Kolmanskuppe Tree and Church!

[Michael Alexander]

I was always under the impression that he drowned just off the beach opposite where the Yacht Club is today.

Trying to recall where I read that...

[Malcolm Bertoni]

So did I.  Luderitz was supposed to have drowned in the sea. 

Perhaps old Eberlantz knew something . . .

[Michael Alexander]

Also, if he was in the river, how did he get the boat upstream, the mouth is difficult to navigate at the bast of times...

[henniek]

Who on earth was Fritz Nieswant .. ???

[henniek]

Something that might interest Malcolm. Quote " one of the earliest coal burning condensers stood on the shores of Radford bay about a mile beyond Buhrenkamp . this Radford was one of the earliest settlers in luderitz area  he lived with his wife on the southern sheltered side of the little bay . He was buried among the rocks near his home / Buhrenkamp - today a residential area

[henniek]

I eventually found out who Fritz Nieswandt was. He was a powerful & commanding bachelor who built fishing boats amongst other things. [more than a 100 years ago]

[Malcolm Bertoni]

Thanks for that information Hennie.

Fascinating stuff.

There is a very good book called "Murder at Angra Pequena" which describes the murder of First Officer Griffith from the Confederation ship 'Saxon' which was captured by the 'USS Vanderbilt', which also fought the Confederation ship 'CSS Alabama' during the American Civil War.
The Alabama used Angra Pequena as a base. Griffith became friends with David Radford and lived with him for a while.  Griffith was shot and killed by an officer from the 'Vanderbilt' during the battle - although there is some controversy whether this is what actually happened. Radford buried Griffith at todays Griffith Bay, directly opposite Luderitz, which is now named after him.

Malcolm

[Uwe Leube]

I passed through Luderitz around 1987 and found a German book in one of the bookshops that had a fascinating collection of methods used in the "olden" days for smuggling diamonds out of the Sperrgebiet. I am not sure whether I still have it, but will have a look around next month when back home again.

[henniek]

anxious  for the info ! please post it asap

[Uwe Leube]

The book mentioned earlier is "Die Macht der Diamanten" by Lisa Kuntze (1983).

http://www.amazon.de/Macht-Diamanten-Sechsundsechzig-Diamantengeschichten-S%C3%BCdwestafrika/dp/B002LP37RU
http://www.namibiana.de/de/die-macht-der-diamanten-sechsundsechzig-ernste-heitere-und-tragische-diamantengeschichten-aus-suedwestafrika.html

[henniek]

ek verstaan niks

[Malcolm Bertoni]

I tried to get an English translation of the book, but had no luck.

The author, Lisa Kuntze, died in 2001 in Otjiwarongo.

[henniek]

Malcolm Bertoni. at last I found some more i9nf re mr Luderitz.
Question . Did Adolf Luderitz drown , or was he muredered . : In short ,  Adolf and traveling companion mr Joseph Steingrover , an experienced seaman, convince Adolf that they could sail to Ludertz in their frail craft. while the workmen traveld back overland . so they headed for the open sea. But a storm arose and the two were presumed drowned. Now -  however Mrs Schamscore of Walvis baai relate that in 1909 , an Bushman told a german officer Major Muller - Wichardt , that several years previously, two white men swam out of the sea. but that having survived this ordeal, they were subsequently murdered by a party of bushman , some distance upstream from the river mouth . On August 1933 , the major conveyed this story to mr Carl Luderiz . the youngest child of Adolf.. His daughter miss Ingebord Luderitz confirmed the story in a letter to mrs Schoschor , and that they presumed the two muredered men have been her grandfarther and mr Steingrover . but one thing bothers me. Why major Muller took so long before he traced Charl. .. Did it take him many years perhaps - to find a relative ? .. Or is this just another mystery of the Spergebiet that will never been resolved . e.g. what realy happened to Adolf luderitz en mr Steingrover , remains a mystery

[henniek]

grave at Angwigarub

[Malcolm Bertoni]

Hi Hennie

Fascinating stuff.  Another mystery of the Sperrgebiet. I guess we'll never know the real truth.

What is interesting is how many Bushmen  lived in the Sperrgebiet - and without anyone really knowing they were there . . .

Thanks for all the info.

Malcolm