South Seas Pioneer

Death of Mr. G. W. Partsch, of Western Samoa

From Our Own Correspondent.

APIA, June 6.

IN the evening of June 3, Mr. George W.

Partsch, one of the oldest and most respected settlers of Western Samoa, died suddenly of heart failure at his home at Vailoa, Apia,

With his death departed one of the few remaining old identities of Samoa, who form a tie with the old times and the days of the hardy South Sea pioneers. During the last 46 years, Mr. Partsch had been one of the best known and respected iden tities on Apia beach, endearing himself to the European community by his genial and straightforward manner, and gaining the respect of the Samoans.

Mr. Partsch, who had reached the age of 85 years, was born in Hamburg, Ger many, the descendent of an Austrian army officer of Vienna. Driven by his adventur ous spirit, he left his home at an early age to try his luck in the glamorous South Seas. He went first to Tahiti as a seaman on a trading schooner and later visited Samoa (then under German administra tion) as mate of a sailing vessel. After the adventurous sea-faring life he decided to settle in Vavau, Tonga, as a trader for the big German firm, D.H. and P.G.

Three years later he joined the firm of McArthur & Co., in those days the prin cipal competitor of the German company.

For a time he traded for McArthur’s on Haapai Island in the Tongan Group. How ever, the sea called; and so in 1884 he left Tonga as supercargo for Grevsmuhl, Crawford & Co., of San Francisco and Samoa. For five years he journeyed among the Gilbert and Ellice Group and the Mar shall Islands.

In 1889, shortly after the unfortunate hurricane the ravages of which were still visible everywhere, Mr. Partsch arrived in Apia and decided to stay there perman ently. He purchased a hotel and for 10 years conducted the business successfully.

At the end of that period he became an auctioneer and general commission agent.

Finally, when the group was taken over by New Zealand, he joined Messrs. Burns,

Philp (S.S.) Co.’s staff and had been a trader at their Vailoa station for many years.

Mr. Partsch’s death was mourned by a son and daughter, who lived with him, also by several grandchildren, and a son living in America. He lost his wife and one daughter many years ago. Mr. Partsch, who was a devoted son of his country, was a President of Honour of the Apia German Club Concordia. His funeral was attended by a large and representative gathering of mourners, who, at the cemetery, were impressively addressed by Pastor R. Reye, of the Seventh Day Ad ventist Mission.

Late Mr. G. W. Partsch