14 May 1836-31 Aug 1837 The Charles Eaton - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

14 May 1836-31 Aug 1837 The Charles Eaton

Accounts have arrived through Singapore, from the ship Mangles, stating that
when passing through Torres Straits she touched at Murray's Island, where they
discovered eight Europeans, part of the crew of the long-missing bark Charles
Eaton, in a state of slavery, but the natives would not deliver up the men. The
Charles Eaton was supposed to have been lost on the Barrier Reef, in Torres
Straits, in 1833, in prosecution of her voyage from New South Wales to Madras,
but no precise intelligence of her fate was previously known.

_________________
Accounts have arrived through Singapore, from the ship Mangles, stating that
when passing through Torres Straits she touched at Murray's Island, where they
discovered eight Europeans, part of the crew of the long-missing bark Charles
Eaton, in a state of slavery, but the natives would not deliver up the men. The
Charles Eaton was supposed to have been lost on the Barrier Reef, in Torres
Straits, in 1833, in prosecution of her voyage from New South Wales to Madras,
but no precise intelligence of her fate was previously known.
__________________

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.


Sir, - With reference to the Mansion-house report, in your paper of this day,
regarding the ship Charles Eaton, I have the pleasure to acquaint you, for the
information of the parties interested, that I have received a letter from
Commander IGGLESDEN, of the Indian navy, dated Bombay, the 25th of February
last, in which he states, that he was under orders from the Bombay Government to
proceed immediately, in command of the company's brig of war Tigris, to Torres
Straits, for the purpose of endeavouring to save the passengers and crew of the
ship Charles Eaton, said to be wrecked near Murray's Island.

Subsequent accounts from Bombay report the departure of the Tigris on the 5th of
March. It is of course a matter of much uncertainty when any intelligence may be
received from Commander IGGLESDEN, but I should apprehend the earliest account
may be expected to reach England by ships sailing from New South Wales in June.

I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
                                                       J. G. BOWRING.
12, Copthal-court, Sept. 23, 1836.

______________________

   TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir, - There having been many reports respecting the unfortunate ship Charles
Eaton, which was lost in Torres Straits in 1834, I beg to hand you the annexed
account of the arrival and examination of part of her crew at Batavia.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
                                      ALEXANDER GIBB.
7, Russia-row, Oct. 1.

                                                   --------

"In pursuance of the instructions received to that effect from his Excellency
the Governor-General for the time being of Netherlands India, on this day, the
6th of December, in the year of our Lord 1835, appeared before me, Daniel
Francies William PIETERMEAT, barrister-at-law, and resident of Batavia, assisted
by Cornelius HEYE, post-captain in the Dutch navy and master-attendant, and
Frederick Jacobus STEVELMAN, sworn translator of the English language in this
evidence, and the several seamen hereafter-mentioned, who arrived at Batavia
from Amboyna on the 3d instant, in the Dutch brig Patriot, commanded by J.
CLUNIES, and formerly belonging to the crew of the English bark Charles Eaton,
Captain Frederick George MOORE, which vessel was wrecked in Torres Straits.

"In the first place, Richard QUIN, aged 30 years, born in the county of Wexford,
in Ireland, sailor by profession;

"In the second place, William GRINDALL, aged 23 years, born at Whitehaven, in
England, sailor by profession;

"In the third place, James WRIGHT, born at Edinburgh, aged 20 years, sailor by
profession; and,

"In the fourth place, Laurens CONSTANTYNE, aged 35 years, born at Charleston, in
North America, carpenter by profession.

"The third mate and acting boatswain, named George PIGGOTT, was not in
attendance, being confined to the hospital through serious indisposition.

"The above-mentioned appearants have been requested by me to give a
circumstantial and true account concerning the shipwreck of the bark Charles
Eaton above mentioned, and particularly to relate all circumstances from the
moment they left the wreck of the said vessel until their arrival at Amboyna,
and the abovementioned Richard QUIN, as well for himself as for the other
appearants, and in their presence, did declare that they left the Downs on the
25th day of December, in the year of our Lord 1833, on board the English bark
Charles Eaton, commanded by Captain Frederick George MOORE; the cargo,
consisting of calicoes and lead, and belonging to the firm of GLEDSTANES,
DRYSDALE, and Co., of London, merchants, they being bound for the Cape of Good
Hope, and Sidney, in New South Wales.

"That they left the port of Sidney on the 26th day of July, in the year of our
Lord 1834, and on the 15th day of August ensuing, at about 10 o'clock in the
forenoon, it blowing a fresh gale-sail breeze at the time, the abovementioned
vessel struck on a reef, called the Detached Reef, and situated at the entrance
of Torres Straits.

"That during the preceding night the Captain, as a measure of prudence, had
ordered the first reef to be taken in the topsails, in order not to enter the
passage before daybreak.

"That the ship struck on the reef so violently that both the keel and rudder
were suddenly knocked off and carried away, and the Captain declared the vessel
was totally lost, at the same time giving orders to get the boats ready and
furnished with provisions, in order to endeavour to save the ship's company, and
reach the island of Timor.

"On inquiry how many persons did actually leave the wreck, they answered that
only three men originally left the wreck, - named William GRINDALL, Laurens
CONSTANTYNE, and George PIGGOTT, abovementioned, whilst the two remaining
appearants, Richard QUIN and James WRIGHT, only reached the cutter the next
morning by swimming across the bar or reef at the peril of their lives.

"On inquiry in which boat the Captain and passengers endeavoured to save
themselves, they answered that the boat in which the appearants fled for refuge
was the only one that remained, the others having been knocked to pieces and
lost by the ship falling on her side.

"On being asked whether they had not been able to save more of the unfortunate
passengers and the crew, they answered that such was quite impossible, as they
could not pull up the boat against the stormy current, and no individual among
the passengers or crew would venture amidst the heavy breakers to reach the boat
by swimming; that they, in consequence, are unable to say what is become of the
captain, passengers, and the rest of the crew; they can only affirm, that at the
time Richard QUIN and James WRIGHT left the wreck all the passengers were alive
on the forecastle of the vessel, with the exception of one sailor, named James
PRICE, who was drowned by the smallest of the two cutters swamping at the time
she was lowered.

_______________________

   POLICE.


MANSION-HOUSE. - A gentleman of the name of DREW, of Great Trinity-lane,
Bread-street, applied to the Lord MAYOR yesterday upon the subject of a vessel
which was wrecked in Torres Straits some time ago, and the passengers and crew
of which were supposed to have been taken by the savage natives and detained in
slavery.

He stated that he had been on intimate terms of friendship with some of the
unfortunate passengers, whose relatives and friends were in the most dreadful
suspense as to their fate, and acquainted with Mr. BAILEY, who, not long ago,
applied to the Secretary of State, informing him that the Captain of the
Augustus Cæsar was likely to be able to make some communication respecting those
who had been wrecked. His object was to request the Lord Mayor to apply to
Messrs. BUCKLE, of Mark-lane, the owners of the ship Mangles, which had lately
arrived in the port of London, and had (he understood) anchored for some time at
Murray's Island, in Torres Straits, to give directions to the captain and crew
to afford all the information they possessed on the subject. He had reason to
suppose that more was known than had been stated.

The LORD MAYOR said that he knew Messrs. BUCKLE, of Mark-lane, to be persons of
the first respectability, and wholly incapable of concealing any information
which it might be proper for the friends of the passengers and crew to receive,
and was also convinced that a gentleman of the character which Captain CARR, the
commander of the vessel, bore would not hesitate to give all interested the most
full answers to their inquiries.

Mr. DREW stated that one of the crew, he was given to understand, had mentioned
that he saw a white man at Torres Straits who intimated that several of those
who had been wrecked were up the country detained by the natives. The two mates
of the Mangles gave accounts which varied considerably, and to relieve the
anxiety of the friends of the unfortunate people who were missing, it was to be
hoped that the Lord Mayor, who had so warmly interested himself before on the
application made by Lord GLENELG for examination of the captain and crew of the
Augustus Cæsar, would cause investigation to be made into the circumstances
supposed to be known to the crew of the Mangles. He (Mr. DREW) was convinced
that if his Lordship did not interfere, the details of the information would not
be made known by the captain, whom he had seen yesterday, and who certainly gave
a most meagre account of the circumstances. Mr. BAILEY intended to have waited
upon his Lordship, but was unable; and it was that gentleman's intention, if the
Lord Mayor was not able to cause the investigation to be undertaken, to apply to
the Secretary.

The LORD MAYOR repeated, that he felt the utmost confidence in the disposition
of Messrs. BUCKLE and Captain CARR to give all the information they could upon
such a subject. He could not understand for what possible reason they could
withhold any thing they knew. He could not compel them to make statements to
him, but the applicant might write to them in his (the Lord Mayor's) name, and
no doubt a satisfactory answer, as far as they and the captain and crew of the
Mangles were concerned, would be given immediately.

Mr. DREW said that he should make the application as suggested by the Lord
Mayor, and inform his Lordship of the result.

MANSION-HOUSE. - Yesterday Mr. BUCKLE, the shipowner of Mark-lane, to whom
reference was made on Tuesday last in an application made by Mr. DREW, of
Trinity-lane, Bread-street, relative to the crew and passengers of the Charles
Eaton, which was wrecked in Torres Straits, very promptly replied to the note
written to the firm at the Lord Mayor's desire, by stating that immediate
attention should be paid to the communication.

On Wednesday evening his Lordship received the following note from Mr. BUCKLE,
enclosing the brief but extraordinary and romantic narrative of the occurrence
at Murray's Island, from which occurrence it was presumed that some, at any
rate, of the passengers and crew of the wrecked vessel are amongst the
savages: -

                                             "Mark-lane, Nov. 2, 1836.
"My dear Lord Mayor, - With reference to my note of yesterday, I have now the
pleasure to enclose you a letter from Captain CARR, accompanying his narrative
of the circumstances off Murray's Island. You may rely that he will be most
happy to give every information on the subject, not only to your Lordship but to
any person interested. I hope you will make an early appointment for him and his
officers to wait upon you.

"I am, my dear Lord Mayor, your's ever truly,
                                                         "JOHN W. BUCKLE."

"Sir, - I beg leave to enclose you a copy of my letter to the Commander-in-Chief
on the East India station, or any commander of His Britannic Majesty's ships,
which I forwarded to Java and sent on to India, for the information of the Lord
Mayor of London; and also beg to say that any time his Lordship will please to
appoint I should be happy to come before him for the satisfaction of the friends
on board of the unfortunate Charles Eaton, with a part of my crew that was an
eye witness to what I have stated.

"I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
                                                           "W. CARR."
"J. W. BUCKLE, Esq., Nov. 1, 1836."

"'The ship Mangles, under my command, arrived under Murray's Island, in Torres
Straits, on the evening of the 18th of September, and on the morning of the 19th
several canoes came alongside with shells, &c., to trade. In one was a white
person, apparently an European, quite naked, as the savages themselves. The
greater part of the natives came on the starboard quarter, the quarter-boats
having been lowered down for the purposes of trade. I remained some time on the
starboard quarter, watching their movements, till several had gone on shore. I
then went on the other side to inquire respecting the white person whom I had
seen. He then had dropped a little astern, and from inquiry I found that he was
an Englishman, wrecked some ten months since in the Charles Eaton, and wished
much to come on board, but the natives would not allow him. At the report of
this I manned and armed the cutter, and sent the second officer, boatswain, and
six men, to take him at any price, stationing myself on the poop with armed men
to protect them, in the event of any objection to his being given up. They
hooked the canoe with the boathook, and told him they were come for him. The
white man's reply was, 'Take that man, he will go with you,' pointing to a
savage near him. 'No,' said the second officer, 'I am come for you, and you I
will have.' The white man immediately threw down the paddle he had in his hand,
and dashed under the midships of the canoe out of sight. I then ordered my boat
to return, and said, 'If he prefers a life with savages to being with me, he may
remain,' and the boat was hoisted up again. Subsequently the fourth officer told
me the white man had said that there were eight men on shore detained by the
natives, and what his motives could be for not coming into my boat I am at a
loss to conceive, as he might have stepped into her.

"'However, not feeling altogether satisfied, I manned and armed the boat again,
and went myself in her close to the beech [sic], with my spy-glass, and remained
there two hours. The natives were very anxious for me to land, but seeing so
many on the beech, and many more behind the bamboo work, and a large canoe ready
for launching, I did not think it prudent to do so. They brought a little
European boy down, apparently two or three years old, but would not permit me to
touch him. I also saw a boat building by European hands, I am certain, under a
shed, but could not see a white person afterwards. I returned on board, and
watched the whole of the day, but still I saw none of the white people, and
remained all that night at anchor, thinking it might be possible for some of
them to make their escape, but seeing nothing more of them I weighed anchor the
next morning, and came through the Straits.

"The above is a correct copy of what I sent to the Commander-in-Chief on the
East India station, or any commander of His Britannic Majesty's ships, in
October, 1835.
                                   "W. CARR."
Nov. 1, 1836.

The LORD MAYOR fixed a time for the examination of the officers and crew on this
very interesting subject, and the relatives and friends, whose feelings are
greatly excited by the detail of the foregoing particulars, will attend. It
appears extraordinary that on such an occasion as that described, more questions
were not asked of the white man, and that, in fact, a narrative should have been
written so destitute of minute particulars after so long a survey, and upon a
subject of such deep and frightful interest. The examination before the Lord
Mayor will however, we are convinced, be conducted in such a manner that we
shall be able to lay before our readers a much more satisfactory statement. The
appearance of the European child is exceedingly favourable to the hopes of the
friends of the poor passengers and crew.

___________________

MANSION-HOUSE. - Yesterday Mr. BUCKLE, the shipowner of Mark-lane, to whom
reference was made on Tuesday last in an application made by Mr. DREW, of
Trinity-lane, Bread-street, relative to the crew and passengers of the Charles
Eaton, which was wrecked in Torres Straits, very promptly replied to the note
written to the firm at the Lord Mayor's desire, by stating that immediate
attention should be paid to the communication.

On Wednesday evening his Lordship received the following note from Mr. BUCKLE,
enclosing the brief but extraordinary and romantic narrative of the occurrence
at Murray's Island, from which occurrence it was presumed that some, at any
rate, of the passengers and crew of the wrecked vessel are amongst the
savages: -

                                             "Mark-lane, Nov. 2, 1836.
"My dear Lord Mayor, - With reference to my note of yesterday, I have now the
pleasure to enclose you a letter from Captain CARR, accompanying his narrative
of the circumstances off Murray's Island. You may rely that he will be most
happy to give every information on the subject, not only to your Lordship but to
any person interested. I hope you will make an early appointment for him and his
officers to wait upon you.

"I am, my dear Lord Mayor, your's ever truly,
                                                         "JOHN W. BUCKLE."

"Sir, - I beg leave to enclose you a copy of my letter to the Commander-in-Chief
on the East India station, or any commander of His Britannic Majesty's ships,
which I forwarded to Java and sent on to India, for the information of the Lord
Mayor of London; and also beg to say that any time his Lordship will please to
appoint I should be happy to come before him for the satisfaction of the friends
on board of the unfortunate Charles Eaton, with a part of my crew that was an
eye witness to what I have stated.

"I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
                                                           "W. CARR."
"J. W. BUCKLE, Esq., Nov. 1, 1836."

"'The ship Mangles, under my command, arrived under Murray's Island, in Torres
Straits, on the evening of the 18th of September, and on the morning of the 19th
several canoes came alongside with shells, &c., to trade. In one was a white
person, apparently an European, quite naked, as the savages themselves. The
greater part of the natives came on the starboard quarter, the quarter-boats
having been lowered down for the purposes of trade. I remained some time on the
starboard quarter, watching their movements, till several had gone on shore. I
then went on the other side to inquire respecting the white person whom I had
seen. He then had dropped a little astern, and from inquiry I found that he was
an Englishman, wrecked some ten months since in the Charles Eaton, and wished
much to come on board, but the natives would not allow him. At the report of
this I manned and armed the cutter, and sent the second officer, boatswain, and
six men, to take him at any price, stationing myself on the poop with armed men
to protect them, in the event of any objection to his being given up. They
hooked the canoe with the boathook, and told him they were come for him. The
white man's reply was, 'Take that man, he will go with you,' pointing to a
savage near him. 'No,' said the second officer, 'I am come for you, and you I
will have.' The white man immediately threw down the paddle he had in his hand,
and dashed under the midships of the canoe out of sight. I then ordered my boat
to return, and said, 'If he prefers a life with savages to being with me, he may
remain,' and the boat was hoisted up again. Subsequently the fourth officer told
me the white man had said that there were eight men on shore detained by the
natives, and what his motives could be for not coming into my boat I am at a
loss to conceive, as he might have stepped into her.

"'However, not feeling altogether satisfied, I manned and armed the boat again,
and went myself in her close to the beech [sic], with my spy-glass, and remained
there two hours. The natives were very anxious for me to land, but seeing so
many on the beech, and many more behind the bamboo work, and a large canoe ready
for launching, I did not think it prudent to do so. They brought a little
European boy down, apparently two or three years old, but would not permit me to
touch him. I also saw a boat building by European hands, I am certain, under a
shed, but could not see a white person afterwards. I returned on board, and
watched the whole of the day, but still I saw none of the white people, and
remained all that night at anchor, thinking it might be possible for some of
them to make their escape, but seeing nothing more of them I weighed anchor the
next morning, and came through the Straits.

"The above is a correct copy of what I sent to the Commander-in-Chief on the
East India station, or any commander of His Britannic Majesty's ships, in
October, 1835.
                                   "W. CARR."
Nov. 1, 1836.

The LORD MAYOR fixed a time for the examination of the officers and crew on this
very interesting subject, and the relatives and friends, whose feelings are
greatly excited by the detail of the foregoing particulars, will attend. It
appears extraordinary that on such an occasion as that described, more questions
were not asked of the white man, and that, in fact, a narrative should have been
written so destitute of minute particulars after so long a survey, and upon a
subject of such deep and frightful interest. The examination before the Lord
Mayor will however, we are convinced, be conducted in such a manner that we
shall be able to lay before our readers a much more satisfactory statement. The
appearance of the European child is exceedingly favourable to the hopes of the
friends of the poor passengers and crew.

___________________________

The Rev. Mr. WORTHINGTON. - How many guns do you carry?

Captain CARR. - We have eight guns mounted on board.

Mr. WORTHINGTON. - Are not the savages greatly afraid of guns? Do they not throw
themselves on their faces when a gun is fired?

Captain CARR. - They do. They are excessively afraid of them.

Mr. WORTHINGTON. - My object in asking is to show that there was an adequate
force to attempt to rescue those Europeans who might be detained in the island.

The LORD MAYOR said, that if it was meant to charge Captain CARR with having
committed an offence in not making an attack upon the savages, he must stop the
investigation. The captain might have hazarded the vessel and her large cargo if
he had made any hostile attempt. His heavy responsibility was a serious
consideration.

Captain CARR. - If I had killed a single savage, the lives of all the Europeans
on the island would in all probability have been sacrificed, and there is no
knowing what lamentable consequences might have resulted.

Mr. DREW. - Was there no signal made to you at all from shore at any time?

Captain CARR. - None at all.

Mr. DREW. - Did you offer no ransom for the Europeans when you heard that eight
or ten of them were on the island?

Captain CARR. - No; I offered ransom for the child.

Mr. DREW expressed himself strongly on this statement as to ransom, and seemed
to be so much overpowered by his feelings as to excite general commiseration. He
was lamenting the fate of his wife's brother, detained most probably by the
natives of the island.

James M'MICKEN, fourth officer of the Mangles, stated that he was on the
larboard side of the ship when the canoe in which the European was came
alongside. Witness asked how he came on the island, but received no answer. Upon
being questioned again he said that he had been cast away in the ship Charles
Eaton about six weeks before. Witness then asked how many white men were ashore,
but did not hear the answer, the black fellows interfered. Witness tried to
grasp the European, and asked him to come on board, but the savages kept him
from doing so.

Mr. BAILEY. - What sort of person was he?

M'MICKEN. - He appeared from 18 to 20 years of age, about five feet eight high,
had a fair complexion, and was rather stout. I could not tell the colour of his
hair. When I asked how many more there were on shore one of the black men put
his hand to my face and held up both hands, as much as to say there were eight
or ten. The black chief was on board the Mangles after the captain knew the
white man was amongst the savages.

Mr. BUCKLE. - Did you know that a man named ANDERSON, one of the crew, took hold
of the white man by the hand?

M'MICKEN. - I believe that ANDERSON reached out his hand to the white man, but I
don't know whether it was taken hold of.

Mr. William EAMES, chief officer of the Mangles, stated, that when the boat
hooked the canoe witness called to the white man, if he wished to be released,
to jump into the boat. "No," said the white man, "but this man will," pointing
to a savage. "No," said witness, "I want you," and tried to get at him. The
white man, however, dived into the water and got away.

Mr. BAILEY. - Whose child do you suppose the boy you saw on shore to be, from
what you have heard?

Mr. EAMES. - I belive, from the description which I received at Calcutta - that
he is Captain DOYLEY's. It was months afterwards, when, upon hearing of the
child of Captain DOYLEY, I was struck with the identity. We did not know, except
from the occurrence at Murray's Island, that there was any white man on the
island.

John WILLIAMS, seaman on board the Mangles, was one of those who lowered the
jolly-boat for the white man to get into. Did not think that one of the ship
shook hands with the white man. The jolly-boat was lowered so far as that he
might have got in; but the natives pulled him by the back.

Mr. CARR, jun. (son of Captain CARR), confirmed in most points the statement of
his father.

Mr. DREW handed a statement which ANDERSON, the seaman, had made to him on the
subject. ANDERSON has received from him half-a-crown, and promised to attend at
the Mansion-house, but did not make his appearance at all.

The LORD MAYOR read the statement, which was as follows: - "To the best of his
belief the ship came to an anchor off Murray's Island, about two miles from the
shore, in the afternoon; he saw no canoes from the shore that afternoon. At
about 9 o'clock the next morning, the Captain being in the poop of the Mangles,
the deponent in the jolly-boat, which had been partly lowered, but not into the
water, there being with him in the boat Captain CARR's son, and PROBERT and
TUCKER, boys, the deponent saw a canoe, with a white man in it, coming right
away from the shore, which canoe pulled under the ship's stern, astern of the
jolly-boat, in which the deponent was. Deponent states that the white man came
forward in the canoe, and that deponent took hold of his hand, but could not
grasp it firmly; that the black took hold of the white man's legs and pulled him
back into the canoe. The white man then said, "Lower the boat a little further
down, and I can jump into it." The deponent called this out to the captain, who
was upon the poop, and who immediately ordered the boat to be further lowered
down. The canoe immediately pulled away, but remained near the vessel a full
hour at least afterwards. The canoe then pulled in shore, and returned without
the white man. Deponent verily believes that the white man never mentioned the
Charles Eaton at all, but that this was only a surmise on the part of the crew
of the Mangles. Deponent states most positively that the above conversation was
all that passed between the white man and himself. Deponent further states, that
he was in the boat that pulled on shore with the Captain. Deponent saw no white
man nor white woman; saw no white legs under a screen; saw some black women, who
turned their backs upon being looked at. He saw the white child as described. He
states that the ship remained one night more at anchor; that she left about 9
o'clock a.m. on the third day. Saw no canoe from the shore that day, and no
communication was that day attempted with the shore."

The LORD MAYOR said, and all agreed in the opinion, that no credit could be
given to that part of ANDERSON's statement which differed from the
representations made by the captain and all the other witnesses examined.

Captain CARR said that he was most desirous to obtain the fullest intelligence
for the friends of the unfortunate passengers and crew, and would, if required,
produce as many of the crew as they might wish to see. He stated that he could
not see what motive ANDERSON could have had for interlarding his statement with
falsehood, for that person was a good, and sober, and steady seaman.

The LORD MAYOR said, that he felt happy in affording all the facilities that
could be rendered in the present state of the intelligence with respect to this
lamentable case.

Mr. BAILEY and Mr. DREW returned their most sincere thanks to the Lord Mayor for
the kindness and anxiety which his Lordship had manifested on the occasion, but
they could not help making one remark. They felt that Captain CARR had not done
what it was his duty to have done, that he had not offered ransoms for the
unfortunate creatures who might be on the island.

The LORD MAYOR again called upon the gentlemen to think of the responsibility of
Captain CARR, as to any forcible attempts; and as for ransom, they could not
tell that he had it to offer.

Captain CARR. - I offered it for the child; money could have been of no use;
besides, the novelty and embarrassment of the situation were a bar.

Mr. WORTHINGTON. - It is admitted that any little inducement would have
prevailed upon them to give up the Europeans, for the value of money is unknown
there, and certainly there can be no doubt that it was Captain CARR's duty to
offer ransom, which probably could have been satisfactorily made up by a few
trifles.

Captain CARR. - If you had been there, you would have acted as I have done. I
have written to all the authorities that can render benefit, and I have no doubt
of hearing soon. I shall be round there myself very soon. I feel for the
relatives and friends of the unfortunate persons who have been the subject of
this inquiry, and I solemnly declare that I acted for the best.

Mr. WORTHINGTON. - It was most decidedly your duty to offer ransom for these
poor creatures. We speak not of any hostile attack at all. It was evident that
nothing of the kind would have been necessary.

The parties then left the Mansion-house.

_______________________________
Friday, Nov 18, 1836

By accounts from Batavia we learn that one of the steamers belonging to the
Dutch Government had been attacked by two piratical prows. She had not at the
time her guns on board, but, having her steam on, she ran the larger of the
prows under water, and lowered her boat to attack the other. On getting
alongside the pirate, her men were attacked with spears, and the officer
received a wound on the arm. The prow was, however, taken, all the pirates
jumping overboard and being drowned, with the exception of one, who was brought
to Batavia, to take his trial. The Dutch bark Alexander, Captain HARRIS,
respecting which there had been such numerous and frequent surmises, had, with
all her crew, three men excepted, been cut off by the natives of the Aroo
Islands. The Dutch frigate Diana, which had been away in that direction in
search of the Charles Eaton, touched at one of the islands on her return, and
there found the three men who had escaped the cruel fate of their comrades. The
Diana forthwith manned her boats and sent them ashore, and, according to report,
destroyed the village, sparing neither young nor old, with the exception of
three chiefs, who were taken and sent to Batavia.

______________________
Saturday, Dec 24, 1836

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir, - We take the liberty of enclosing a copy of a letter received this day
from our correspondents at Batavia, with whom the letter was left by the
commander of the East India Company's brig-of-war Tigris, which had proceeded to
Torres Straits by orders of the Government at Bombay, for the same purpose as
his His Majesty's schooner Isabella, and our object in sending you the enclosed
is to request of you as soon as possible to have it inserted in your paper for
the sake of the friends of the unfortunate crew of the Charles Eaton, of whose
fate there can be no doubt.

We are, Sir, your most obedient servants,
                                                GLEDSTANES AND CO.
3, White Lion-court, Cornhill, Dec. 23, 1836.

                                                    -------

                                             His Majesty's schooner Isabella,
                                             Murray's Island, June 26, 1836.
I leave this memorandum in the hands of the natives, which they promise to
produce to the first European captain calling here, and it will be well to
return them a trifling present on its delivery, so as to encourage their
confidence in him.

My object in visiting this place was in search of the survivors of the Charles
Eaton, which was lost on some of the barrier reefs to windward, and only found
two - John IRELAND, and a little boy, William DOYLEY, son of Captain DOYLEY, of
the Bengal artillery. The father and mother and the whole of the passengers and
the whole of the crew were all murdered by the savages on the island, which the
natives call Boydang; consequently those are the only two living, whom I
purchased from the natives for axes, which they call toory. Those survivors have
been well treated on this island, indeed these people saved and resaved them
from the savages of Boydang, an island to the westward, which it is also my
object to visit, although I am rather at a loss which it is, owing to the
circumstance that there is no native name on the charts to any of the isles
within the Straits.

The natives of this place I consider very harmless, but great thieves, and also
very much afraid of a gun, or small arms.

                              CHARLES M. LEWIS, Commander.

N.B. - All well, and sail to-morrow.

                                                    -------

                                His Majesty's schooner Isabella, July 28, 1836.
                                Halfway Island.
MEMORANDUM. - This vessel was despatched by Government in search of the
survivors of the Charles Eaton, wrecked on the Barrier Reef, about two years
ago. I have also called on nearly all the islands northward, after finding two
of them on Murray Island, William DOYLEY, and John IRELAND, boy of the Charles
Eaton, and the former son of Captain DOYLEY, of the Bengal Artillery. IRELAND
relates the awful catastrophe, having seen the whole of his mates on the second
raft, consisting of all the crew, murdered in his presence. The captain and
passengers shared the same fate by the first raft about a week before on the
same island, called Boydang by savages, on Aureed, another island, in lat. 9
deg. 56 min. 15 sec., and long. 143 deg. 11 min. 40 sec., bearing north-west by
west half-west from Halfway Island, and seen off decks. After searching all over
the straits for this mysterious island, I at last found it, and saw no
inhabitants there, having left the previous night when the ship hove in sight of
their isle. I, however, found the skulls of the unfortunate people on the middle
of the island, covered with a kind of shed and arranged near a place where they
generally feasted on the dead. These heads of different people were placed round
like the figure of a man, and painted with ochre. I observed long sandy hair on
one of the skulls, also great marks of violence on them all. Having satisfied
myself of the truth of this detail, I set the whole of the house on fire, and
also destroyed every cocoanut-tree in the place, which those savages generally
exist on. I at the same time conveyed the skulls on board, and destroyed the
skull-house. My next object is to proceed towards Double Island and Mount
Adolphus, where I may find some other sufferers, and after performing that, I
intend to proceed to Sydney, having fulfilled my commission from His Majesty's
Government which I was honoured with.

Should this fall into any hands, I shall feel obliged by giving it publicity in
the first port touched at, in case of any unforeseen accident taking place with
us ere we reach headquarters.

                            CHARLES M. LEWIS

N. B. I have buried another bottle with a letter on the same island, also sown
some parsley seed, as I have done on other isles.

The Times, Friday, Mar 31, 1837; pg. 4; Issue 16378; col F

                              THE LOSS OF THE CHARLES EATON.
                                                 -------------------

The following is an extract from a letter received from Bombay, dated November
24, relating to the loss of the above vessel. It was written by an officer on
board the Hon. Company's brig Tigris, which was despatched last year by
Government to look after the crew and passengers of the Charles Eaton, and
rescue such of them as might remain alive. During her absence she touched at Van
Diemen's Land and New South Wales, and though unsuccessful in rendering the
existence intended (having been anticipated by a vessel despatched by the
Australian Government,) she has brought some particulars of the wreck and fate
of the crew, which have not yet been published: -

The following narrative was taken down from the relation of a boy named IRELAND,
who was on board the Charles Eaton when she was lost. At the time he
communicated it he was on board the Government schooner Isabella, Captain LEWIS,
which had been sent from Sydney a few days before the arrival of the Tigris, by
Sir Richard BOURKE, the Governor of New South Wales, to search after the
survivors. The boy had forgotten his duties. He said that on making the barrier
reef of Torre's Straits, the ship ran into what they considered a passage in the
reefs, and they were so close before they discovered their error, that she took
the ground, and almost instantly had her bottom knocked in. The boats, in the
attempt to hoist them out, were stove in, with the exception of one cutter,
which was seized upon by five seamen, the same as afterwards arrived at Batavia.
They thought only of themselves and made no attempt to assist others on board,
but after getting what they could from the wreck, made off. The ship of course
filled immediately. The water came up to the quarter-deck, and the sea washed
over her. After a day or two (for the boy's memory failed him as to time,) a
rude raft was constructed, on which the captain and passengers and some of the
officers, with as much provision as could be spared, left the ship, and having
rigged a mast set sail. Five or six days after this a second raft was
constructed, and the ship's company, a mate, two little midshipmen, and the
narrator left under similar circumstances. He does not mention the time that
they were on the raft, but on their reaching an island the natives came off and
killed them all with their clubs, with the exception of this boy, but why he was
saved he cannot tell. On this island he found the two children of Captain and
Mrs. D'OYLEY, one about seven years of age, and the other an infant of about two
years of age. The oldest boy told him that the first raft had landed on the very
same island about a week before, and that they were immediately attacked by the
natives, and were all killed except the two children. Mrs. D'OYLEY had the
infant in her arms, when she received a blow on the head from a club, which
killed her. The child was taken up by some of the women, and carried into a hut.
The eldest boy lived for about three months. IRELAND supposes they were
suspicious of him, and for that reason killed him.

It was some time after this that the people of Murray's Island ransomed the
child and IRELAND, after which they were treated with great kindness. Captain
LEWIS, of the Isabella, gives the following statement. He says, that he found
the inhabitants of Murray's Island very friendly and kind. The little child had
become such a favourite with the women that he had much difficulty in getting
them to part with him, but after holding a long consultation amongst themselves,
with many tears they gave him up. The little fellow for three days and nights
was quite inconsolable at parting with his kind nurses. His native name was Uas
or Yeuas. He spoke the language fluently with IRELAND, but not one word of
English. From being perfectly exposed, he had become quite brown and hairy all
over his body. He is a fine boy, with expressive blue eyes. Both he and IRELAND
went with Captain LEWIS to Sydney.

The Times, Saturday, Aug 26, 1837; pg. 5; Issue 16505; col F

                              TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
                                                ---------------

Sir, - It is with considerable satisfaction that I find the public attention is
now forcibly directed by Mrs. FRASER's distress, both to relieve that lady, and
to the view of the state of the islands of Torres Straits. The crews of two
English vessels, the Charles Eaton and the Stirling Castle, and those of other
vessels also, have been sacrificed to the brutal ferocity of the natives of
these islands, and are at present suffering that series of living deaths which
Mrs. FRASER appears to have undergone. By dint of powerful representations by my
friend, Mr. BAYLAY of Stockton, and others, the Government was induced to send
out a vessel, which brought away from these islands, Captain DOYLEY's son (Mr.
BAYLAY's nephew) and IRELAND, a cabin-boy, all they could find remaining
undevoured of the crew of the Charles Eaton. Still no steps were taken beyond
laying waste an island on which European skulls were found by cutting down
trees, &c., and no means were adopted to impress the savages with a sense of
British power, nor was an accurate survey of the reefs by which these frightful
sacrifices of life by wrecks on cannibal islands were caused attempted. The
distance of Torres Straits from Sydney is but six or seven day's sail, and it
argues great supineness on the part of the authorities there to allow, with the
resources of the Government in their power, these dreadful atrocities. The Lord
Mayor naturally remarked, though the history of the previous mayoralty might
have informed him of the contrary, that Mrs. FRASER's case was one of frightful
novelty. It is no such thing; the death of Captain DOYLEY, of the Indian
service, his wife, and the loss of the crew of the Charles Eaton, were known
there before the arrival of the sufferers from the Stirling Castle, and as yet I
have not even received from the authorities at Sydney any news of DOYLEY and
IRELAND, who might, at least, have reached this country as soon as Mrs. FRASER,
who says she saw them at Sydney, and am not enabled to send my friend, Mr.
BAYLAY, even the comforting intelligence of the arrival of his nephew. I trust
the Government will see the necessity of taking measures here, and not depend on
the activity of persons nearer in situation but far more inert in purpose, and
that an accurate survey and a decided lesson on the treatment of Europeans will
be read to the chiefs of these islands, who appear to be easily met with when
looked for by men such as GRAHAM, and that this blot in our escocheon, from the
supineness of the colony, will be effaced by activity and philanthropy in the
mother country. I remain, Sir, yours
                                            J. W. WORTHINGTON.
87, Guilford-street, Russell-square, Aug. 24.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Rev. WORTHINGTON alludes to another similar tragedy to that of the Charles
Eaton - the wreck of the Stirling Castle in the Torres Straits. Mrs FRASER was
the Captain's wife. She, her husband and several other were taken prisoner by
the natives and forced to perform slave labour while being severely maltreated.
Captain Fraser was killed in front of his wife, and she also witnessed another
of the crew being burnt to death. Very few survived. The FRASERs were from the
Orkneys, and one other person named was from elsewhere in Scotland; no other
places of origin were given. As there was no Cumbrian connection at all in the
shipwreck of the Stirling Castle,the articles of that extremely harrowing story have not been transcribed.

The Times, Thursday, Aug 31, 1837; pg. 6; Issue 16509; col D

                                        POLICE.
                                   ----------------

MANSION-HOUSE. - Yesterday Mr. DREW, of No. 21, Great Trinity-lane, and a
gentleman of the name of WELLINGTON, accompanied by John IRELAND, a lad about 19
years of age, appeared before Alderman PIRIE.

Mr. DREW, who stated that he was brother-in-law to one of the passengers who
were on board the Charles Eaton when that vessel was wrecked in Torres Straits,
in August, 1834, said that John IRELAND was the lad who was seen on Murray's
Island amongst the savages, when the ship Mangles touched at that place to
barter; that William D'OYLEY, a child, the son of Captain and Mrs. D'OYLEY, who
were murdered by the savages of the island of Boidang, was on Murray's Island at
the same time, and that IRELAND was convinced, if two or three axes had been
offered to the natives, he and the little boy would at once have been given up
to the crew. From this lad it had been ascertained that all the passengers and
crew of the Charles Eaton who had been seized by the savages were murdered with
the exception of the infant and himself.

Alderman PIRIE said, that he was aware of the circumstances of the loss of the
vessel and the report that several murders had been committed, and asked the lad
several questions upon the subject, which he answered without hesitation.

Mr. DREW said that his object in appearing at the Mansion-house was to press the
necessity of the interference of the Colonial Government to prevent such
horrible treatment as unfortunate people who were wrecked on these islands were
subjected to. It would be necessary to have an accurate survey taken of the
coast, as the coral reefs were forming islands every day, and intimidation
should be held out to the chiefs of the savages to check their disposition to
shed the blood of people whose colour differed from their own.

Alderman PIRIE said that the Government had given orders to the effect alluded
to, and that he had no doubt of the efficiency of the labours which had been
undertaken for the purpose of accomplishing the object.

Mr. DREW said that the general practice amongst the savages to murder any white
people wrecked on their islands - a practice well known by European nations -
ought to have caused great efforts long before this. Bad as was the case which
had been recently laid before the Lord Mayor, the atrocities committed in the
case of the unfortunate crew and passengers of the Charles Eaton were still more
frightful, not one more than IRELAND and young D'OYLEY having been saved out of
about 26. The poor lad had been two years along with the child among the
savages, and had arrived not many days since from Sydney, having worked his
passage home, and was now without a situation and penniless.

Alderman PIRIE said, that a more respectable house than that of Messrs.
GLADSTONE and Co., who were, he believed, the owners of the ship Charles Eaton,
was not in London. Everybody who knew anything about shipping was aware that
remuneration as to wages ended with the loss of the vessel, so that the lad had
no legal claim upon the owners whatever.

Mr. WELLINGTON observed, that although there could be no legal claim, the
dreadful circumstances of the case, and the fact that IRELAND was the only
survivor of the crew, were sufficient of themselves to establish a sort of claim
on the sympathy of the owners.

IRELAND said he had received a sovereign from one of the owners upon calling at
the office, and half a sovereign from one of the clerks, and that his father was
a very poor man, residing at No. 7, Barn-street, Church-street, Stoke Newington.
He had had considerable difficulty in preventing the savages at Boidang Island
from destroying the little boy who was now at Sydney, under the care of a friend
of the family.

Alderman PIRIE stated that he should make application to Messrs. GLADSTONE on
the subject, and endeavour to procure employment for the young man.

Mr. DREW trusted that the Government would be urged to take such measures as
would check the perpetration of such atrocities as were committed on those
islands whenever a wreck took place.

The following is the account given by IRELAND of the occurrences after the
vessel struck on the coral reef near Torres Straits.

There were 26 of the crew, and the family of Captain DOYLEY, consisting of
himself, his wife, his two children, George and William DOYLEY, and the
servant-maid, and a young gentleman from Ireland of the name of ARMSTRONG. The
passengers had been on a party of pleasure. The coral reef on which we struck
was called Detach-reef. We set about making a raft from the timbers of the
wreck, and after great labour we constructed one in the course of seven days.
When we got upon the raft and into deep water, we found that it went too deep,
and we returned to the wreck to remedy the fault. The captain and the passengers
remained on the raft, and the crew went to the wreck, and in the morning we
missed the raft with the captain and the passengers. The rope had been cut away
in the course of the night, and the raft had drifted down with the tide. We then
set to make another raft, and we completed one in seven days more, on which we
all got and drifted with the tide, living on two wine glasses each of distilled
salt water a-day, and a little broken biscuit. For two days and two nights we
continued to go along with the current and the wind, and one of the men was
drowned. At the end of that time we saw something ahead of us, which turned out
to be a canoe with from 25 to 20 natives in it naked. The canoe approached, and
the natives made signs to us that they would use us well, to induce us to go on
board. We did so, and then they let the raft drift away, and they took us ashore
on one of the small islands, called Boidang Island by the inhabitants. We were
all greatly exhausted and fatigued, and we lay down to sleep. I was suddenly
awakened by the violence of a native, who had in his hand a knife, which I
afterwards found they had taken from the captain and passengers on the first
raft. He endeavoured as I thought to cut my throat, but I struggled hard for my
life, and I had the best of it. I then ran into the water, determined to swim
out and be drowned rather than be killed and eaten, but I turned back, and the
native that attacked me did not continue the attack; on the contrary, he acted
kindly to me, and saved me from violence from the hands of the others. I soon
perceived that every one of the crew, except a boy like myself named SEXTON, was
murdered. Some had their brains dashed out, and others were stabbed, and the
savages after they stripped the bodies let them down with the tide, keeping all
the heads, which they placed in a row before the fire. They ate no part except
the eyes and cheeks. Next day they took us off to another island in their
canoes, in which they brought all the heads of the crew, and on landing on the
beach we saw a Newfoundland dog, which we at once knew to be Captain D'OYLEY's,
and which he had brought from the Isle of Wight with him, and soon afterwards we
saw George and William D'OYLEY. George appeared to be seven or eight years old,
and William was about 14 or 15 months; they were with some of the native women.
George approached the canoe in which SEXTON and I were, and we asked him what
had become of his father and mother. He replied that the blacks had killed them,
and the captain, and Mr. ARMSTRONG, and the servant girl, and that he and his
little brother were all that remained alive. I told him that all the crew were
murdered except myself and SEXTON. The natives then took us into some open huts
which they had on the island, and set us down before a fire, and I saw there
Mrs. D'OYLEY's gown which she had on when we were wrecked, and the steward's
watch and white hat. A few days afterwards a ship hove in sight, and I did all I
could to prevail upon the natives to take us to it, but they would not part with
us. Seven days after two more ships, which were in company, came close to the
shore. The natives then moved about in all directions and took us and all the
skulls and the Newfoundland dog into the bush, and the ships passed along. The
little boy used to cry often, and the women used to tie him up to a tree and
beat him with a bamboo for making a noise, and when I interfered to prevent
their cruelty they used to shoot at me. We were not long after this when the
Murray Island inhabitants came across the sands and bought me and William
D'OYLEY of the Boidang natives for a few bunches of banana fruit; and SEXTON and
George D'OYLEY were taken away by those who sold us to another island, but where
I could not learn, although I afterwards learned that they were both murdered.
The natives who purchased me and William D'OYLEY took us to Murray's Island,
where we became quite accustomed to them, and were treated much better than we
had been treated before by any of the blacks. They were certainly less savage
than any we had seen before, and I became acquainted with their language. They
had small gardens, in which they cultivated yams and plantains and cocoa-nuts.
When I got acquainted with their language I heard one of them tell another that
George D'OYLEY and SEXTON had been killed by the natives of Boidang Island. They
never told me anything about it, and I only understood it from the conversation
between each other. I had lost all the power of counting time soon after I got
to Murray's Island, but we were there a very long time when the ship Mangles
appeared in sight, and anchored off Murray's Island. The natives broke a large
bough, and I waved it from a height at the ship, but no boat came off to us. I
then went down with some of the natives to the beach. This was in the afternoon,
but no boat came ashore to us. Next morning the natives and I went over to the
ship in several canoes, and we got alongside. I was in the third or fourth canoe
from the vessel, and we dropped directly under her stern. A rope was thrown down
from the ship to our canoe and I took hold of it, and I should have got on board
by it, but was unable, having sprained my wrist a day or two before. One of the
crew handed down a quid of tobacco to me, and I said, "Will you lower down the
boat, and I will get in?" The captain and officers were at this time bartering
with the natives. They lowered down the starboard cutter and put their naked
cutlasses and pistols into it, and the natives when they saw that were afraid
that the crew were going to kill me and themselves too, and let go the rope and
began to paddle towards shore. When I stood up in the canoe one of them got hold
of me and put me down in the middle of it. It has been said that I shunned those
who tried to get me away, and that I appeared to prefer being with the savages.
Never was anything more false or ridiculous. The natives were afraid that
violence was intended, and they therefore paddled to shore. The boy was at this
time along with the women in the bush, but I knew perfectly well that they would
have as readily given us up to the captain of the Mangles as they did to the
captain of the Isabella, by whom we were liberated, if pains had been taken. We
might have been purchased for two or three axes, for the natives had no
objection at all. The ship's boat made three or four strokes after us, and then
returned to the vessel. A few hours afterwards the boat came close to the beach
with, I believe, the captain on board, to shoot birds, and one of the natives
took the little boy on his shoulders and went towards the boat and beckoned to
the crew to come and take him, and the captain beckoned to the natives to
approach the boat, but neither would approach the other closer. I was in the
bush all this time and I observed what was going on, and the boat soon
afterwards returned to the vessel. Next morning the vessel sailed, and both of
us remained on the island till the Isabella, which was sent from Sydney for us,
arrived. When we saw the vessel from the island we launched the canoes, but the
natives were unwilling to let me go with them to the vessel, as they were afraid
I should be killed. I however persuaded them to let me go, and I promised to get
them some tomahawks and return to them. I was obliged to leave the boy on shore,
of course. When I got to the vessel the captain asked me what ship I belonged
to, and I told him to the Charles Eaton, and that all the crew and passengers,
except myself and a little boy, who was on the island, were murdered by the
Boidang natives. I then went on board, and I told the natives to fetch the boy,
and next morning they brought him along with them to the ship. The captain gave
to them in exchange for us some axes, beads, gowns, fishing-hooks, and he
supplied us with clothes. We then, after trading with the natives for six or
seven days, set sail for Sydney, where I remained three or four months. William
D'OYLEY is still kept in Sydney by Mrs. SLADE, a friend of the family, and I was
very sorry to be parted from the poor child, who was so much to be pitied. To
describe what we have undergone is quite out of my power.

It is proper to say that the captain of the Mangles, in the mayoralty of
Alderman COPELAND, brought forward the mate, who stated distinctly that the
white man who was amongst the savages showed the most determined resolution not
to leave the society of the blacks, and that finding the young man's taste was
so much against joining his own countrymen, the ship's boat gave up the pursuit.
                                                ___________________