The Sun. — 1846-11-06 (London, England)

LOSS OF A WHALING SHIP. MASSACRE OF HER CREW. For several months anxiety has been felt regarding .he fate or a whaling ship, named the Cape. Packet, Captain Powell, last from Sydney, and'twenty- eight seamen, her crew. We regret to state that information has now been received from Sydney that the unfortunate vessel (ihich has been missing two years) had fallen into the hands of the natives of the New Hebrides, Sandwich Islands, and those belonging to her, excepting four hands, savagely murdered. The particulars have bet n reported by Captain Jones, of the barque Elizabeth, which arrived at Sydney from the New Hebrides, on the 9th of June, having had a narrow escape of meeting n similar fate. The Elizabeth, it appeared, touched at the Sandwich Islands, the master intending to procure some sandal-wood, vegetables, &c., and :finding the natives to all appearance friendly, cast ancliciriolose to land. Several natives were allowed to' .remaTir).all. night on board. Among them was a New Zealander, who was recognise& by one of the Elizabeth crew, as one of the party who sailed in the unfortunate whaler. The pilot taxed him with it, and after a deal of hesitation, he admitted the truth of the assertion.— veacepunt he gives' of the affair (being able to 9 speak EngfiAh fluently), is, that two or three days after the vessel's arrival, three boats were sent off to the shore for water, and while the crew were so employed, the natives attacked them, and every one of them were killed. The canoes then pushed off to the ship, on board of which were Captain Powell, ten English, and four coloured men. They were permitted to come upon deck, Captain Powell being unconscious of the fate of those whom he had sent ashore. For a few minutes they behaved themselves in their usual friendly manner; having Surrounded" their victims, the signal was given, and the slaughter commenced. The attack was so sudderi, that not the least resistance could be made ; the captain, with the whole of the crew, were killed, The four coloured men were not molested. The bodies of the murdered crew were taken ashore and cevoured. The ship was then rans'lcked and pillaged of everything of value. She had 700 barrels of sperm oil on hoard, but the casks were broken up for the purpose of getting the iron hoop ; and after stripping the ship, securing the fire-arms, powder, &c., she was set on fire and totally consumed. Three of the men whose lives had been spared by the natives had managed to escape from the island in a canoe, and had been taken an board by a French vessel. The native of New Zealand was brought in by the Elizabeth, Captain Jones, of the latter, is of opinion that an attempt would have been made to have taken his ship but for the timely notice given by the survivor of the Cape Packet. The natives had made every preparation, and were observed leaving a creek in their canoes, when the • ship had weighed anchor and was putting out to sea. The Cape Packet it is said was a vessel barque-rigged, 300 tons burthen. With her contents her loss is estimated at between 18,000/. and 20,000/.  HULL, Nov. 4.—The Brothers, Stokes, from Middlesborough to Sandwich, was totally wrecked on the Binks, 2d illst ; crew saved.