Pitcairn Island Massacre

**Pitcairn Island Massacre** or to the Pitcairn Islanders "**Massacre day"**
## Massacre 
On 20 September 1793, Mills and McCoy were leaning against a fence discussing their crop of corn when they heard shots and the distant sound of groaning. Neither are alarmed by the sounds of firearms as they were used to persons shooting at birds or wild pigs. A little uneasily McCoy shrugged and accepted the explanation and they resumed their conversation. Neither had any idea they were the next Europeans marked down for killing. The Polynesian men's plan, made in much secrecy the night before, was to separate Mills and McCoy. Meanwhile Teimua and Niau had carefully hidden themselves along the trail McCoy would take. The ambush was effected when McKoy came running towards them. They both stood and shot at him and both missed. McCoy turned and ran the way he had come only to find Manarii, who was waiting for just such an eventuality, blocking his escape. They grappled, McCoy's brawny arms circled Manarii's waist and, with a strength born of realisation and desperation, he lifted the smallest of the Polynesians into the air and threw him over a fence into a pigsty. He backed away and looked for more attacks, but before the others could close in he doubled back and ran along the path towards Mill's plantation. His legs pumped and he breathed hard thinking his pursuers were gaining. His intention on reaching Mill's plantation was to warn him and raise the alarm among the rest of the settlers. Make some defence. But Mills, forever the trusting soul unbelievably still doubted his loyal servant Manarii would do anything to harm him. McCoy became agitated to the extreme. Meanwhile the Polynesians made their way confidently to the American, Isaac Martin's house who observed their approach and noticed the blood on them. Appearing unconcerned Manarii called out to him, "Do you know what we are doing?"  "No," replied Martin backing away.  "We are killing pigs." They closed on him. Mananii lifted his musket and shot Martin dead Next they took the path to William Brown's plantation. 'Bounty's' assistant botanist, lived near the edge of the cliff. Teinua liked Brown and ran ahead of the others. He explained the situation and shot the botanist with powder but no lead. He told him to lie very still in the long grass and display the powder burns on his black. The others arrived but were not duped by this simple and hopeful ruse. The prone Brown was clubbed to death. His face was buried in the earth as his head was split wide open by the first powerful blow. He died instantly. The four remaining Polynesian men stole muskets and set out to kill all of the Englishmen.Within hours they beheaded Martin and Mills, shot Williams and Brown dead, and fatally wounded Christian in a carefully executed series of murders. 
## Aftermath
Four mutineers survived the initial attack: John Adams (then known as Alexander Smith), Ned Young, Matthew Quintal, and William McCoy.

Young and Adams assumed leadership and secured a tenuous calm disrupted by the drunken behaviour of McCoy and Quintal. The two men and some of the women spent their days in an alcoholic stupor. Some of the women attempted to leave the island in a makeshift boat but could not launch it successfully.

On 20 April 1798, McCoy attached a rock to his neck with a rope and leapt over a cliff to his death. Quintal became increasingly erratic. He demanded to take Isabella, Fletcher Christian's widow, as his wife, and threatened to kill Christian's children if his demands were not granted. Ned Young and John Adams invited him to Young's home. There they overpowered him, and killed him with an axe.

Young and Adams became interested in Christianity, and Young taught Adams to read using the Bounty's Bible. Young died of an asthma attack in 1800. By 1800, only John Adams, several Polynesian women, and their children remained, with Adams transitioning into a patriarchal, religious leader. Adams lived until 1829.

The day became known as Massacre Day due to the bloody and retributive nature of the events that transpired, which also involved violent revenge by the mutineers' Tahitian wives.

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