The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1855-06-26 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE MASSACRE AT HANGO. OR the morning of the 26th of May, the Cossack and Esk, two of the British squadron, perceived several Russian vessels among the islands near Hango, and dispatched armed boats to take them. The Russian crews ran their vessels ashore and nearly all made off; one or two, however, were captured, and the vessels were burned. On the sth of June, early in the day, the cutter of the Cossack with a flag of truce on board, and carrying ten Russian prisoners to be set at liberty, pro. ceeded to the shore. In that boat (the cutter), was the crew of nine men, Lieutenant Geneste in command, Mr. R. Easton, the surgeon, Mr. Sullivan, master's-assistant, three stewards (who went in hopes of buying some provisions), and the ten prisoners. On nearing the shore they found about 500 or 600 soldiers on the beach, and as the boat ran alongside a sort of jetty the three officers jumped upon it from her, when the officer in command of the soldiers called out in English, "that he ;would have nothing to do with the d---d flag of truce," and immediately ordered his men to fire. 7Mr. Geneste, Mr. Easton, and Mr. Sullivan, fell at the first volley. One of the prisoners then held up the flag, which Mr. Geneste had when he fell, but he was instantly shot; some of the men then jumped ashore to assist the others, but only to meet the same fate, for volley after volley was mercilessly poured upon them and the boat, until it was supposed all were killed; when the Russians came down and robbed them of everything worth taking away. The Cossack, after waiting some time for the boat, sent another in search of it, which picked it up a short distance from the land, with one poor fellow in it struggling with one arm to scull the boat, while the other dangled at his side with three bullets in it. When wounded he had fallen to the bottom of the boat, and as-the water came in through the shot holes it revived m, and, finding himself alone among his dead comrades, he, with an almost superhuman effort, managed to get the boat to sea, until he was picked up. In the same boat were four of his dead messmates. This deliberate massacre, for no attempt was made to take them prisoners, and both friends and enemies were killed indiscriminately, will never be forgotten, should we have an opportunity of taking vengeance for the murders. Neither men nor officers were armed, though some muskets were in the boat. John Brown, ordinary seaman, a young man of colour, the only survivor, after being helped up the side into his own ship, said, " They are all killed." Afterwards, in the sick bay, he made the following statement : " On the cutter, with a flag of truce flying, getting alongside the jetty or landing-place, near the village of Hango, the officers and liberated prisoners jumped out, and Lieutenant Geneste held up a flag of truce to a number of Russian troops, who bad suddenly sprung up from the cover of houses and rocks,--about 600, dressed as riflemen, and armed with muskets, swords, and bayonets,—and told them what it meant, and why they landed; they replied ' that they did not care a d-for flags of truce there, and would show them how the Russians could fight,' or words to that effect. A volley was then flied at the officers and liberated prisoners, and afterwards on the boat, until all were supposed to be killed. The Russians jumped into the boat, and, after throwing several dead bodies overboard, lying on the arms in the bottom of the boat they found Henry Gliddon, A. 8., who was only wounded; they took him out of the boat and bayonetted him on the wharf ; John Brown, lying beside him, and severely wounded, feigned death; he was dragged from one end of the boat to the other, but luckily not thrown overboard. They then took the arms, magazine, colours, &c. The officers were shot down, and the liberated prisoners first. Dr. Easton was the first who fell, and the Finnish Captain took the flag of truce from Lieutenant Geneste, and waved it, shouting 'A flag of truce !'—which had been previoUsly explained to them before they fired. The Russians spoke English, and the person who led them, from his dress and appearance, seemed to be an officer. The Russians yelled, and fired on the men before they could defend themselves; indeed, there was not an attempt made."