THE JOURNEY OF SMS "ALBATROS" IN THE SOLOMONS

Compiled and translated by Captain András VEPERDI

formerly Chief Officer in the Hungarian Merchant Marine

In the second half of 19^th Century the major Sea Powers in order to demonstrate their strength, have started to send their warships to long trips around the World. This was the so called "flag showing". Besides establishing of political and economic relations, these ships usually have got geographical surveillance tasks, and more than one times these geographical tasks represented the main activities of drafted warships.

The oncoming Austria-Hungary had not wanted to miss this competition, and the Austrian-Hungarian Navy, beside the "flag showing", also sent out warships to distant waters to get more experiences about the World. Among others, the voyages of steam-frigates "Saida" and "Fasana" in the Pacific Ocean had the same purposes. The Austrian-Hungarian gunboat "Albatros" (propelled by sails and steam) was sent to the western part of Pacific Ocean to continue these researches in the New Hebrides and the Solomon Islands.

The "Albatros" has sailed from Pola in the first months of 1895 and her main duty was to collect hydrographical data in the waterways between the Solomon Islands, to do meteorological, climatologic and magnetic observations, to survey the geologic nature of the group of islands and to collect natural historical, ethnographic and anthropological objects.

Baron Foullon Norbeck, Director of the Imperial and Royal Geological Society, Vienna, was commissioned as leader of these geologic researches. He was doing similar works earlier on the voyage of "Saida" frigate in the New Hebrides and the Solomon Islands.

Several months after her sailing the "Albatros" has arrived at port of Sydney, Australia, and here Baron Foullon Norbeck has joined to the expedition. The ship also in this port was prepared for the expedition in the Solomon Islands, and adequate coal and food support was organised.

The main base of the expedition was appointed at the eastern end of the Guadalcanal Island (become famed during the II. World War), in Marau Sound, which is a closed water surrounded by small islands and corral reefs, as a continuance of Guadalcanal Island. On one of these smaller islands lived the sole white man merchant, the Norwegian captain, Mr. Svenson, and his schooner, the "Siskin" was chartered to carry the supplies.

Whereupon the "Albatros" after a long cruise between the Solomon Islands arrived at the bay of Marau Sound on 25^th July 1895, the coal and food supplies ordered in Sydney already were there. After loading supplies, the "Albatros" has sailed again on 3^rd August, because Baron Foullon wanted climb on to the peaks Lion's head and Lammas.

Captain of "Albatros" Commander v. Mauler's plan to hire guides and coolies on one of the islands nearby failed; mainly because the local inhabitants were afraid of that the population of island visited by the expedition will start revenge warfare against them. The recruiting efforts failed also in other places, until the habitants of two villages, Tetere and Gora, took on the job with enthusiasm. The King of Tetere, Saki, had a "Certificate" issued by Captain of the British "Royalist". According to this paper Saki is "the one of the most powerful sovereigns" and his influence is extending to inner parts of the island, therewith "he is a native who has friendly feelings towards the Europeans". Billi, the King of Gora, who was a vassal of Saki, also offered his services. Jonni Parramatta, the King of Belesuma, also joined them. Jonni Parramatta previously served as a stoker in a dredge-boat working at one of the Sydney's bays, the Bay of Parramatta (his name was originated from here), and later in several cargo ships. Finally he had arrived back to reign at his Kingdom, which consisted of three huts.

Empire of King Saki has extended till the Bushmen's densely peopled area, and the Lion's head was situated there. Presumably the natives joined to the expedition with hope that the white men are going into the area of their hated neighbours to plunder gold, so they will have also possibilities to kill a lot of Bushmen. However the "well-travelled" Jonni Parramatta in a short time has understood that the aim of the strangers is not the gold, but he and Billi remained with the expedition in expectation of a rich reward.

The expedition under leadership of Baron Foullon with 27 men and four local guides has started on 6^th August. The Baron hoped to get at the mountains between the rivers Balesuma and Berande. The route was running at first on the savannah from the coast till the village Aroti, which was about 28 km from the sea. They have arrived there in the evening of next day. This village was situated already 300 meters above the sea level.

On following day from Aroti they have sent back one midshipman and eight sailors, who could not march because of their sore feet. The rest of the expedition consisted of the following persons: Baron Foullon and his two servants, Krausz and Nickel, Sub-Lieutenant Ferenc Budik as military commander; Midshipman Armand de Beaufort; Petty Officers Neuper, Curčič, Kovačevič, Skoda and Maras; Sailors Chalaupka, Lovrič, Sepsič, Babič, Car, Scarčič and Wageman; Medical orderly Dokovič; and Jonni Parramatta with two men and Billi. As for the armament, eleven sailors and petty officers had Manlicher type rifles with 40 rounds per rifle, and the others had revolvers.

They have marched on a heavy terrain and one and a half day later, on 950 m height above the sea level, arrived at the foot hills of an 1300 m high and extremely steep gradient mountain what the natives called Tatube peak. Foullon decided, that they climb on Tatube at first, but to get over the 3-400 meters difference of levels and to return, he calculated 12 hours, so he wanted to start only on next day. They have camped for the night on a little corner (about 100 m²) on side of Tatube. Two sides of the little plateau were very steep rock walls, and the third was the route on which they have come. They have heard very loud shouts from the dense vegetation covered hillsides and valleys, and in a short time two old natives arrived at their camp. After a long bargaining they have agreed with them to support guides next day for the expedition to climb on the peak.

Next day, on 10^th August, the expedition has parted. The group escorting Baron Foullon was under Sub-Lieutenant Budik, and it consisted of petty officers Maras and Skoda, sailors Car, Lovrič, Babič, and the two servants, Krausz and Nickel. The eight others remained in the camp under command of Midshipman Armand de Beaufort to guard the equipment and supplies. The three guides agreed on previous evening, have arrived at sunrise escorted with about twenty young men. The Baron's group have started at 07.30 am. and calmly went uphill, because they have not heard shouts from the dense forest as previous day. The route went through a depression, which was called trench, and if they went over it, could have been on a not so steep hillside. Meantime more natives armed with tomahawks have joined to their guides. They have found a spring on the bottom of depression, and started to fill their canteens with water, when the natives emerging on the other side of the trench have attacked the expedition.

Baron Foullon, Petty Officer Maras and Sailor Lovrič have got heavy wounds from the axes immediately in the first seconds of the assault. The very strong Krausz has grabbed his attacker and struck down with his own tomahawk, while Nickel, who has got an axe strike, but was protected by the instrumental bag on his back, struck down the attacker of Foullon. Budik was attacked by two natives in same time, but the Sub-Lieutenant shot both of them with his revolver. Next he had shot the attacker of Maras, and finished with the native who was struck down by Nickel but jumped up again.

Budik's several shoots already deterred the natives massed in one group from a new assault, but when after a few seconds Skoda, Car, Babič and the heavy wounded Lovrič have opened a devastating fire with their rifles, the attackers had run for. The wild shooting coming from the camp dawn the slope indicated that they were also attacked.

After the retreat of savages Budik gave first aid to the wounded men. Foullon had an enormous open wound on his nape, Maras' forehead was split in two so that his brain could be seen and he has collapsed very often, in turn one piece was split out by an axe strike from Lovrič's nape. After giving first aid to the wounded they have started back to the camp and in two hours difficult trudge arrived there. Midshipman Beaufort, Medical orderly Dokovič, Sailor Chalaupka and one of the natives guides were dead, while Sailors Neuper, Curčič, Kovačevič, Sepsič got heavy wounds, and King Jonni was wounded lightly.

The camp was attacked in the same way and time as the group of Foullon. Chalaupka and Dokovič were on guard duty at the two entrances of the camp, while Wageman stood beside of the rifles' stack. The other sailors were stayed not far away from there with 10-12 natives and Midshipman Beaufort stood on the route bound to the valley several paces from them. The savages sneaked there from the valley and hillsides have assaulted the camp in the same time, so in a moment Beaufort, Chalaupka and Dokovič found themselves in the ring of attackers. One group of savages were running toward the centre of camp, the laying sailors and the rifles' stack. Wageman immediately opened fire and doing so he had prevented the enemy to grab the rifles, but the other sailors had to break through to the rifles' stack. When the seamen have got their rifles, had shot everybody who had not fled, but by this time the Midshipman and the two sailors were dead because of the numerous axe strikes. Many savages were killed and the others run away.

When Budik arrived at the camp he has organised a perimeter with the able and the lightly wounded men, and after that he started care the wounds. Despite of his all efforts, Baron Foullon was dead in a short time. The fighting drums of the re-grouping cannibals have sounded from the valleys, so Budik afraid of a new attack, ordered an immediately evacuation. They could not bury their dead comrades because of the rocky ground and the lack of spades, and they could not even carry them with ourselves because of the heavy wounded who could not walk. So the four dead were put in canvas and covered with foliage and leaves.

They have started at noon and after six hours of very difficult march and terrible misery of the wounded negotiated the half of the route to Aroti village. Here they have stopped for the night. Have kept a heavy guard, because they heard the savages from every direction, but their attack failed. Next day early dawn they have continued their trip, getting at Aroti as soon as possible, to be out of the area of Bushmen and from where can send a messenger to the "Albatros". They have marched on a very difficult terrain and there were such kind places where the wounded could not be lift over the objects, so had to push and pull them. In the evening after a lot of struggle and misery arrived at the village from where the whole population escaped.

Next day, on 12^th August, early morning Budik dispatched Jonni (who despite his wound took the task with great enthusiasm) with a letter to the ship. The faithful King has made good the 28 km distance to the coast till 3 hour pm. and he went to the "Albatros" in a boat. He delivered the letter on board and in exhausted condition felt on deck. The captain of the ship immediately sent thirty men on shore with adequate armament and equipment under command of Lieutenant Ferdinand Bublay. The landing party had more two officers and the ships' surgeon. The captain knowing the not always logical thinking of the natives was afraid of that they can also attack the ship, so he ordered action stations. The landing party started with an order to destroy everybody who stands in their way, to unit with group of Budik and to return ship as soon as possible.

Lieutenant Bublay and his party with forced march got at the camp site of Budik, who came nearer to the coast by several km. The surgeon immediately took care of the wounded; the men made beds for them and cooked a meal.

Next day before noon they have got to the ship, but after a few hours of rest, the same landing party once again started the march to look for the site of the fight. There were not enough men to replace them, so they had to try carry back the dead, or bury them properly on the site. It was a question whether they can find the killing ground on the mountain terrain covered a dense jungle, and the bone-tired sailors will be able to do this task. They were not afraid of a new attack, as according to Budik if the natives had knew the effect of the fire arms, would not have attacked his group. Probably the savages have thought that their rifles were blunt striking arms, because they did not ever see a rifle in their life.

Bublay has returned already on 15^th without result. His landing party was extremely exhausted. It was not possible to follow the route of the expedition from Aroti because of the mountain creeks and waterfalls were flooded by the heavy rains, so they had to do very large detours. They had lost their way in the lot of deep ravines and reaching their strength's limit, turned back.

On 16^th August they had given very rich gifts to the inhabitants of village Tere and mainly the brave Jonni and the "Albatros" sailed to Marau Sound. Here they wanted to wait until the wounded will get enough strength to endure the long voyage to North-Australia. Several weeks later they have crossed to Australia, and after three days of their arrival at Cooktown Petty Officer Maras has died because of his wounds. As the schooner "Siskin" which carried their reports to send to Europe, has not arrived at Brisbane because of some failure, the captain of "Albatros" made his report about the events by telegraph.

This time a new misfortune hit the ship, the malaria. The germs of this disease were got probably earlier in their cruise in Melanesia. Therefore in order to improve the medical state of crew, the "Albatros" has stayed for a long time in New-South-Wales and in port of Hobart, Tasmania. In the next year they have visited once again the Solomon Islands, and got some information about the tragedy of their expedition. These were e.g. that the attack was carried out by two tribes, and both chief and forty tribesmen were killed by the rifles of sailors. Thereafter the "Albatros" continued her scientific researches almost for a year in the islands of Melanesia, but she was not concerned in any incident.

Several years later the Austrian-Hungarian torpedo cruiser "Leopard" carried a monument to the Solomon Island and it was established where their comrades were killed. The monument of honour of the brave men and the acknowledged representative of science was inaugurated with the usual Navy ceremony.

Sources:

1. Dr. Gáspár Ferencz v. cs. és kir. fregattorvos "AUSZTRÁLIA CSENDES OCEÁNI SZIGETEK, JAPÁNORSZÁG, KHINA, SZIBIRIA"

SINGER ÉS WOLFNER KIADÁSA, BUDAPEST, 1908

2. Die Missions-Reise S. M. Schiff "Albatros" 1895-1898. von k. u. k. Fregatten-Capitän I. von Mauler und k. u. k. Linienschiff-Lieutenant Wilhelm Kesslitz