The Sun. — 1846-04-13 (London, England)

MASSACRE OF THE CREW OF  THE SHIP MARY.  We regret to state that information has at length arrived announcing the wreck of this vessel, and the dreadful fate of her crew, who sailed on a whaling ex• pedition about three years since to Sydney, thence to Woodlark Islands. The particulars are obtained from a survivor, named Valentine—the only one—seven of the crew having perished in the shipwreck, and the remaining 28 were horribly massacred by the natives of Woodlark Islands. The escape of Valentine is most extraordinary. lie is now on his passage to England, having been rescued by the crew of the brig Tigress. From his statement, it appears that the ve -sel arrived at Sydney in September, 1843, and proceeded in a few days direct for Woodlark Islands, and reached them in the month of November, having had favourable winds all the time, as well as remarkably fine weather. The Lady Anne and the brig Tigrese, he says, accompanied them. They cruised upon the north-west side until the 21st of that month, when the weather changed, and before 12 at night an awful storm came on. It sprung up at about 9 from the westward, aad afterwards veered round to the north-west with such fury as to destroy their small-boat, galley, bulwark% &c., and sweep away all on deck. The next morning matters were worse. At 12 o'clock their main and mizen-masts were carried away by the force of the hurricane, and at four the ship struck on Loughlin's-reef, where she became a total wreck. The crew took to the rigging, where they remained exposed nearly forty-eight hours before the sea had sufficiently abated to enable them to construct a raft to gain the shore. In the meantime several of the crew, including the chief mate, Mr. J. Settle, perished. On reaching the shore, several natives came down, and kindly treated them, by furnishing cocoa-nuts and provisions, and afterwards conducted them to their village. The master, Captain Stein, on finding there was no chance of speaking with a ship, resolved to build a small vessel that would enable him and his men to proceed to sea. Ac cordingly all hands were set to work to save as much of the wreck as possible, and in this they were fortunate. For nine months they enjoyed the utmost friendship with the natives mad received a good supply of such provisions as the island afforded. Suddenly, however, just after the launching of their newlybuilt schooner, and within a few days of their intended departure, they (it it was supposed in retaliation for some offence committed by one of the crew) came down upon, and murdered Captain Stein and six of the men. Having no provisions whatever on board, and being without water, the survivors endeavoured to treat with the natives ; the latter, however, resisted their relanding, and they made for Woodlark Island in a six-oared whale-boat, a journey which occupied five days, during which they subsisted on sea birds and fish. Here they were kindly received, and remained preparing for a lengthened voyage, until some natives of the Loughlin Island arrived, and apprised the chiefs of what had occurred there, when the natives rushed to the spot where they were encamped, and massacred the whole of them. Valentine, who it appears was in an adjacent wood, escaped. The poor fellow endured the greatest privation, being compelled to make the wood his habitation for several weeks. Having been the means of saving the life of a native, he contrived to make the party aware of his perilous condition, who assisted him to a distant part of the island, where the Tigress brig soon afterwards anchored to obtain water, on board of which ho instantly found refuge.