SCIENTIFIC PARTY MASSACRED.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 209, 5 December 1896, Page 3

SCIENTIFIC PARTY MASSACRED.

ur readers will renumber that about two years ago Puitorua was favored with a visit from Baron Fullon von Norbeeek, an Austrian nobleman, and at that time scientist on board the Austrian frigito Saida. Accompanied by several officers of the ship he made U'l.'akarewarewa his head-quarters and fiom that base of operations he nought to make himself acquainted with the immediate district. In Mr C. E. Nelson, of the Gej-ser Hotel, Baron Norbeeek found one who could elucidate many matters in which he, as a scientist, was interested. In that way tho ethnology of the Maori race was a favoiite topic of discussion and before leaving Mr Nelson presented the Baron with some photographs of native carvings and asked him to compare the same with certain old Egyptian carved work in Europe. Mr Nelson was under the impre-sion that there was a similarity between the two. On Baron Norbeeck's return to Europe the Saida was paid off but lie was almost immediately afterwards appointed to the man-o'-war Albatross which was despatched on a cruise to Australia for training and scientific purposes. That the subject of their frequent conversations at Whakari'warewa was not forgotten is evidenced by the fact that in May last Mr Neison received a letter from the ing that lie hoped to be in New Zealand some time in October when ho would bring some specimens of Egyp* tian carved work obtained in Europe which would go fur to prove tho soundness of Mr Nelson's ideas on the matter, and substantiate his assertion as to tho similarity existing between the two. The Baron was then contemplating the trip to the Solomon Islands from which he was destined never to return. His letter to Mr Nelson is probably one of the last the ill-fated nobleman ever penned as he left Sydney a few days afterwards on on board the Albatross. How The Massacre Occurred.

Early in August the Albatross anchored off the sloping beach of the north const of the Island of Guadalcanal 1 . It was hero decided, despite the unsavoury reputation of the place, to explore, while the vessel lay here, the Lion's Head Mountain in the interior. A party, consisting of Baron von Norbeeclc, Lieut. Budik, Midship' man De Beaufort, and another midshipman, 20 sailors, Baron Norbeeck's two servants, and two native guides, started from the coast on August oth. After two days' marching, the heavy work of forcing their way through the Lush completely exhausted one midshipman and seven sailors, who necordingly returned to the ship Baron Abrbeeck, accompanied by Lieutenant Budik and seven sailors, and his two servants, with three busumen for guides, started at about 8 "'clock on August Hth for the top, J. id hipuiau De Beaufort, six, sailors, aid two guide-, from the coast being ltdi hi the cam]). Several bushmen joined the Baron's party on its way ull ihe mountain, but as they had no amis, and seemed peaceful, no notice was takeu of them. When near the top they heard two shots fired in the neighbourhood of the camp they had left, and at the same time they saw what appeared to be a bushmaii chief standing on the top of arisen little above them, making some signs. Whether lie could see the camp from where lie was or not is not known, buthe apparently, ou hearing shots from the camp, gave the signal to attack the B ron's party. Natives from different parts immediately rushed on them with tomahnwks and clubs, but no guns. The baron, being, being entirely without arms of defence, a native rushed at him with p. tomahawk, or small axe, and cut him down by a blow on the back of the neck. This native was immediately shot down by a sailor. In the meantime, thore was a general attack on the whole party. One of the baron's servants protected him-eIF, and did good execution with a big knife be carried for clearing the track. The other servant saved himself by seizing a tomahawk by a handle just as it was descending on his head. Lieutenant Budik, who fortunately hud his revolver in his hand, shot a native just as be was about to strike him with a heavy club. This native at the time the attack took place was attempting through the medium of signs to induce the lieutenant to give bim his revolver in exchange for his clu'/i, which .was a very fine wennon. The sailors, being prepared with their rifles, nt once opened fire upon the attacking party, and after a few minutes put them to flight. The Baron, who was the only one seriously wounded in this nttcek, was pble to walk slowly back to the ramp where nil was done for him 1 lint could be done under the circumstances, but he gradually sank and died abo'it half an hour afterwards.

The party in camp had a si.nilnr story to tell. The bushmen bad killed Midshipman De Beaufort, toree sailoie, and one native guide, ind wounded six sailors and anat ler native guide. The engageement bed been short but sharp.

A t-uccPi~sfui retreat war- made to Aroti, wilh the -wounded. Froux Ait*i a. native guide was sent to the Albatross with i.'itoVlijrfirceof the disjisle'*. Arrangements were then made with the eo-o])or>;tion of Mr Woodford, the British Deputy Commisioner, for transporting the exploring iiarry t<> the ship. The Baron -wts descended from a .Netherlands fanv. ; ir settled in Austri-i tdbont the sixteenth century.. For

some years he held the position of secretary in the Austrian Government. He was a loading geologist and metal-

lurgist, and the originator of the now prosperous mining industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina. '1 he Baron was well known in England and America through his publications on mining, which have been translated into many languages. He was a landed proprietor in Austria, his estate, Gaden, on the Bruehl, about 15 miles from Vienna, including some of the mot valuable agricultunl land in Austria. At the time of his death he -was 4:' years of age, and is spoken of by his intimates as a most congenial companion, a fair linguist, and pleasant man of the world. He leaves three children. His eldest son is 18 years of age, and the youngestseven. The present was the Baron's second visit to the Solomon group. Six years ago he visited the same part of Polynesia in tho Austrian warship Said a, and crossed the island of San Christ oval from shore to shore. Mr Woodford, tho British DeputyCommissioner, made a trip into tho interior of Guadalcanal' in l<Sßli, getting within throe miles of Lion's lle;id, when he and his party were compelled by the hostility of tho bushmen to turn back.