Whaling ship President: Attacked by Natives!
Posted on April 26, 2008 by Greg Stone
There are conflicting reports of this incident. Some reports identify a different whaling ship (not from Westport). So please do your research before assuming that this story is historically accurate!!
Crew of the whaling ship President [of Westport] attacked by natives of Easter Island just as they had reached the shore to trade. Mr. Robert Weeks, boatsteerer, was killed by natives, and another of the crew captured, but he afterwards escaped. The Islanders are represented as thieving and deceitful and were probably induced to make the attack from motives of gain and in retaliation for injuries which had been inflicted upon them by seamen; an American ship master having some years ago carried away several of the inhabitants by force to colonize Massafuero.
The Daily Mercury, New Bedford, September 1, 1856