
butchercd as they slept, ard DR.. Ne
vile attributes his escape from death
to the fact that he was sleeping in a
hut apart from the others and was not
discovered until the lust for blood had
been satisfied.
The Bodies of his, companions were
roasted in great fires of wood, and
they were devoured by the hundred
or more savages. while he was COM
PEELED to stand by and witness the
hideous orgy. After the feast. which
lasted for several days, the band re-
sumed it's march from the smoking
ruins of the settlement with the lone
captive, who expected to be killed at
any moment and meet the fate Of his
friends. Far in the jungle the band
finally reached village, where DIR.
Neville fell ill Of fever. The white
man. the first they had ever seen. was
a source of wonder to the women and
children, and they exhibited sort Of
rude tenderness toward the prisoner,
and satisfied his, wants as well as they
could be understood. He was uncon-
gaining sufficient strength to walk
about his hut. and he discovered that
the savages had carried him across the
island. and that their village was on
the oceans shore.
He determined to keep the good will
of the band until such time as an OPP
portunity might be afforded to escape
to passing ship. Fifteen months
beach in his tattered pajamas and a
straw hat, the only articles Of clothing
he had been allowed to bring with
him into captivity, when a ship APP
peared in the offlng. A steam launch.
carrying a number Of armed sailors.
came ashore and began distributing
beads and mirrors among the savages.
DR.. Neville was Informed that they
were from a Dutch gunboat which had
been sent out in search of the mission
airy party. AT a favorable opportunity
he was separated from the blacks,
leaped into the launch. which put back
TO the vessel. and he was saved.
During the months he was in cap
tivity, he noted down in q book such
cannibal words as he learned, using q
burned stick to make the characters.
and, in time, he had list of several
hundred words and phrases. which
have been published as a dictionary
and have been of great use to mis-
sionaries. After he had fully recovered
from his adventure. DR.. Neville went
to oxford, where he finished his
studies and later engaged in mission
airy work in China, Japan. Singapore
and Central America. He came to
Canada and crossed to the United
States at Niagara Falls. and he has
held parishes in Pennsylvania. Texas.
Louisiana. Mississippi, Colorado and
Missouri, coming from Sedalia, Mo-, to
this city year ago.
A man who registered at tho Hotel
Manhattan, New York, as William Mar