Tragic Death Of
p. 40 · Read in the full issue
Rev. W. V. Milne
Madman’s Attack On Mission
THE cruel murder of Rev. W. V. Milne, a noted missionary, by a demented native, at Nguna, in the New, Hebrides on April 27, was reported in our May issue. Some further details of the trag edy are given in a personal letter to the editor from another missionary, Rev. B.
R. C. Nottage, of Tongoa, who narrowly escaped with his life.
“I happened to be at Nguna, staying with Mr. Milne on my way back to Ton goa from furlough,” said Mr. Nottage, “and I of course went out with him when he was called out by natives who said there was * a big trouble.’ It was 7.30 p.m., and almost dark.
“Evidence of it was soon seen in the injured while we were still on the mis sion station. As soon as we entered the village we found an old native with his head terribly battered, just dying. He had been thus injured in the eating house, and then thrown outside. The weapon used was an iron bar some 3ft. 6ins. long.
“We had no time to think then, for in a flash the madman was rushing upon us, yelling, and coming with fiendish
leaps. We had to scatter, as we were unarmed, except that the four or five natives with us had light pieces of wood.
“Mr. Milne did not escape. This I discovered when, after getting inside, I ventured out again to find him.
“An awful night followed, for the mad man followed me and the two boys to wards the house. He smashed the gate, which gave us a few seconds extra. Then he smashed a lamp, and finally a door we had locked.
“Having smashed an ample hole in it (half the door), he did not enter. We were still not armed with anything worthwhile, so it was providential that he did not come through the open door to where we were, in darkness, with only a chair as a weapon.
“I will say nothing more of that terror stricken night.
“We eventually got a message away for help from neighbours and to the Govern ment police in Vilo —35 miles away by bush track but some natives finally found courage and came back from an other village with arms, and soon after 3 a.m. the madman was shot.”