'WITH the older boys and
girls of his little school …he had gone on an early morning
hike.
They crossed the river Klewing
and while brother Akerson was eating his breakfast some of the
children tried to launch two bamboo rafts. In some way a lad of
thirteen, Gan Koen Djin, accidentally fell into the water. As
the lad could not swim, Mr Akerson went to the rescue, but owing
to the presence of treacherous and deep whirlpools at that point,
both were drawn under and drowned.
The body of Koen Djin was soon recovered by a Javanese man with
a long bamboo, but that of Mr Akerson did not rise until two days
later.
… Early on Sunday morning the body was recovered and carried
to the nearby Dutch Mission hospital where Dr Vogelsang and his
assistants prepared it for burial. The funeral service was held
at noon in the chapel of the hospital. The school children sang
two appropriate hymns in Malay in which language the whole service
was conducted.
THE
REV AKERSON:
His body was found two days after
he drowned. - Picture from Mission
Biographical Reference files,
1880s-1969, GCAH,
United Methodist Church.
In addition to the ritual service there was a brief address based
on our Lord's statement, "Greater love hath no man than this,
that he gave his life for his friends." Those in attendance
included quite a number of Chinese, the hospital attendants and
the Regent, who is the highest native official of Poerbolinggo.
In accord with the wish once expressed by Brother Akerson, interment
was in the Chinese Cemetery. Following the desires of the lad's
family, Gan Koen Djin's body was disinterred and reburied in one
large grave with that of his teacher, whose body the Chinese placed
in the position of honour.
At the grave a second service was held and the two left to sleep
together there on the beautiful hillside until that last Great
Day when all shall be summoned before their Maker.
… Brother Akerson was very successful in winning the hearts
and confidence of his pupils, both boys and girls. His Sunday
School was among the most successful in the intensive work which
he did. The ideals which he instilled into the minds of his boys
and girls will be of utmost value to them throughout life. His
tragic death emphasised, as nothing else ever could, the unselfish
character of his devotion to those in his charge.
At the time of his death he was within less than a month of the
day when he expected to sail for America. His plans had long been
laid to work his way through the three years of Theological Seminary,
with an eye single to the needs of the work he had hoped and planned
to do.
His parents, Mr and Mrs Peter Akerson, were back in the old home
town of Keokuk, Iowa, looking forward with eager anticipation
to the return of their missionary son. Instead there was a sad
cablegram telling of his journey to an eternal home …' -
MM, August 1921, p.84-85, slightly edited.
Earnest Lau, the Associate Editor of Methodist Message, is
also the Archivist of The Methodist Church in Singapore.
QUOTE:
BOTH BOY AND TEACHER DROWNED
'A lad of thirteen, Gan Koen Djin, accidentally fell into the water. As he could not swim, Mr Akerson went to the rescue, but owing to the presence of treacherous and deep whirlpools at that point, both were drawn under and drowned.'