TRAGEDY OF THE 70’S

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 267, 9 October 1933, Page 8

TRAGEDY OF THE 70’S

AIURDER OF BISHOP PATTESON. Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, “L.C.AV.” says:-—Sixty-two years ago, on September 20, 1871, the then Bishop of Alelanesia (Bishop John Coleridge Patteson) was done to death by the wild natives of Nukapu, one of the Santa Cruz islands, which lie between the Solomons and the New Hebrides. Two other members of the mission vessel Southern Cross, which landed the bishop on the island, subsequently died from arrow wounds inflicted by the natives. The story of the unexpected murderous attack has never been properly told. Recently more exact details reached me in the form of copies of the last letters written by the Rev. Air Atkins, who subsequently died from his wounds. The main letter is to his father, written on the day of the attack on the ship’s boat, which had just previously conveyed the bishop to waiting canoes. Here is his tragic story: “Off Santa Cruz, Sept. 20. 1871. “This morning we were a few miles to leeward of Nukapu, a small islet about 20 miles north of Santa Cruz. At 11.30 we were within three miles of the islet. Four canoes were a little to the windward of us. The bishop said: ‘AVe had better lower the boat and go to them.’ AVhen we were all in the boat the bishop said ‘AVe had better take some things to give as presents if we go ashore.’ Having got them, we pushed off and pulled to the canoes. They did not come to meet us, and seemed undecided whether to pull away or no. They recognised the bishop, and when he proposed that w-e should all go ashore they assented. AVe pulled to a part of the reef about twothirds .of a mile from the island. Here we met two more canoes, making six in all. The natives were very anxious that we should haul the boat up on the reef; but at last, when we would not put her ashore, two men took the bishop into their canoe, and after another delay of about twenty minutes two canoes went with him, Taula and Alotu, the two chiefs of the island, in them. The men got out, and dragged their canoes over the shallow water into the deeper lagoon inside, and paddled to the island. “The bishop had been ashore about half an hour. AVe were already looking out for him returning, and were drifting about in company with the canoes, trying to talk to them, when, with no warning, a man stood up in one with a bow in his hand, a.nd called out, ‘Do you want this?’ or something to that effect, picked up an arrow, and fired at us. The men in the other canoes began firing simultaneously. AVe pulled away and were soon out of range, but not before Stephen, John and I were wounded —Stephen in six places, one very severe. James only escaped an arrow by throwing himself backward off liis seat. John’s wound and mine are slight, and but for the fear that the arrows may be poisoned, we should think nothing of them. AVe made sail immediately we were out of range from the canoes, and so reached the Southern Cross. I went back with Air Bongard, mate of the Southern Cross, and a boat’s crew (with arms) to seek tidings of the bishop. , AVORST FEARS CONFIRAIED.

“At about 4.30 we pulled slowly towards the shore. AVe now saw a canoe drifting down from the shore with apparently no one in it. AVe pulled to it, and found our worst fears confirmed. On the canoe, wrapped in a native mat, was the body of Bishop Patteson. There was a loud.shout on the shore when the corpse was lifted into the boat, but no attempt was made to molest us. AVhen we left the canoe drifting, one or two others put out from the shore to save it. AVith the corpse was part of a coconut leaf, with five knots tied on the leaflets. What this could mean we cannot guess. From the nature of the wounds death must have been instantaneous, but there had been no mutilation after death. The clothes were all taken away, except boots and socks. “The bishop had frequently visited the island, and always-found the people friendly and well behaved. Last year wo landed, and our boat lay on the beach about an hour while the bishop was with the people in the village. Until this year the canoes used to meet us three or four miles from the island, and the people to clamber aboard the vessel without the least tear. The only account to be given of this change of feeling—one that is unfortunately justified by what we have seen and heard wherever we go —is that a vessel has been here and committed an outrage, perhaps killed some of them, and that they had resolved to take the life of the first white man who fell into their power.” In another letter written to his mother on his deathbed, and left unfinished, Air Atkin wrote: —-“AVe got the body and buried it this morning (Sept. 21st.'). He was alone on shore, and none of us saw it done.” CAUSE OF THE ATTACK.

Mr Atkin, who succumbed to his arrow wounds, seven days after Bishop Patteson was clubbed to death, was the son of an Auckland (New Zealand) clergyman of that period. A sister still lives at Kohimarama, on the shore of Auckland harbour, one time headquarters of the Anglican mission for the training of island “boys” as future missionaries. One of the “boys” who accompanied Mr Atkin on the tragic voyage of the Southern Cross also died as a result of arrow wounds.

Mr Atkin probably is correct in his surmise that the sudden and unexpected attack by the islanders was in retaliation for the cruel raids bv ’’blackbirders,” who ravished their womenfolk and carried off the most stalwart of the males for forced service on Fijian and Queensland plantations. One such raider had visited Nukapu shortly before the arrival of Bishop Patteson, and the natives revenged themselves on the next white man that came along, regardless of the fact that his mission was one of peace and goodwill—revengeful because many masters of “blackbirding” vessels had previously masqueraded in the garb of missionaries in order to effect their purpose. Bishop Patteson was a greatnephew of the famous Lake poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and was closely .associated in island mission work with Bishop Selwyn for many years before he was consecrated as Bishop of Melanesia.