TALES OF VON TEMPSKY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13169, 30 January 1936, Page 3

TALES OF VON TEMPSKY.

MAORI WAR HERO. DEATH AT TE XG I TU O TE MAXU. Mrs Randal Yon Tempsky, a daughter-in-law of Major Von Tempsky, who engraved liis name so largely on New Zealand’s scroll of fame as leader of the Forest Rangers during the Maori War, accompanied by Mr and Mrs Robert Von 'tempsky, and Mrs Von Zabriskie grandchildren, and Masters Gordon and Raymond Von Tempsky, great-grand-children, have been interested visitors to New Plymouth recently, says the Taranaki " Herald, and when speaking to a reporter said they had o+ course read a great deal about Major Von Tempsky, but to have had the opportunity of meeting people who had actually known him and of visiting localities in which he and his Forest Rangers had had encounters with the Maoris had been a wonderful experience. Seventy-two years ago Major Von Tempsky landed in New Zealand and was . one of the army of men commanded by Colonel Chute which arrived in New Plymouth after a march round the mountain which occupied ten days. Here again it was particularly interesting to the relatives of the famous soldier to have followed the same trail. “Gustav us Ferdinand Von Tempsky was the second soil of Lieuten-ant-Col oney Von Tempsky of the Prussian service, and was educated at the Military College at Berlin, and eventually obtained his commission in the 3rd Regiment of Fusileers in 1844, but being of a roving disposition with an intense abhorrence of routine and red tape;, and also strongly imbued with a love of adventure, he made up his mind to give up his profession and accordingly started with some of his countrymen for the Mosquito shore on the eastern coast of Central America, intending to found a new colony,wrote Mr B. Veils in his “History of Taranaki.” The British Government at that time had established a sort of protectorate there, and had appointed R. Walker, Esq., as Consul-General and Diplomatic Agent, to represent British interests on that coast. The emigration scheme turned out a failure, but Von Tempsky was made captain to form an irregular force o Mosquito Indians, who did good service against the Spaniards, and in leading and guiding the British officers and crews of H.M.S. Alarm, s.s. Vixen and brig Daring against the Spanish stockades of Castillo, Vioji, Sarapequi and San Carlo. which were taken. Here the Consul-General met with a fearful death, having slipped overboard from one of the boats, and been immediately devoured by alligators before assistance could be rendered. Von Tempsky having lost his most intimate friend in t-hfs horrible way, now seems to have become partially disgusted with his post, and gold being discovered in California about this time he essayed to try his fortune there.

“After remaining some little time in California he started backward, and landing at Mazatlan, on the west coast of Mexico, in tne Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains, he, with a friend, determined to pass through Central America, which he did till he arrived at Blewfields on

the Mosquito shore. This journey forms the subject of an excellent work called ‘Mitla : or, Travels in Mexico and Central America/ of which the gallant Major was the author. After staying at Blewfields for a short time he married the daughter of the Commandant of the station, and then set sail for England with his wife and father-in-law.

“Once again he left Europe, this time bound for Victoria, where Mrs Von Tempsky nacf a married sister. At first he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits but some time after, the Government having planned an expedition to explore the interior, candidates to take command of the party were inquired for. Von Tempsky came forward for the appointment, but Burke was the successful man. A feeling of national pride that the interior should be explored by a Briton was probably the bar to- Von Tempsky s success in tins matter. He was, however, offered the sub-command, but refused it. About this time rumours of the discovery of gold at Coromandel, New Zealand, reached Victoria and as great depression existed at that time in Australia, Von Tempskv at once sailed for New Zealand ' and proceeded to Coromandel, where bis knowledge as a practical miner aided the Government considerably in developing the resources of that gold field. “On tlie Waikato. war breaking out in July, 1863, lie offered his services to the Government, and was appointed an Ensign in the Forest Rangers in August., 1863. From this time to November of that year he was attached to the Flying Column which w;;s engaged in . scouring the Henna llanpes, in whose fastnesses the rebels had congregated. He next was engaged at the Matiku, where the native's had entrenched themselves behind some logs in a bush clearing and fired a volley at the Hangers at a distance of twenty yards, but lortunately missed them. After this, in company with Captain Thomas M‘Donnell, then a SubInspector of the Defence Force, lie stole at night to Raparati, where the rebels were assembled in great •lorce, and hiding in the flax continued during the whole of the next day to observe the movements of the enemy. Reaching the camp at Whangamarino the next night, lie, with Sub-Inspector M‘ Donnell, received the thanks of General Cameron for his gallantry and for the information conveyed. This was one of the most hazardous services rendered during the war, there being at least 600 Natives in the vicinity of the spot these officers visited. For this service both were promoted to tlie rank of captain.

“Von Temp sky’s next action took place on February 11, 1864, at Mangapiko on the Waipa, where, in the quaint words of his dispatch to the Lieutenant-General, he says:

■My men with promptitude surrounded the thicket, and entering the same, revolver in hand extracted, in a short time, seven natives. 5 ' For this duty he was 'mentioned by General Cameron in his dispatches to the Governor. “On the 22nd and 23rd of February lie was in action at Rangiawhia which lasted two days. After_ this fight the return of the Forest Rangers was thus described by an eyewitness : They were loaded with pigs, potatoes, spears, tomatoes, spears, tomahawks, cooking utensils, and all kinds of Maori goods/ “On the 2nd of April, 1804. he took part in the siege oi Orakau, behaving with his usual courage, for which he was promoted to the rank of Major. After this action Waikato was subdued, and Von Tempskv s sword rested till the breaking out of war in 1866. When the Government determined to chastise the rebels at Wanganui, Von Tempsky s Company of Forest Rangers were asked to volunteer for service in that quarter. The officers ; lid half the men acquiesced in the request. When at Wanganui they were asked to go with Major Brassy’s expedition to Opotiki, for the purpose of chastising the murderers of the Rev. Carl Sylvius Volkner and others. This was in the absence of Von Tempsky, who was away at the time on leave. Von Tempsky proceeded to the East Coast, expecting to meet his men there, and in their absence joined Major Brassy’s force as a volunteer. After this he returned to Wanganui with the object of inducing his men to volunteer for the East Coast. Having gained the consent of his men te proceed, he marched with them to Wellington, where he received orders to put himself under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Fraser. This so vexed Von Tempsky that he refused to proceed, and resigned his commission. “In November he recalled his resignation, and took command of a company -of Forest Rangers composed of men from the European and Maori Militia of Wanganui, under orders for service at Pate a. Ho then vent to Auckland, but on the renewal of the disturbance at Patea

was sent to Waihi. He was present at the assault of Te Ngutu o Te Marin, ami fell noble doing his duty before Ru iruru. He was one ot the bravest of men, and scarcely received from the Government the consideration which his high qualities entitled him to. His commission as Major in the First Regiment ot the Waikato Militia bears date 4Hi of April, 1864.”