40 Years Ago

How Chalmers Was Killed

ON April 8, 1901, 40 years ago, Rev. J. Chalmers, pioneer mission ary of the LMS in Papua, and one of the most remarkable personalities the Territory has known, was killed and eaten at Dopima village, Goaribari Is land, together with Rev. Oliver Tom kins, the chief of Ipisia (Kiwai Island) and nine mission students, also of Kiwai.

They had entered a Dubu in an attempt to establish friendly relations with the natives of the district.

Mr. Chalmers and his party arrived at Goaribari Island on the afternoon of April 7. Their vessel, the “Niue”, was at once surrounded by canoes manned by armed and hostile natives, who, according to report, could not be pacified until Mr.

Chalmers promised to visit them the fol lowing morning.

The island had an extremely bad repu tation, and the population was large and savage. Nevertheless Mr. Chalmers, with the object of pacifying them and in ducing them to leave his vessel, left early the next morning with his party in a whaleboat, with the intention of returning shortly for breakfast.

They were seen to land, followed by a large number of canoes—but they were never seen again.

The whaleboat appeared to come away from the shore, later, and then to re turn, as though prevented from getting away. The captain of the “Niue” after attempting to keep the natives about him in order, anchored in deeper water.

He waited until nightfall, when a signal was seen from the shore, which a Fly River native on board recognised as meaning that those on shore had been killed. He then got under way, and the following morning left for Daru, to re port the matter to the Government.

Later evidence showed that, on the appearance of the vessel, the natives of Dopima planned a general massacre.

Word was sent to nearby villages to as sist, and the following morning all the available canoes made for the schooner, with the object of persuading the visitors to come ashore, while a number of canoes remained behind to loot.

On Messrs. Chalmers and Tomkins agreeing, the natives ascorted their party to the landing, and invited them and a number of the mission boys to the Dubu, while the rest of the party remained be hind to guard the whale-boat.

A signal for a general massacre was given by knocking both Messrs. Chalmers and Tomkins on the head with stone clubs. They both fell, senseless, and were immediately killed.

The chief of Ipisia put up a strong re sistance, but the smaller boys were soon overpowered.

After all the members on shore had been despatched, the natives turned their attention to the vessel; but the captain had got under way, and they were unable to accomplish their purpose.—M.L.

Rev. James Chalmers, who was affectionately known throughout the South Seas as “Tamate”.