Skirmish Between Brigade of Seamen and Marines of H.M.S Curacoa, and the Natives of Port Resolution, August 12th, 1865.

Scarce engraving of the skirmish between the brigade of seamen and marines of H.M.S Curacoa, and the Natives of Port Resolution, August 12th, 1865.

During the recent cruise of Commodore Wiseman amongst the South Sea Islands, he became aware of several outrages commit- ted by the inhabitants of New Hebrides upon British subjects, and believing that the most effectual way to stop their aggres- sions in future, would be to punish them for the past, the Curacoa proceeded to the island of Tanna, the principal of the group. We are indebted for the following narrative of events to an officer of the Curacoa : “Accompanied by the Mission schooner Dayspring, we pro- ceeded from Aneiteum to Tanna on the 10th August, bringing Rev. Mr. Paton (late Missionary at the latter place) with us, who had several complaints against the natives. He had been living with the friendly tribe occupying the village of Samoa, shewn on the left of the sketch. It appears he got on well enough with these people, but there was another tribe on the opposite side of the harbor, under a powerful chief, named Quatangen, who determined to rid the island of all Christian natives, and commenced by ordering the friendly natives not to shelter Mr. Paton, whom they ordered to leave the island. Soon after this they threatened to kill him, but two friendly chiefs hid him for a time till a ship came, and he escaped. They also burnt all the mission buildings and Church, and stole his furniture, which, when they came on board the Curacoa, on the 10th, they acknowledged had been sold to the Mission, and was therefore English pro- perty. The Commodore gave them till 12 at noon next day to render some account for what they had done, and to say whether or not they had been provoked to these acts, as well as to the murder of a white man some time ago. Next day (Friday) no one came ; however, the Commodore gave them till next morning, and sent on shore to tell them to remove their women and children out of danger—a caution which many of the stronger sex availed themselves of. A mes- sage was also sent to say that all not impli- cated in the affair would be safe by going to the village of Samoa. On the morning of the 12th, the Curacoa opened fire on the villages in Port Resolution, and in a few hours a landing party, consisting of the marines, two rocket parties, and both com- panies of small-arms men were despatched, in charge of the commander, to destroy the villages, which they effected without meeting much resistance, and returned on board with the loss of only one man, George Holland, an A.B., who was shot through the abdomen. During the absence of the Com- mander the master was sent, to destroy the canoes on the beach, which was successfully accomplished.” We must express our indebtedness to the officers of the Curacoa for their courtesy in furnishing several interesting sketches

From the original edition of The Illustrated Sydney News.

References:
Gibbs & Shallard. Illustrated Sydney News. ISSN 2203-5397.

Collections:
State Library New South Wales: F8/39-40
State Library Victoria: PCINF SLVIC=1853-1872
National Library Australia: Bib ID 440095