The sun., 1903-12-13
A MASSACRE IN 7HE FOREST.
GERMAN SOMEBODY TO BLAME
FOR A TRAGEDY IN AFRICA.
Farmer Paasch went Into tho wilderness
and Made Home-They Told Him TO
Leave IL and He Refused and Fear
Made Him Trek Onward TO His DOOM

and Made q H0me-Iney IOm HUI W
Leave II and He Refused and Fear
Made Him Trek Onward TO His Doom.
A cable despatch widely printed In
America and Europe announces that the
Ovampo tribe living In the extreme norh,
ern part OF German Southwest Africa ana
numbering about 100000 souls, mas de-
cided to clear out the few whites who nave
set led in their country. They began
operations by numbering farmer Paasch
and his family. except one daughter "holh
they carried into captivity.
This tragedy ends the humble career
OF family to which the press OF e'ermahy
has given considerable attention for sew
eral years. There was nothing TO dis-
tinguish Paasch, his wife and cmidreh
from other German peasants, except their
inclination to live isolated from the world
almost beyond the ken OF their Kindred
in barbarous land far outside the pais
of protection. They we're like the man
Bell, who, with his family, occupied little
island in the Pacific, seeing other human
faces only once q year, when a sailing Vee-
sci called. Bell and his island were an
nexed to New Zealand few years ago.
About six years ago Paasch present ed him.
self one day to the agent OF the Southwest
Africa Company. which had received from
the German Government the concession
OF large territory in the northern part OF
the colony. The concession was known
to contain valuable mining areas and also
good forming land.
Paasch said he had been wandering over
the region, living on the game he killed
4 l. rnl fr0v a.
He had found a place whore the soil was rich
and the scrub might easily be cleared away
and he wanted a piece OF this land, where
he might make home for his family.
He was told that no control had been
extended over the region and probably
would not be for some years. Neither the
Government nor the company could insure
his safety for a day.
Paasch replied that he asked no pro-
lection. He was perfectly able to look
out for himself and he could get along
with the natives. He was 50 persist ent
that oral permission was ct length given
to him to take his family far north into
the wilderness and shift for himself among
a barbarous people who had rarely seen a
European.
The place was fifty miles from the nearest
white habitation. Paasch was informed
that if valuable minerals were found on
his homestead he would have to give up
the property. He replied cheerfully that
no minerals were there No gold would
be found on his little farm to compel him
to trek into the wilderness again.
Paasch spent five years in building his
house, digging his well, cutting trees, clear
iyp fha lonI ftIrn pf widest
nature into a really pretty and comfortable
Koloniaiseitung of Germany printed large
| photograph of Paasch's home.
1t showed very interesting scene The
| farmer had cleared about two acres and
| planted it all in garden crops and fruit.
All his garden true was fourishing on lines
| of ridges he had made with his plOw. Not
| a weed could be seen. In a corner OF the
| cultivated tract stood his little square
| house, made Of the timber he had felled and
sllrmounted with straw roof peaked In the
centre and sloping to the four walls. His
well was at the door. and the canvas covered
wagon which had been the home OF his
| family on their journey stood at the edge
of the field, and the farmer himself in broad
brimmed straw hat, striped trousers and a
| Jumper was king over this scene OF
| industry and achievement with a smile OF
satisfaction on his face. The field and
| house lot were circled by thin forest.
! Paasch had done well, and the family
was happy. He had gathered good har-
vests, and his poultry, with an occasional
bit of game. had supplied all the meat he
required. A few dollars worth Of cotton
cloth made all the clothing the family
needed The skins he bought Of the natives
for trihe brought good price when he
made his annual visit to the settlements
TO exchange his little pile of merchandise
for the few simple things which comfort
demanded. He thought his lot was blessed
and mortal man need ask no more.
II was the great day Of the year when
| Paasch came home TO the farm with the
annual letter from friends in the old country
with bundle Of CLOTH some shoes, sugar
and bottle Of liniment, A happy and
peaceful home. blessed with good health,
sound sleep and quietude, was nestled In
that clearing, and it was little dot Of civili-
cation, too, humble enough, but stamped
ON the surface of the wilderness so plainly
that the world knew Of it
About a year ago, however, a cloud
came over the cottage, and 1t never lifted
The attention Of the Colonial Government
had been attracted to Paasch.
| at wasn't right" the Government said
"to permit him to live so far away from
protection. II anything should happen
to the Paasch family, what would Ger
many say?" There would be an outcry in
the press. The newspapers would begin
| to inquire if simple German pesants were
to he tempted to go to German Southwest
! Africa, only to place their women and chill
! dren at the mercy of treascherous barba-
| rians. Paasch must come back. The South
west Africa Company must see that he was
brought back; and messenger was de.
spatched to carry the news to the family.
But" said Paasch. we've all worked
hard here for five years, and we've made
us a comfortable home, and all is peaceful
around us. Who's going to buy our
property? We can't give up all we have
worked 30 hard for You tell the Southwest
Africa Company, IL they'll buy our little
! home III come back; but we can't give
no for nothing all that We have done.
The next that was heard from Paascf
was through letter he wrote to friend
in Germany which found it's way into the
Kolonidle Zeitschrif He said that the
company had refused to pay him a cent