AN ISLAND MASSACRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2703, 6 January 1910, Page 5

AN ISLAND MASSACRE.

CHASING THE MURDERERS

United Fuebb Association —(Jopyuiciiit

BRISBANE, Jan. 5

Mr. C. M. Woodford, Resident Deputy Commissioner of the Solomon Islands, recently proceeded to Baggabagga to inquire into the massacre of Captain Brinskin’s family by Sito’s gang. A force of 200 native police under white officers landed and scoured thee'.'land without success. Difficulty was experienced in securing the cooperation of the local coastal natives. The Commissioner announced his intention to remove- all neutral -natives to another island unless they co-oper-ated. Several natives believed to be in communication with Si to were detained. Finally the others decided to help the Government. The island was thoroughly searched for three weeks, resulting in the capture of Tongava, the actual murderer of Mrs. Brim-kin and her younger child, and three others of Tongava’s family, in addition to whom 16 prisoners were taken. Several of Sito’s party were killed while resisting capture. Sito is reported to have been captured on a neighboring island.

The massacre referred to occurred last October on the. station of a wellknown trader (Captain Joe Brinskin), situated on the island of Baggahagga. An outlaw chief named Sito, with a hand of natives as desperate as himself, was responsible for the massacre. The murderers came from the mainland in boats laden with copra, ostensibly to trade. They murdered all the islanders, exceed "a boy of 10, who swam to the mainland and gave the alarm. Besides Brinskin’s wife and two children, three natives, two men a-n-d a- woman, attached to the station, were -massacred Missionary Nicholson, with a body of friendly natives, crossed to the island, but the murderers had gone.