"MAN HUNTS I HAVE KNOWN"

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 243, 14 October 1933, Page 9 (Supplement)

"MAN HUNTS I HAVE KNOWN"

By PHILIP J. CLANCY,

BILL KITCHEN, THE PACIFIC'S WORST E>ESPERADO.

Formerly of H.M. Expropriation Board Controlling the Mandated Territories in New Guinea and New Britain,

THE KIDNAPPERS.

A Raided Village.

Following the Australian occupation of the former colony of German New Guinea and the German Solomons, extremely strict ordinances governing the employment of native labour were framed, with the object of defeating rascally recruiters; in many cases little better than slave dealers.

It was necessary for natives to certify their willingness to work before a Government officer, before filing threeyear labour contracts; but this was overcome in many cases by recruiters terrorising the ignorant natives. Hardpressed planters more or less acquiesced in this, but the Expropriation Board, administering most of the sequestrated properties had strong views on the subject. Reports reached our headquarters at Kabaul that from many of our plantations natives were systematically missing. In every case a certain motor schooner, owned by a notorious blackbirder, Bill Kitchen, had been, sighted near the property prior to the disappearances. Later these boys were discovered working under other names 011 distant plantations. Equipped with full police powers, and accompanied by a brother officer named Alloway, I was ordered to investigate the affair, and left Kabaul by motor schooner for the Manns Group of islands, where Kitchen's boat had last been ■sighted'. Before leaving I looked up Kitchen's record, and found that for over a quarter of a century he had been known sis "tho worst man in the Pacific." lie kidnapped whole tribes of natives; trafficked in birds of paradise, and was a power in the opium trade between Babaul and China. A dead shot, lie was reputed to have killed many natives, tind was once arraigned for the murder of, a native policeman. Altogether a •very tough customer. A "Blackbirdcr's" Visit. From Man us we left for the Anchorites Group, where there were many wild native tribes. On the beach we received information that Kitchen had recently anade a trip inland, and was suspected of having "blackbirded'.' a large number of men and women. The first village we struck bore out the truth of this statement. Half of the native" huts were bur.ned, and the wailing of women reached our cars long before the camp was sighted. On arrival, we- found that the Lului (chief) was still living. Instantly Ave suspected the old rascal of having acquiesced in Kitchen's villainy. He told us a pathetic tale of attack by a neighbouring hill tribe, which we instantly discounted, and after an extensive third degree, he admitted that he had allowed Kitchen's kanakas into the village at night, when they, had burned and pillaged, escaping with 20 men and eight women. He did not know where Kitchen had gone. We had more than a suspicion that an unexpropriated German planter on the island of Kcl-Kel, some miles away wanted a few labourers, and knew enough of the native mind to be able to terrorise the men into working for him. Accordingly we left at full speed for Kel-Kel, arriving there at dusk the following evening. In the harbour we saw Kitchen's 6cliooner, and without waiting for the anchor to drop, we lowered the dinghy and went aboard. Kitchen was not there, so I promptly handcuffcd his native skipper and returned' him to our own vessel. Then we went ashore. It was a three-mile walk to the planter's bungalow, and we guessed that we had been sighted imme-

diately we entered tlie harbour. Loosening the flaps of our gun holsters we wended our way through the tangle of tropical vines towards the house. Three Spears Flashed. Suddenly a whistling sound overhead, and a shout from Alloway, made me go for my gun,. • Three spears flashed through the air, and without hesitation Alloway and I lired briskly into the bush. No sound rewarded our volley, but the spears ceased. Alloway grinned. "Wants to keep us away, old man," he grinned. "We'll get him this time." "The swine," I said savagely. "We'll charge him with attempted murder." "Not a hope/' replied Alloway (an experienced officer). "Bet you he swears it was bush Kanakas." Half an nour later wa presented ourselves at the bungalow, where the fat German planter made us welcome. Without hesitation Alloway came to the point. "Meissing," he said grimly. "Kitchen's schooner is in the harbour, and we want to see the boys he brought in. We know they are here. If you don't talk, we might go a bit deeper into your claim against expropriation." "No, no," boomed Meissing. "Kitchen just, call to see me. He bring no boys." "Why did your natives try and'spear us," I snapped. "We were attacked 011 our way up here." He did exactly what Alloway had suggested; indignantly denied the accusation. Of course, bush natives had attacked us. He had had several raids during the past week. Wo gave it up and searched the bungalow, the boys' houses and adjacent buildings; but not a trace of Kitchen or the boys could we find. Then I heard an angry yell from Alloway. "Look-, Kitchen's schooner's under way. Come on." As fast as we could we sped for the beach, but the schooner had cleared the harbour before we had our anchor up. We stuck to tlio trail, and for 3G hours, in perfect weather, we kept steadily behind Kitchen. Unless a storm intervened, wc knew wo had him, for eventually ho must make harbour. Vanished , Into the Bush. Then an ama.zing thing happened. Kitchen's vessel headed for the shore— for the wild coast of New Britain. Our engines almost burst with the strain we put upon them, but tho schooner had reached within 20 yards of tho shore, and had lowered a boat while we were still two miles behind. Through our field glasses we.made,out the figure of a white man at the oars. There were no other occupants.' Ho jumped ashore and disappeared into the bush. About ten minutes later Alloway and I were aboard his schooner, where, in pitiful condition, under hatches, we found the natives from the Anclioritcs. We then went ashore, and, with tho aid of natives, scoured the bush for Kitchen, but he had completely disappeared into the jungle. It only remained for us to tow the schooner to the nearest port, Madang, and return to Rabaul. . But what became of Kitchen? Could afty vfrhitc ' man live "if 1 the /iyild jufigles of that part of New Britain?" Certain arrest awaited him in any port. His bank funds were confiscated by order of the Administrator. Any other man would speedily perish by the spears of the tribesmen, but Kitchen—llo. I still believe .that the time will come when that man will rise from the jungle, and continue his depredations among tribesmen and planters. In the meantime, well, I picture the old rascal as a kind of cannibal king. He knew the natives, and could, if he liked, get along pretty well with them. (To be continued.)