THE TRAGEDY IN GERMAN NEW GUINEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11951, 28 April 1902, Page 6

THE TRAGEDY IN GERMAN NEW GUINEA.

MURDER OF A WOMAN AND CHILD.

DETAILS OF THE OUTRAGE. The German steamer Tanglin, which arrived at Sydney on April 20, brought further particulars of the tragedy in German New Guinea.

It appears that on the morning of April 3 news was received by the German authorities to the effect that a numbei of savages had attacked Rudolph Wolff's station (Paparat.tva), and that Mrs. Wolff and her infant child had boe-i slain. It was at first thought that Miss Carrie Coo, a visitor to the house, had also fallen a victim, but it subsequently transpired that she succeeded in effecting her escape.

The police authorities were at once notified of the murders, and 100 men were despatched to tho scono. A large body of volunteers, composed of European business men and planters, also proceeded to the station.

Tho body of Mrs. Wolff was found lying at the foot of tho stops with countless wounds on the faco and body, inflicted by tomahawks and spears. Alongside was tho body of her four-months-old baby with a tomahawk gash on its little face, and near by was found the outstretched body of the black nurse, also butchered by the savages in the same cruel way.

The contents of the house were completely destroyed. A piano, chairs, tables, pictures, etc., were broken up and scattered on the floor, whilst all the clothing was carried away into the hush. The only articles that remained intact were the iron bedsteads, which the kanakas were unable to destroy. A considerable sum Of money was stolen.

The police started at once in pursuit of the savages, and during the first two days 10 prisoners were taken and about 30 savages were killed. Nearly all the Europeans <und over 1500 labourers were scattered over tho Paparatava district giving chase to the natives, burning their houses, destroying their plantations: in fact, sparing only tho women and children.

The steamer Tnnglin, which was in port at the time, experienced difficulty in getting men to unload the cargo for Herbertshoho, as almost the whole of the labourers were employed in stamping out the kanakas connected with the murders. STATEMENT BY AX ETE-WITNK33. Miss C'oc, who was present in the house at the lime of tho tragedy, made the following statement: —"The chief of Paparatava was in the morning at the house of Mrs. Wolff. Just as soon as Mr. Wolff left his house the chief also disappeared. Soon afterwards a lot of natives came ami offered to sell Mrs, Wolff a pig. Mrs. Wolff was upon tho upper steps, and tried to bargain with the natives, but they demanded a very high price for the pig, their object evidently being to throw her off her guard. I stood at. the verandah near by. Tin; black nurse and the child were in the house, when suddenly I heard the sound of a blow. I turned round cad beheld Mrs. Wolff, with a terrible tomahawk wound in her head, falling down the steps. At tho same tilde J received a fearful blow on Hie head from a blunt end of a tomahawk. I reeled, and then recived a second blow, and fell down six steps into tho yard. From this position I was rescued by a Solomon Islander— cook in Mrs. Wolff's employ—who took me into the kitchen and locked the door. Tho natives searched in vain'; they could not find me. After the savages had left I managed to escape by concealing myself in the bush, where I remained till evening, and, covered by the darkness of the night, found safo refuge at tho next mission station. From there I arrived safely at Herbertshoho." AN" ACCOUNT BY MI!. WOLFF. The following statement was made by Mr. Wolff:—"I started from my homo at seven o'clock in the morning, riding to my plantation to give my orders to the working men. J had met the chief of I'aparatava at my premises, never thinking for a moment that he was watching me. When about ten minutes' ride from my home I heard a terrible cry, and suspecting some savage treachery 1 at onco turned around and galloped full speed back towards my home, and found to my horror that mv house was surrounded by 400 .savages. I made an attempt to enter, but was repubed by countless weapons of all kinds. My poor wife and child were lying dead in the back yard, and I turned away from the ghastly scene and rode in wild excitement to procure assistance." Mrs. Wolff and her baby were buried on the morning of April 4, the remains being followed to their last resting-place by the entire European community. The only reason which ran be advanced foi the deed is that the kanakas of Paparatava dislike whites residing in their neighbourhood, and desiro to remain by themselves. The natives had invariably received the greatest kindness and consideration at the hands of the Wolff family.