Stories from Deli

Java Bode 15-11-1895

Medan, November 9

It’s been nothing but rain and more rain here in Deli lately; there’s hardly a day or night that goes by without heavy downpours, and the excessive water is gradually becoming a nuisance on some plantations. However, it’s not yet so bad as to cause significant delays in ongoing work. Since my last letter, we’ve had the English operetta company, known as “The Willard Company,” perform here. They gave four consecutive evening performances at the Witte Sociëteit, with a guarantee of 2,000 dollars. The ticket sales nearly covered this amount, so the gentlemen who provided the guarantee only had to contribute a little extra. The performances were well-received, as evidenced by the good attendance, which is fortunate since this treat will have to last us for quite some time. Although the performance was of inferior quality, we have to make do with it in the absence of anything better.

The festivities organized by the Sultan of Serdang at the beach in Perbaungan did not see much European attendance, thanks to the heavy rains and the relatively difficult journey. The Sultan made every effort to make it as pleasant as possible for the guests who wished to enjoy his hospitality, considering the rather uninhabited area. Undoubtedly, many more people would have taken advantage of his generous invitation had it not been for the bad weather and the accompanying poor road conditions. The day when an extra train was supposed to run from Medan to bring anyone interested to our “Scheveningen” was already set, but it was not needed. It’s a pity that the Sultan’s expenses and efforts were nearly wasted.

Cholera continues to appear sporadically in the area; the authorities have begun to doubt the accuracy of the reports some plantations and companies have provided regarding the number of cases. I heard that more cases have occurred on some plantations of the Deli Maatschappij than have been reported to the authorities. However, I doubt an investigation will reveal much. Meanwhile, it seems that the Deli Courant now agrees with what I wrote about the cholera issue, as it included a portion of my previous letter in one of its latest issues, with the added note that they would leave the matter to me from now on. This is probably the wisest decision, as the editors of that paper must surely acknowledge the accuracy of what I wrote.

A tragic event occurred here a few days ago. Two gentlemen, K. and R., were attacked by a native with a knife from behind in the early evening, just as it was getting dark, near the sociëteit. Tragically, Mr. K. was struck in the heart and died instantly, while Mr. R., who came to his aid, was seriously injured. The shock caused by this news was immense. Mr. K., who worked at the office of the Deli Maatschappij, was a highly respected and well-regarded young man who, being calm and composed, could not have provoked such an act. Even those who knew him best have no suspicion of who the perpetrator might be. The grief of Mr. K.’s young wife upon hearing the news was heartbreaking to witness. She immediately rushed to the scene of the crime but found only the lifeless body of her husband, which had been carried into the sociëteit building. This incident, fortunately unique in the annals of Deli, aroused widespread sympathy; here, where the community is so small, the interest was great. Nearly all the residents of Medan followed the bier the next day to the place where many Deliaans have already found their final rest. R.I.P.

However, the news of this event may cause anxiety in Europe, especially among those with connections here, although this is not justified. It is likely that we are dealing with either a madman or an impossible act of revenge, as sometimes happens in the Indies. Unexplained murders also occur in Europe, where the perpetrator or perpetrators remain unknown. This may well be the case here too, as Mr. R. was unable to provide sufficient details about the appearance of the assailant due to the darkness. I fear that despite the reward of 1,500 dollars offered by the authorities, the culprit may remain unpunished and at large. And even if he is caught, it will likely be difficult to prove that he actually committed the crime, which is necessary for proper punishment to follow. As for me, I am not vindictive, but I would be glad to see this man hanged. The authorities are doing everything they can to shed light on this dark matter, but so far, no trace of the murder weapon has been found.

The association “Mutual Assistance of Assistants” has recently been established, although the main administrations have been reluctant to grant permission for members to join or to offer support. Although the association’s purpose is purely charitable, they seem to suspect some hidden motive, even though no main administration has officially refused permission. After all, the times are no longer such that one could refuse something like this without blushing.

A radical event recently occurred involving a Chinese cashier at the sub-agency of the Netherlands Trading Society in Belawan. He helped himself to nearly two tons of money and disappeared without leaving a trace. The security deposit he provided is, of course, nowhere near enough to cover the loss. “Cheap, expensive” applies here, I think, and the Netherlands Trading Society should consider using Dutch personnel instead of Chinese for these positions. While it is true that a Chinese employee is satisfied with 100 dollars a month, it might ultimately be cheaper for the Trading Society to employ European staff, even if they receive a higher salary. There are surely still plenty of young people in Holland who would be suitable for such jobs. Meanwhile, there is no trace of the thief.

Delis.