Pacific

Danes In The

1™ has - " f US ’ “T** 1 devious cnannels, from unhappy , Denmark~at present occupied by the Nazis ’ and therefore shut off from the rest of the world-a letter written by Bent R - Nielsen > journalist, 28-1 Oester Voldgate, Copenhagen. Mr. Nielsen has made a hobb y of collecting the story of the adventurous lives of Danes who'have become domiciled in the South Seas, and letter has particular reference to the history of Captain Viggo Rasmussen (well-known in Polynesia). Mr. Nielsen £ ives the following details of South

Pacific Danes whose histories he has col lected:— “Old Harry”, who lived and died a hermit, on Deliverance Is., Torres Stran.

His real name was Henrik Enevoldsen. (See Maugham’s story “German Harry”, in “Cosmopolitan”).

“German Harry” actually was Captain Soren Christensen, born in Jutland, lived in Australia, New Guinea and different islands and died in Sydney in 1912 or 1913.

Captain, trader and consul (Norway), Christian Kaad, born Sonderborg, Den mark.; lived and died (some years ago) at Levuka, Fiji. He had three children there, with Danish names, Peter Hansen, born in Langeland. He was captain and trader for Queen Emma and Hernsheim. He lived at French Is. and New Guinea, and died there 10 years ago. Port Peterhafen is called after him. He had several children there.

William Leonard (or Edvard Christian Antonius Nielson Or toff) was born in Samso and lived as a trader for Hern sheim on Wuvulu, Matty Is., New Guinea.

He was the sole white man (“King”) for many years. He had three children there with Danish names, and he died and was buried there on Matty Plantation, 1920-22.

Captain Orbek was pilot for R. L.

Stevenson, from Tahiti to Makemo Is., on the ship “Casco”. He lived for many years on Makemo, where Alain Gerbault met him on his voyage from U.S.A. to Europe. His son, Willie Orbek, a half caste, is living in Papeete, or on the schooner “Gisborne” in Tahiti.

Captain Sonne (Sonnichsen) born on Fano, was master of McLeod’s schooner "Windward Ho”, and lived at Port Havannah, (Efate Is.), New Hebrides.

Mr. Nielsen would be very glad to re ceive further particulars about these or other Danish men in the Pacific. It is difficult to communicate with Denmark, however, so long as the Nazi hordes occupy the country.