" German Harry "

Tragic Ending of Colourful Life

HERE, at long last, we have the true story of “German Harry,” famous as the hospitable hermit of Deliverance Island (Torres Strait), who died, un attended and alone, at the age of 80.

The story is supplied by Mr. John Earn shaw, of Sydney. Mr. Dick Roche, to whom he refers, was himself a famous tropical wanderer, and he also died tragically. He went into the interior of Dutch New Guinea, after birds-of-para dise, and apparently was murdered by natives—at any rate, he never was seen again.

“While going through a large bundle of “PlM’s” that I recently acquired,” writes Mr. Earnshaw, “I came upon many references and articles on my old friend Dick Roche, of Merauke, and German Harry, of Deliverance Island. It may in terest many of your readers to hear the exact details of old Harry's life.

“I was with Roche in 1928, when we found Harry’s body on Deliverance. He had been dead about two months when we found him. It was his practice to write the days of the month on a slate, and cross them out as they passed—thus we knew the day he died.

"The body lay half under the hut, and his left arm and right foot were missing.

“We buried him under the big tree just to the east of his hut. Under this tree were his table and stool, the table set with knife, fork and plate, ready for the meal that he never ate.

“As to the cause of his death, we could find no explanation. A white mongrel dog, that gambolled with frantic joy when we landed, was the only living thing on Deliverance.

“Somerset Maughan visited Deliverance in the early 20’s, and afterwards published an article about German Harry in the ‘Cosmopolitan Magazine.’ He predicted the circumstances of his death.

“Of the fortune in pearls that Harry was supposed to have hoarded, we found no trace. We searched his effects, but found no diaries or letters that might have recorded some of the stirring scenes that filled his adventurous life.

“Dick Roche knew Harry well, and wrote down the details of the old man’s life. The attached is a statement he sent to me shortly after Harry’s death,”

Dick Roche’S Statement

HENRY EVOLDT, born Helsingfors, Denmark, 14th October, 1848. At the age of 16, he shipped in the Danish brig “Kalitree” to Hull, then loaded coal and went to Rio de Janiero, returning to Marseilles with coffee. He joined ships trading in nitrates, for three years, be tween South America and Europe.

Later, he signed on the British brigan tine “Bella” for a year, running between England and South Africa. In London he joined the sailing ship “Waikato,” which took him to Lyttelton, New Zealand, with a number of immigrants. Return ing to Glasgow, he made one trip to Cal cutta in a ship (unnamed) with a cargo of salt.

His further movements were: ship “Middlesex” from England to Calcutta, thence to the West Indies with coolies, and back to London; “Dunbar Castle,” to Sydney, one trip; “Waikato” to New Zea land with immigrants, three trips.

He left Europe for the last time in the “Waitangi,” and, with most of the crew, he deserted in Lyttelton, being attracted by the high wages offering on the coastal boats.

The next eight years were spent on trading vessels around the New Zealand coast, and then he went across to Aus tralia. He was paid off in Townsville from a NZ schooner named “Kenilworth.”

He worked on various steamers on the

North Queensland coast, including the “Gympie' “Star of Hope,” “Burdekin” and “Palmer.” After one discharge in Townsville, he joined the Government steamer “Albatross” for three months, and was paid off in TI, and sent back to Sydney. . ... AA , Evoldt then joined the Australian ship “Gibraud,” in Newcastle, loading coal for Batavia. This ship went upon Woppa reef, and the crew was paid off in TI. All went south except Harry. Meeting an old school mate, Louis the Greek, he bought a half share in his fishing boat, and the two engaged in beche-de-mer fishing, at the Katau River, in Papua, for six years, moving to Deliverance Island in 1890. By this time they had two boats.

For nine years this partnership lasted on Deliverance, making a total of fifteen years that they were together. It might have lasted longer, only that a Frenchman from New Caledonia, named Joe Austin, who came to work for them, decamped with one boat and all the turtle shell and produce he could get, and sold the lot in TI.

Harry remained alone on Deliverance. excepting for a few months in TI and Naghir in about 1912. Mr. John Earnshaw and I found his remains at his

house on March 24, 1928.

R. Roche.

Thursday Island, April 28, 1928.