The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-02
Won NORBHCK'S DEATH.
The German Baron Slain By
Solomon Islanders Official
Report Of the Tragedy.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2. 1S96.-The Off
clal account of Baron Won Norbeclx's ex-
pedition to the Lions Head, Guadalonar
Island, solomon group, has been received
here. The expedition, consisting of
thirty persons, left the ship August 6. It
consisted Of Baron Y. Won Norbeck, Mid
shipman Armand De Bufort, Midshipman
Max Rison, five petty officers, sixteen
sailors, two servants and four native
guides under command of Lieutenant
Frank Buaik. After starting it was con-
sidered advisable to send ten men back
It was the intention to march over the
Coastal plains, reach the mountains and
explore Lions Head, an extinct volcano.
After ten hours hard marching eight
men and Midshfpman Rison returned to
the ship. Won Norbeck's party divided,
eight sailors and three native guides re-
manning in camp under command Of Lieu
tenant Bufort The remainder started
at 7;30 O'Clock on the morning of August
13. Budik and Won Norbeck led the way
toward the mountain At intervals along
the trail bushmen appeared and followed
the party. After three-quarters of an
hour of hard climbing a halt was called.
When the party got under way again
Two shots We're fired some distance down
the hill They seemed to be the signal for
an attack. A number of bushmen 1urnped
out OF the brush. armed with clubs and
tomahawks and began fierce attack on
the explorers. Two natives spraalg at
Budik and tried to beat his brains out.
but Budik shot them both dead. Petty
Officer Maras and Seaman Loveric were
separated from the rest Of the party and
Lnough both were severely wounded by
spear thruStS and knife cuts they man.
aged to hold their own against their as
salfants. As soon as Budik fired the BUSH
men fed, but during the short skirmish
the Baron had been attacked and had
Iailen sorely wounded. Maras had received
a fatal wound. Baron Won Norbeck was
leaning against rock, bleeding profusely
from a wound in the neck
while the natives were retreating all
the sailors kept up a rapid fire on them
About twenty bushmen were laid low
Ihe Baron had received deep cut in
the neck and dislocation of the right
shoulder. Petty Officer Maras was cut
across the forehead by tomahawk and
an attendant We're seriously wounded
The wounded were placed on stretchers
and start made for Buforts camp.
Arriving affr;vn cat at the camp startling state Of
guide, and one sailor were dead and four
mariners We're wounded. The place had
been taken completely by surprise The
wounded and those who were fortunate
enough to escape unhurt. had scarcely
time to seize their weapons and defend
themselves. Bufort was Drained while
reaching for his pistol. The sailors seiz-
ed their rifles and opened fire. Several
cannibalS fell but the savages made an
other rush and laid out two more men
and wounded several others. Several
rapid volleys were fired into the natives
and they retreated to the brush
At 1920 A. M, soon after reaching camp,
Baron Won Nerbeck died. AS it was i'm
possible to fetch the body to the coast
then, it was buried under tree. The
other dead were also hidden beneath some
rock piles. At IL a. NJ, the party hur-
r.ed away, leaving all camp material be-
hing, and after a march of six hours and
a half, reached the coast. Help soon ar
rived Two expeditions to recover the
bodies were organized, but the attempt
was not made. 1t was discovered that ten
of the exploring party, including four
native guides had been slaughtered and
twelve wounded. About forty sayages
were killed.