Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-06-03

HIS FIRST SHOT KILLED FATHER RAsCHER
of the most flourishing centers of civili-
cation in that region. Father Rascker
founded the station in 1899.
The missionary party was made up
Of two fathers, three lay brothers and
five sisters. The natives were wild
and the country was perfect wilder
ness, but Father Rascher had high
hopes. A dam was built across a
stream, and the lay brothers, with ma
tive assistants, built a sawmill, in
which they manufactured all the lum-
Der for eleven buildings. All was
peace at this busy center, and Father
Rascher had no suspicion of danger,
though few days before he had been
warned by the governor Of the island
to be on his guard, for there were in
dications Of growing restlessness and
rumors Of plots to murder all the
whites. Because of the isolation Of st.
Paul an outbreak would put 1t in great
danger, but the mission people were
contented and happy, the natives
around were friendly, and Father Ra-
scher could see no cause for alarm
The only victims Of the outbreak, as it
happened. were tie white men and
women Of st. Paul.. It was intended
to kill every white person on the is
land, beginning with Father Rascher,
but the ten victims had scarcely breath
ed their last before station natives
were on the dead run for the coast and
for Herbertshohe, the capital Of the
island, to carry the news. When the
plotters appeared at the next settle
ment the whites were ready for them,
and the insurrection was soon sup
pressed and the ringleaders put in pris-
on or killed.
Only one of Father Rascher's natives
is known to have been implicated in
the massacre. His name was To Ma
ria, married man who had been pun
ished for running off with another
mans wife. On the morning of the
fatal day set for killing all the whites
To Maria took one of the mission shot
guns, ostensibly to shoot wild pigeons
for the missionaries, as he had often
done. His first shot killed Father
Rascher, and this was the signal for
the other plotters to take part in the
massacre. Sister Anna fled into her
room, but an ak burst open the door,
and she was shot. Sister Sophia was
ministering to the sick natives in the
hospital, and her torn garments show
ed that she tried to defend herself
against the savage who killed her.
Brother Bley was at work near the
house when he heard the first shot and
saw To Maria come around the corner.
He asked the cause Of the firing. The
savage leveled his gun, when a native
boy sprang in front Of the missionary.
Get out Of the wayv' yelled To Ma
ria.
"You may shoot us both," answ ered
the boy.
The boy was not large enough, how
ever, to protect the brother with his
person, and the white man was shot
dead. Brother Schellekens was build
ing some cement steps near the church
when his skull was split open with an
ak, and he fell with his trowel In his
hand.
Brother Plasschaert was measuring
a pile Of boards near the church when
he fell in his tracks, and the next day
his measuring stick and pencil were
found in his grasp. Sister Agatha was
binding the injured leg of a native
when she was killed, her roll of band
ages lying by her side. Sister Angela
breathed her last on the steps of the
altar, and Sister Agnes was shot as
she was sewing on the veranda.