Frederik Carl Christian Koebke to keep the ‘Ship list’ updated. In this was registered all Danish ships calling on Bangkok. During these early years Koebke served as captain on Chinese owned Siamese bark ships. The Chinese merchants in Bangkok owned many ships; they imported porcelain and various kinds of kitchen wares and utensils from mainly Shanghai and Hong Kong. Koebke fathered a son with a Siamese spouse, he was named Christian. The British colonialists wrinkled their nose over those who ‘went native’, so their own affairs were kept discrete and Victorian double standard. Frederik Koebke, ahead of his time, just stood by his choices
Time took its early toll on the Consul. In a very short span of years he had lived through changes and sorrows enough for more lifetimes. and deeds -so much for immorality. During his years as Captain, it seems that he had no problems regarding commands, cargo and crew - no shipwrecks, no accidents reported; although the China route from Bangkok to Shanghai was demanding and extreme in the season of the typhoons. It is furthermore known, that Koebke got well acquainted with King Mongkut, we have no documents, but they shared interest and knowledge regarding astronomy and navigation. Bangkok in those days was a small place indeed and the king much occupied with gaining western knowledge -when he could find the time. He was blessed with 35 wives and 82 children. Koebke could not have sailed on China without a profound knowledge of astronomic navigation, the use of the sextant etc. The King later successfully calculated when and where in Siam an eclipse of the sun would occur. We also know that Frederik Koebke, at a certain point was ap-
pointed Royal Inspector of the newly erected Custom Authority. Furthermore appointed agent for the insurance network, Lloyd’s of London, a most prestigious position. In 1865 Koebke went on leave to Denmark. He again met his cousin, Bolette, two years younger than him, and now a young woman; they had known each other since childhood. They got married in Copenhagen 10.09. 1865 and thereafter started the long sea-journey to Siam. They arrived early January 1866, still the pleasant part of the year. After half a year Bolette died from dysentery, this atrocious decease which took so many of the foreigners and Siamese alike. The story tells that the whole Danish Colony followed her to her grave at The Protestant Graveyard, Charoum Krung Road Soi 72/5. The mourners, although tough seamen, all wept and cried, she had been loved for her spirits and wonderful use of the Danish language, she made them remember home, mothers, sisters and other loved ones. All what is left now is a flat, light grey, marble tombstone on hers and her husband’s burial place. The inscription says: Hereunder rest the dust of THORA BOLETTE MARIE KOEBKE 19/12 1839 in Vraa, dead 27/6 1866 in Bangkok. She was a good woman and a lovable wife. In 1868 Frederik Koebke was appointed Royal Danish Consul, a position he kept until 1879-80. Sitting in the medieval rooms of The National Archives, reading his notes and memoranda is a strange experience; you are taken back to the early town in the mangroves and to the river and the sea. The protocol is fragile and with spots, yellowed. You read about life but more often about death. The town in the stinking mangrove swamp was utterly unhealthy in those days, there are many notes regarding death of this and that person, mainly from cholera or dysentery, but the handwriting of Koebke remains firm, distinct and easily read. A note catches the eyes: Martha Soerensen. Born the 12/4 1876 on the Sea, baptized in Bangkok 4/5 1876, dead the 1/8 1877, buried at The Protestant Graveyard, daughter of Captain Soerensens wife O.M.S.J. born Petersen. Registered in the Danish Consulate in Bangkok the 7/5 1876. But there were also the marriages and the naming ceremonies. Many children were given the middle name ‘Koebke’. In December 1869 the Suez Canal was opened for traffic. The canal was the precondition for the
18 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2011
tremendous growth and development in trade, traffic and cooperation between The Far East and Europe. The first Danish steamer ‘H.C. Oersted’ passed in 1872. Also Koebkes Shipping Company flourished these years. He traded mostly on Java, Singapore and Hong Kong. In the articles written about Koebke there are some open ends and mistakes about his tall-ships, especially the bark ‘Absalon’ of 201 tons and bark ‘Esbern Snare’ of 381 tons; impressing deep sea ships in those days. In ‘Danmarks Handelsflaade 1873’ [The Danish Merchant Marine 1873] we read that the two ships are owned by ‘widow, Madam Mette Marie Koebke of Copenhagen’ and registered there. Consul Koebke is the fully responsible operator. No black sheep! Other of his ships must have been registered in Bangkok, if at all, he may also have chartered. This cannot be traced. We only know for sure, that he had steam tug boats (for towing out the sailing ships) and a house boat with which he made pleasure tours up the river. Visitors came to Bangkok. Captain Soelling of the old big bark ‘Aarhus’ had to stay for a fortnight, waiting for higher tides. He was the guest of Koebke on a 3 days tour in Koebkes house boat; they sailed up the river to Bang Pa-In and beyond. One day Soelling and other captains were invited for a tour in the Consuls pony chaise. The occasion was the cremation of the bones of a dead princess, sister to the king. The pyre was fired in front of the palace, where Charoen Krung Road starts; the usual festivities followed. From a distance the captain heard, to his astonishment, that a horn orchestra played Danish music. The baffled Soelling asked whether this was to honor the Consul. Koebke replied; “No, but I have obtained music from Copenhagen, and the Siamese find that it sounds better than their own”. After some waiting the King arrived with his entourage, and when that happened the orchestra played the Danish King’s official and most pompous hymn ‘King Christian stood by the mast so high’. Maybe a trifle misplaced or a black joke by the esteemed Consul. Finally gifts were given out to the audience. Soelling got a nice little silver box, although it later showed to be made of brass. On departure from the festivities they listened to the tunes of: “And will you then just let the hen alone”, a spicy popular song from Tivoli. Soelling, who much later wrote his memoirs, was a trustworthy and most respected old salt. Later in life Envoy to the British Government regarding fishing rights in the North Sea. All dogs have their day, but clouds
were gathering. The 18th of September 1873 the American Banking House ‘Jay, Cooke & Company’ collapsed. That was the trigger of a latent world financial and economic crisis (sounds familiar?) that lasted more than eight years. Almost everything came to a standstill, after some delay also in Siam. Not much trade for Koebke, not much cargo and in case; very low tariffs or rates. The dominating international Trading House ‘Borneo Company’ in Bangkok had to reef the sails severely. In April 1875 young Richelieu arrived. He stayed as the house-guest of Koebke for a period, presumable until he got his command as shipmaster of HSMS ‘Regent’ bound for Phuket. In fact, Richelieu was the last real sailor to arrive in Siam, after him came mostly landlubbers such as a doctor, bakers, soldiers and a piano tuner! The crisis speeded up the transition in the merchant marine, steam engines took over from sails, faster and more reliable, they could themselves pass the Suez Canal. The captains and tall-ship owners such as Koebke stood there as unsurpassed masters of an ancient old sailing tradition - that was suddenly no longer in demand or esteemed. Time took its early toll on the Consul. In a very short span of years he had lived through changes and sorrows enough for more lifetimes. The most peculiar thing that happened in his later years was the arrival in 1876 of the 26 years old Dr. Sophus Deuntzer. He also stayed in Koebkes house until he got himself a consultation established. By character the man was cantankerous, complained and quarreled. At the same time he was characterized as maybe the best doctor in the Far East. Why he came in the first place is a mystery, but he did and stayed on for 30 years-without illnesses. In his capacity as judge Koebke received a complaint from Mr. Knox, a relative of the British Consul General. According to this a servant in Deuntzers household had, with the doctor knowing, stolen a rudder belonging to Mr. Knox’s boat, modified it and installed it on the doctor’s own boat. The man of medicine was therefore ordered to show up at the Consulate a certain day and time. In another case the reputable Captain Benedictsen complained that instead of sending a bill by letter, the doctor showed up in person and also charged for that. It all ended up in an embarrassing exchange of letters to ‘The High Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ in Copenhagen. Dr. Deuntzer complained that the Consul was often seen drunk during daytime, that he played ‘sjavs’ (cards) in low-key es-