CANNIBALS IN PAPUA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 69, 14 November 1912, Page 7

CANNIBALS IN PAPUA.

o WHITE MEN EATEN

The steamer Prinz Waldemar, which arrived at Sydney from Japan, Hongkong, Manila, and Papua, brought news of the murder of a white man named Petersen, of Simpsonshafen, German New Guinea, by the natives. Petersen, who had been in the district for some time, started inland, attended by a number of native carriers and servants, for the purpose of hunting for Birds of Paradise, but that was the last that was seen of him.

As Petersen did not return, suspicion was increased, and a number of native police formed a search party. Several days later information was brought ■ back that the unfortunate man, after penetrating for about 2-5 miles into the bush, was attacked by some of the savages while asleep and overpowered. He was bound hand and foot and taken into the back country, and there' killed and eaten.

According to news received recently, the natives in the locality had been waiting for some time to kill a white man, and had threatened some time back ■to kill all the whites, so that they could have all the coast to themselves. -These rumours had created much unrest amongst the old residents, who were afraid to go any distance inland.

Just before the vessel left, a report was received that another murder had been committed but up to the time 1 of departure no particulars had been received.

When the Prinz Waklemar was on her last outward trip 75 natives were placed on board at Simpsonshafen and taken to Rabaoul, and placed in charge of the Government officials there, These natives were brought in by a punitive expedition, and, although they discovered definite proofs of murder, none of the natives would “split.” It was then decided to transport the whole of them and distribute them over three small islands' some miles away from New Guinea. It is thought this will have a salutary effect.