Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-07-17
Cannibalism lngrained in the
Savages of South Sea Islands
BY Eugene Schroeder.

BY Eugene Schroeder.
| While the civilized world is still
astir with emotion and disgust over
| the terrible fate which the Rev. Alex
ander Mclaughlin has recently met
by the hand of the cannibals in the
Solomon islands, we are giving here
an account Of not less stirring trag-
edy which occurred in the Admiralty
islands, the details of which have
never until now reached this country.
To the northeast of the mighty ISL
and of New Guinea, under the second
degree, south latitude, and between
the 146th and 14Sth degree, east longi-
tude, lies the small but picturesque
| group Of the Admiralty islands. Far
removed from the highway of sea
traffic, it is as rule visited only
about every four months by some of
the trading vessels Of the Bismarck
archipelago, which call there in order
to gather the copra, or dried kernel
Of cocoanuts, that in the meantime
has been collected by the lonely white
trader who is stationed in these ISL
ands, and of which product the islands
are very aboundant.
With their luXuriant tropical vege-
tation and the enormous quantity of
graceful palm trees which fringe the
coasts, these mountainous islands Of
fer glorious aspect to the newcomer
from the sea. Here and there cosy
village peeps out from among the
beautiful palms Of the verdant foliage
Of the bushes, and the curly-haired ma
tives may be seen lying idly around
on the beach or following their favor
tie occupation of fishing. Eternal
peace seems to reign over these beau
tiful regions, and no one gazing for
the first time at this enchanting pic
ture of peace and beauty, could mag
ine that under this charming and en-
trancing cloak lies hidden a real in
ferno of savagery; no one who is not
acquainted with the habits of these
seemingly inoffensive and we'll featur-
ed natives of the group would suppose
that they were guilty of the most
monstrous and barbarous crimes ever
committed, and that they are addict
ed to the habits so shocking that the
pen hesitates to describe them.
And yet such is the case. The eight
hundred aboriginal inhabitants of
these islands must doubtless be plac-
ed in the first rank wherever atroci-
ties of the South sea are referred to.
During the twenty-three years that
the northern part of New Guinea and
the Bismarck archipelago have been
under the control of the German gov
eminent the natives of the Admiralty
group have at innumerable times
eaten ships crews and captains, and
have so frequently foully massacred
the white traders who were living
among them that they became
steady source of trouble and anxiety
to the authorities. Expedition after
expedition has been sent out against
their indomitable savage nature broke
through, until at present the number
of their victims cannot be equaled by
those Of all the islands of the archipel-
ago and German New Guinea COM
bined, with the exception of New
Britain, which stands first on account
of it's numerous white population.
The tragedy which put an abrupt
and horrible end to the promising life
Of o. Metzke, then trader and planter,
happened on the largest island of the
group, Manus by name, on which was
built the trading station of the firm
Of Hernscheim & Co., and Of which
Messrs. Metzke and Molde we're in
charge. The latter, having Temperate
ly left the island some four months
previous in order to recuperate, his
health having given way under the
constant strain Of the tropical cline,
was expected to return with the newt
vessel. Accordingly Mr.. Metzke was
left alone to the mercy of the canni-
balls.
In combination with the trading
business this gentleman managed an
extensive cocoanut plantation, which
surrounded the station, and which
was laid out on ground legally bought
from the natives. It may be that the
natives had misunderstood, or at least
not quite comprehended, the real
meaning OF the land sale. or maybe
and this seems more probable-they
were only longing for an especially
promising cannibalistic feast; any,
way, they suddenly broke off all ap-
narent1v friendly relations which had