(From the Wellington Independent, January 26)

The Napi, schooner, arrived on Monday from Russell, bringing as passenger Captain Griffiths, late of the schooner Helen, of Sydney, which had been piratically seized and taken from him under the following circumstances :-

The Helen sailed from Sydney on the 24th of November for Moreton Bay, with a crew of five men, six passengers, and a general cargo. The passengers' names were:

James Wilson,
Henry Austin,
John Johnson,
Michael Crawley, and
two Misses Gregory.

It appears there were two men, named John Ryan (formerly of the Government brig) and Thomas Ross, secreted in the hold of the vessel when she sailed, and on the night that she left Sydney, these men, together with the male passengers, and three of the crew, named Lucas, Gregory, and Paynter, headed by Wilson, rushed suddenly aft, armed with pistols and muskets. Wilson ordered the Captain to give up the charge of the vessel to him, stating that he bore no illwill towards him, but, come what would, he was determined to have the vessel at all hazards, the owners having treated him scurvily. The Captain refused compliance, but immediately a brace of pistols were levelled at his head by Wilson, which was the signal for the others to present their muskets at him, and he was ordered to submit and go forward or they would " finish him." The captain seeing that resistance was useless went below into the forecastle, where, in company with the mate, steward, and two others of the crew, he was secured by the chain cable being coiled upon the hatch. Previous to his confinement the captain requested them to allow him a boat that he might return to Sydney with the loyal portion of his crew, and the female passengers, but this they refused, promising, however, to put him on shore at the first land they made. As soon as the pirates had secured the captain, Wilson broke open the captain's desk and took from it the ship's papers, several letters, and some money.

The following morning the captain was liberated and called to breakfast, and told to make the best use of that opportunity to remove his clothes from the cabin, which he did, and every subsequent day they permitted him, and the other prisoners, to come on deck, but while there they were closely guarded. On the 7th December, they sighted New Zealand, but having, during a gale, lost their topmast and fore topsail, they stood away to sea, being afraid to approach the land lest their crippled state should attract observation and lead to their discovery. They were reminded of their promise to the captain, and being in need of water and vegetables, they bore up for the land again, and made the North Cape on the 19th, where they came to anchor under the land, and put the Captain, mate, steward, and two seamen, with the Misses Gregory, on shore, giving them three cwt. flour and two bags sugar for provisions until they should reach some settlement.

They made their way to Monganui, where they were kindly received by Captain Butler, of that place, and Mr. White, the Resident Magistrate. The females have remained under Captain Butler's charge, until they hear from their relations in New South Wales. Captain Griffiths supposes that the pirates have shaped their course for California.

We have made enquiries relative to the piratical seizure of the schooner Helen, and the facts appear to be thus. The schooner belonged to Messrs. Tebbutt and Inder, and was employed in the Moreton Bay trade, and sailed for Brisbane on the 24th November last. Her passengers were a Mr. Wilson - up to this voyage the master of the vessel - a Mr. Johnson, a seaman, and Henry Austin, who from the description given of him may probably be the late collector of city rates ; also, a man named Crawley, and two Misses Gregory (girls of 15 and 13 years of age), who were returning to their father, a respectable settler at Moreton Bay.

The men concealed in the hold had, no doubt, concerted with Wilson beforehand; one of them, Ross, having been in the service of Messrs. Tebbutt and Inder, on board a vessel called the Louisa, which was wrecked at Moreton Bay. The cargo of the Helen consisted of flour, sugar, and timber, and was of considerable value. The owners, at an early period after her departure, apprised the Colonial Secretary of their apprehension that the vessel had been piratically seized, and received a notice from that honorable gentleman that the senior Naval Officer of the station had been made acquainted with the circumstances.

SG & SGTL 9 Feb 1850

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