The Potteries Examiner : — 1872-11-02 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

ATROCITIES IN THE SOUTH SEAS. America to be most in accordance with the true "The greatest indignation," says the Melbourne interpretation of the Treaty of June 15, 1846. The Argun, " has been felt and expressed in this colony New York Iferaitl save it is gratifying to observe at the discovery of most frightful atrocities which that this award has been declared after a most rigid were perpetrated on board the brig Carl, when on and searching inquiry on the port of the most what ix termed a labour cruise amongst the South eminent jurisoonsults of the German Empire. It Sea Islands. It appears that the Carl was owned by accepts the result as a crumb of comfort in vindict- a Dr. James Patrick Murray. She left Meltemrne fion of American rights and as a tribute to the peaceful in Jane, 1871, Dr. Murray going with her as settlement of international troubles. eurgoon. She took from here a general cargo, and BERLIN, October 27.—Through the foreign no suspicion was entertained that she was to be en. department here, Mr. Bancroft, the American ' gaged in any bat a legitimate trade. On arriving at Minister, has addressed to the Emperor William Levidra the captain of the brig loft; the mate, a s letter of acknowledgment for his decision on the man earned Armstrong, was appointed in his San Juan boundary case, in which he says , stead, and, having obtained authority from Mr. " Having communicated to my Government the March, the British Consul, to go on a labour cruise, award made by your Majesty, lam new charged by he, still accompanied by Or. Murray, the owner, the President of the United States, in the name of started ona:kidnappeng:expeditionamongstthe islands. the American people, to thank year Majesty for the Then commenced the perpetration of a eeries of great pains and attention devoted in this case." The the most horrible atrocities. The unsuspicious letter concludes with assurances of international natives were decoyed in their canoes alongside the friendship and goodwill. vessel, and the canoes were suddenly smashed by heavy pieces of iron being thrown into them. Straggling in the water, the unhappy wretches were iosught, hauled on board the brig, and thrust into the hold, and thus the atrocious trade was carried on until the slayer had nearly completed her living cargo, tint then, maddened by being stolen from their homes and by hard usage, these natives began to fight, and in utter desperation set fire to the ship. To cheek this the captain, Dr. Murray, and hie myrmidons, commenced an indiscriminate slaughter of their °aptly., firing promis.uonsly into the crowd. The morning after these murders had been perpetrated, on the hatches being taken off, it was found that no fewer than seventy were either dead or wounded, and both dead and wounded were at, once thrown overboard. Some tins after a few of the particulars of these atrocities leaked out, and at Sydney the captain and some of the crew have been committed for trill for their share in them. Dr. Murray himself is the principal witness, and it is from his mouth that the details of this horrible affair have been obtained. It is said that he has turned Queen's evidence, and that, moreover, hs is protected by a certificate from the British Consul at Fiji, no that it is feared he cannot be prosecuted. Meanwhile the Government of Victoria , I have been most untiring in their endeavours to prosure every item of evidence that may serve to render the proceedings taken in Sydney eff,etual, and have iminsmitted all the information obtained to the Government of Now South Wales." , The description given by persons who have visited r these islands eine° the cruises of the Carl of the lamentation of the relatives and friends of till killed or captured natives is harrowing in the extreme. At Fiji the natives taken there by the Carl have been sent temporarily to a plantation until the British ; authorities have determined what to do with them. There is some satisfaction in connection with I these outrages in the announcement brought by the same mail that the Imperial Act for the prevention of kidnapping has been published in the colonies.