The Sun. — 1849-05-24 (London, England)

THE MURDER OF CAPTAIN DA COSTA AND HIS MISSING COMPANIONS. The surmise that Captain Da Costa, of the Royal Engineers, and Lieut. Dwyer, of the Ceylon Rifles, had been murdered, has been confirmed, though only one body—that of Captain Da Costa—has as yet been found. During the first search spots of blood were traced along the path below the village for a considerable distance, when they were suddenly lost sight of. The search was continued unsuccessfully during that and the following day, when, about six o'clock in the evening, as the police boat was shoving off from the rocks for the purpose of returning to Victoria, a piece of bamboo fell from the boat into the water. The attempt made by one of the men with a boat-hook to recover the bamboo seems to have disturbed the water, and caused the body of Mr. Da Costa to rise gradually to the surface, about 20 feet from the shore. Next morning, on examining the rocks close to the spot where the body was found, a good deal of blood was observed in various places, leading over the stones towards the part of the pathway where the track had formerly been lust sight of. From the marks of blood, the police are of opinion that the body must have been carried along the pathway, and then turned off to the rocks, over which it had been thrown. A coroner's inquest sat on the body of Captain Da Costa on the Ist March. The place has been visited and scoured, not only by the police, but by large parties of troops, and the crew of her Majesty's steamer Fury. From the evidence at the inquest we select the following:— "Fenwell Martin Tweddell, being sworn, states—l am a surgeon attached to the Ceylon Rifle Regiment quartered at Stanley. On Sunday afternoon last, the 25th of February, I left our quarters, in company with Lieutenant Dwyer, Captain Da Costa, and Lieutenant Grantham, for the purpose of taking a walk. I accompanied the party some short distance— perhaps a quarter of a mile and then separated, as also did Lieutenant Grantham. I returned to my quarters about twenty minutes past five. Captain Da Costa and Mr. Dwyer proceeded towards ' the village of Wong-ma-kok, which is situated .about a mile and a quarter from our barracks. We dine at seven o'clock. As Captain Da Costa and Mr. Dwyer did not return to dinner, I became alarmed, and went out to look after them, with a sergeant, corporal, and three men. We proceeded to the village of Wong•ma-kok. lat that time saw nothing to excite suspicion. I saw an old man there, who was very civil, and gave us oil for our lamps. In answer to some questions I put to this old man relative to the missing gen tlemen, he said that he had not seen any Europeans about; I consequently returned homewards. When about 200 yards trona the village, close to the pathway, I found a three pronged spearhead, broken short off, which I now produce. I took the spearto our station, and reported to Lieutenant M'Donald, being the senior in command. He, with a party of soldiers went out, in order to make further search. I did not accompany them. They returned about two o'clock the following morning. Oa Monday morning Mr. May .with a party of police arrived at Stanley. I accompanied them, in order to show the road which the missing party had taken. We separated in various directions. I first discovered marks of blood in the immediate vicinity of the village of Wong-ma-kok (corrects himself), I first discovered marks of blood about 600 or 700 yards on the other side of the village, which I traced close into the village; from thence to the sea side, which is, perhaps, half a mile from said village. The water was deep w here we  • Amongst these has been the erection within the past week of a gallery of bamboo, with sentry-boxes at intervals, along the roofs of the houses fronting the river, and stretching from the factories to the extremity of the city. It would thus appear that an attack of the ladrones from the water is apprehended. The erection might be pretty effectual against their spears, or such weapons as they are likely to use, but is exposed even to pistol-shots from the river, and cannot, therefore, be intended to resist foreigners. P The Phlegethon conveyed the Marines from HongKong; but having been damaged on her way up, the Corsair was chartered to take her place until she was repaired. The accident to herself was, unfortunately, not the only damage done ; for, having got foul of a junk, A cilium WM rialgt unt9ward orent At thaCrs 1,