Evening star., 1923-08-12
BY CAPT. C. A. w. MONCkToN

thompson. proprietor Of planta-
eion on Goodenough Island. who
reported that his station had been sur
prised and many of his native en-
ployes murdered by the islanders.
Thompson himself escaped only by the
accident Of being engaged with some
or his boys in night fishing on a reef
when the attack occurred
Hastily, therefore. the Siai, the
steamer used by the resident magis-
trate. was prepared for her departure
TO Goodenough Island. Thompson re-
fused to accompany US. upon the
ground that he had escaped once and
never wished to see the island or its
inhabitants again.
On the way to Goodenough we called
for Satadeai. a native we designated as
Saturday" who had recently become
attached to US and who was needed as
an interpreter. Carefully picking our
way among the shoals of the northeast
coast OF Goodenough. we at last dropped
anchor abreast of Thompson's station
ana plantation. Hers we found that the
bodies of the murdered men had been
buried by the natives, not eaten as
expected, and the house, though looted.
had not been burnt
On this trip I had with me three
queensland boys-Billy. Harry and
Palmer-whom I intended to use as
trackers. From the plundered house
we iouno tracks of natives leading in
a northerly direction. Those we fol-
lo"ed until We came to a village, the
tracks converging into which were
thickly sown with small. -sharpened
root spears. pointing In the direction
from which We approached. Picking
these out as we passed, we at last
came within a hundred yards OF the
viHage-apparently unperceived by
the natives. Rushing it, we secured
two men.
The remainder bolted and set UP
clamor in the bush some distance
away. Dragging our two unwilling
prisoners with us, we hastily returned
to the Siai, reaching that vessel un-
attacked. Safely on board. l exam
ined the men and found that the viii
lage from which we had captured
them was innocent of completely in
the murders. They, however, were
able to give me the names of the act
ual murderers and the inland villages
from which they came.
X &x
TAKING therefore, ten men and
L Poruma, my predecessor, More
toms attendant, left in the afternoon
for the nearest village, swimming on
the way river in which aliigators
seemed to be disagreeably plentiful.
Getting some miles inland, we ascend
ed ridge In grassy pocket situated
in the dense bush. and sighted the
cocoanuts and gardens of a large
village. At the same time. like quail.
rose two scouts from the grass
These fed for the village. giving loud
yells of warning, and were promptly
pursued by four of my men. Shouts
of defiance. mingled with the beating
OF drums and blowing of horns,
answered the warning cries.
See, sir" said Poruma THE grass
moves with spears
Following his pointing hand, I
looked and saw the tips of a long sin
nous line of spears. Hurriedly I
whistled my men back, and ordered
them to lie down in the long grass on
the ridge. The line OF spears came
u
trot and started up the hill Just
behind them came a number Of sings
men, who were beginning TO pelt the
hill with slingstones. which, how
ever-conceaied in the grass as we
were-failed to do any damage.
Hold your fire, you black guards
said to my men as they began to
flop home the breech blocks of their
Sniders, and to whimper like pack
of eager hounds.
The .slIngstones were now flying
harmlessly over US. At about sixty
yards I ordered the men to stand up
and fire. the result being that several
natives were knocked over, and for a
minute their line reeied down the
Nt;;, only TO be driven back again by
o steady fire. myself using a sixteen
shot Winchester repeater. Yelling
With excitement. my men broke line
in their impatience to charge after
the Goodenough natives.
Don't let them 60" said Poruma.
ssThose bushmen are not beaten yet.
Mr. Moreton. he
"Shut up. Poruma,p said, and then
yelled at the men to lie down in the
grass ana crawl twenty yards down.
hill. 1t was well we did; for in a
few minutes the spot we had occu-
pied was having chips knocked of 1t
by slingstones. "oh. master. you
know too muoh." said my men, as, in
security we watched the peppering of
our late position.
:. Then. sudden s4ashaiishower.s the