The Express. — 1862-12-10 (London, England)

MURDER OF A NAVAL OFFICER AND FOUR•  THEN SEAMEN.  A private letter furnishes some particulars of a tearful tragedy recently enacted on the Arabian coast, not far (menthe entrance to the Bed Sea. It appears that some time in the month of September, whilst she was in the Mozambique Chiming, four brats, for the purpose of watching some slavers, were detached from the Penguin, Lieut. G. G. M'Hardy, tender to the Narcissus, the Sag-ship of Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, at the Cape of Good Hope. It was the intention for the vessel to pick them up at a place called Fort Durnford, about sixty miles south of the line. On the vessel arriving there, however, nothing could be heard of the beats. As the wind was blowing steadily and strongly towards the north it was determined to cross the line in search of them, and when the Penguin was about 30 miles north of the line, at • place called Brava, news of the missing boats was altMined. The boat, had been seen there, but ea they could not get in by) reason of the heavy surf, they bad gone on before the wind towards the north. The natives did not know there was any landing __place in that direction within six hundred miles. When the boats left the ship they only bad eleven days' provisions, and therefore so soon as the Penguin got news of them she followed in the track with all possible speed, and arrived at • place called Bonder Feluk on the 25th of October. At this place the Penguin learnt the sad news that the whole of the crews of two of the boats, fifteen men in all, had been cruelly murdered by the natives. So far as could be learnt. the boats' crews, finding themselves short of food and water on the Arabian Sea, and unable to return, landed with the intention of replenishing, and then making the best of their way to Aden, on the Red Sea. They had gone in their boats from the time they left the Penguin in the Mocambique Channel, over 1,200 miles. No doubt their intention was, had they reached Aden, to have come back to the Mozambique Channel on the change of the wind. They landed at the Arab villap, named Bonder Felnk, to obtain water and provisions. The natives did not at first appear hostile, but, on the contrary. invited them to come on shore. Sub-Lieutenant Fontaine, who was in charge of the party, however, did not deem it prudent to risk all at once, although probably nearly famished with thirst. He therefore went in the small boat, with • crew of seven in each. The cutter was lyieg on the beach. As soon as the men touched the shore they were fallen upon and murdered by the natives. What became of the other two boats is not mentioned The following are the names of the killed : Sub-Lieutenant Fountain.; William Mitchell (quartermaster), John Carpenter (gunner's mate), John Kemp (A. 8.), Henry State (A. 8.), Charles Kean, James Watson, John child,, Martin Jolley, Richard 1., Henry Williams, Arthur Matthews, John Pratt, sad two marines named George Baton awl Charles Foley. Mrs. Mitchell, the wife of the quartermaster, we undsniaad, rir• sides at Torpoint. John Kemp is the son of a watermsa of Mutton Cove, ihmonport. On the arrival of the People, and the foregoing particulars having been ascertained, the officer in charge communicated with the native chieftain, and demanded that the murderers should be given up, or in default prepare for the destruction by fire and sword of all the vessels houses, and people of the place. After some delay twenty of the murderers were given up to the commander of the Penguin, who was told that the others bad escaped, or they also would have been sent. It was soon determined to hang these. as an example to deter their countrymen from indulging in similar conduct. At the date of the latest advice', about the third week in October, the murderers were awaiting their execution, which having been finished, the Penguin would leave that part of the coast. John Carpenter bad only recently come into the Penguin from the Narcissus, and on this particular occasion took the place of one who was on the sick list when the expedition started. The Penguin bad recovered some of the carbines of the murdered men, but had not discovered any of the bodies.