The Story of Father Misael Karamerer

(From Our Own Correspondent)

Hollandia, Nov. 30.

“Thather Misael Kammerer

-T is dead, murdered by members of the Ndani tribe in the Central Highlands.”

This was the message which was received in October from the Catholic Mission Station at Enarotali, at the SVissellakes in Netherlands New Guinea. There was a tragic but leroic story behind it.

Father Kammerer’s bearers had »me back at Enarotali without their naster. They said they were close witnesses of the, murder, which took dace before their eyes. When the ddani’s, who were after the trade :oods (axes, etc.) which Father Cammerer had with him, forbade im to continue his trip to the well nown “Baliem Valley” (the Shangri-La” of American stories) he roke away. But the Ndani’s soon vertook him and his bearers. They grounded the priest and speared im to death, after which they buffed the wounds with leaves.

The bearers said that Father hammerer, who was seated on one f the bearer’s packs didn’t utter a 3und when the cruel spears hit him. md in the afternoon they saw a uge fire, from which they concluded iat their master was being cremated -as is the local Ndani custom with leir dead.

It was a very sad story and it ndoubtedly caused a lot of grief > the parents of the priest in olland. “Jungle Pimpernel” Dr. J. . de Bruyn, who became well lown because of his underground ork for the Allies in the Dutch NG entral Highlands during Japanese pupation, was sent to the fissellakes for an investigation. He •eaks the languages of the people ere. (A story of the exploits of J Bruyn was published in Australia id reviewed by PIM some years 50).

Two months passed and nobody mbted the murder any more. Then ry recently word came from larotali; Father Kammerer is still ive!

He did not meet murderous danis at all. He had wandered ound for weeks after his bearers id left him, he couldn’t find the iy back, suffered with a painful iee and was half-starved. But he is healthy and because his bearers i not come back, Father Misael turned to the Ndanis where he lyed for about a month waiting

for his knee to mend. When he was fit again he went back to Enarotali; although the Ndanis asked him to stay forever.

One day before he reached the Wissellakes, Father Kammerer met a fellow-missionary who was searching for him. On that occasion he heard the story of his “murder”, his “heroism”, the “In Memoriam” notice which was written in one of the biggest Catholic newspapers in Holland about him.

But Father Misael Kammerer is still very much alive.

An American priest, the Rev.

Father Louis Luzbetak, SVD, PhD, has gone to New Guinea for two years where he will do field work and study linguistics among the natives. He studied anthropology and linguistics at Friburg (Vienna) and London Universities and later lec tured in these subjects at the mis sionary training college, St. Mary’s Seminary, near Chicago.

When clearing residential sites on Namanula Hill, Rabaul, NG, re cently, the foundations of Judge Phillips’ prewar house were revealed.

From the wrecks, parts, etc., strewn around, it seems that the Japs used the site for a transport depot.