The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-30
S A M o A..
Colonel Steinberger Narrates His Ex-
perience as Its Ruler.
HOW HE WAS KIDNAPPED
Ills Claim Against England for lmprisOn.
ment and Loss Of Property.

reporter OF the HERALD met at the Sturtevani
House last evening Colonel A. B. Steinbcrger, Of
Samoan celebrity, whose story Of alleged British out
rage and wrong dong has been OF late the subject OF
much newspaper comment and Official action. In the
course OF the conversation cnsued the Colonel
told the history OF his grievances adding TO II many
facts not before published He also gave portion OF
his personal history, which viii be found interesting.
Il viii DO seen that the Colonel not only makes
heavy cash domans England, but that he insists
upon his right to be conveyed by British war vessel
back 10 Samoa from which place no was iorcibly car
ried away in a man-of-war under the command Of nm
officer OF tho royal navy.
Those who have imagined Colonel steinbergcr TO DO
foreigner, without American instilcts family
connections, may DO surprised to learn that he was
In SchuyKill county, Pa and rs OF the ancient
German stock OF that Commonwealth. He was born
In the year 1887 and is consequently about forty
years of age--oi prepossessing and intelligent APP
pearance, above the medium height and showing
well knit frame, which to have enabled him 10
the hardShips and prvatons Of an unusually
without suffering any pcrceptible phys
zeal disability.
COLONEL srEiSBERaER's NARRATIVE.
Without entering into unnecessary preliminary de-
tails II may be stated that according TO mis- own
statement Colonel Slenberger, IN tho years 1869
and 1870 mado extensive explorations OF tho rivers
Amazon and Magdalena in south America. In the
year 1873 he sent by Hamilton Fish, then Secre-
tary OF State, without diplomatic authority, TO report
upon the samoan or Navigator's Islands, located in
tho South Pacific Ocean, in latitude Ii to 10 deg.
south, and longitude 100 to 173 deg west Tho
particulars OF his explorations Colonel Stcnberger
embodied in report the United States government,
which was accompanied by the Presidents Message
and various executive documents In connection
with this repor, wero curiositcs, specimens
OF tho productions OF the soil other objects Of in
the Smithsonian Institution at Washing
ton. Upon stcinbcrger's drst visit 10 the island In
August, 1873 he found inscrneciho war raging among
the natives he visited every island, district and viii
lage called upon every native chlef and in short
while succeeded in restoring pence among them.
When he left the Islands he bore with HIM letters
from the governments which he had created to the
President and authorities OF tho United States govern
ment and other letters also from Iamao and Fapule.
These names represent the House OF Lords and House
OF Commons Of the Samoan government SteInberecr's
report is iairly acknowledged by letters from Hon.
Hamilton Fish, (which TO- 900 copies printed by
order OF Congress. In 1875 Colonel Steinbcrger was
ordered again proceed TO the Samoan Islands the
United States vessel ruscarora When Colonel
reached Samoa he received there by the
government that he had created about Two years be-
ioro. Delegations from the Villages and districts to
the number OF 10000 were assembled to receive him,
on tnis, his second visit TO the Islands, he framed
q constitution which adapted 10 the wants
OF the people, and modelled IN
ner alter the constitution Of tho Hawanan
Islands. Laws passed for the suppress
sion O! groggeries. dance houses and other n
Iquous places This action provoked feeling Of
hostility among the white settlers, who mum bercd
less than two hundred and mainly runaway sail
ors ana escaped convicts from TASMANIA. These being
British subjects demanded tho protection of tho
home government and not understanding the respon-
sibbty OF domililed citizens rcbeiled against the
ganiZed Samoan government.
ANOTHER JEWEL FOR ENGLASD's CROWN.
In the meantime, ihc British government having
annexed the FJi Islands, Mr.. Layard former Consul
annexation OF the islands, in collision with Captain
Charles Il. Stevens, Royal Navy, commanding Her
Mucsty's steamer Barracuda. conceived the idea OF
adding another jewel 10 the coronet OF Her Majesty
1t clear that the Barracuda was ordered to tho
Tongo Islands; but with Mr. Layard on board, went
to the Samoan group instead and dropped anchor
In the port or Apia Colonel Stcnbergcr sent his
aid from shore in the Kings barge with the royal
standard ayIng to extend the hospitaitcs OF tho
islands TO the captain and officers OF the Barracuda
and for tho interchange OF sautes. Despite these
polite ovcrtures however be CLAIMS that he was re-
stevens visited the missionary establishment At
Maua Returning thence he called upon the King
extend Euglsh proiectoratc over the Islands, that
he would hoist the Englisn flag, remain Ia the port
OF ApIa with the Barracuda, and send TO tho
Fjs or Australia ior another amt larger
vessel, and that ''thcAe American adj
venturers," to quote his own language would
DO driven out OF tho Islands" That night
lthe l4th OF February, 1891 three important officers
Of the samoan govcrnmcni-Tuiataia. the Speaker OF
the Lower house; Silo the secretary OF the Lower
House, and iupai, the stalking MANI OF Attua-
called upon Colonel atcinbelger, on his yacht Peer
loss and there gave in detail the result Of inter-
view between themselves and the English officers.
wherein the latter mad begged tho native government
10 accept the English flag aud ignore american nau-
OATH is now IN the hands OF the State Department at
Washington.
Immcdialey alter this tho American yacht Peerless
boar led by the officers and crew OF the Barracou
her taken out her rudder unshippcd aud her
flag pulled while the vessel herself was sold at
Ding 1T SALE without notice. for s., 200 Three days
subsequently Colonel Stoinbcrger sent formal pro.
test coucned temperate terms, TO Captain Stevens,
giving the register oil the vessel aud protesting against
British officers and men boarding aud dsmantlnp the
yacht Peerless and removing . gun placed upon her
bows by Captain Henry Erben, commanding the United
states war steamer ruscarora This gun, boat how
itzer was ono Of number presented by the United
states government the chiefs and rulers OF Samoa
Captain Stevens was led TO believe That the native
element would seceuc from the American influence,
then dominant In Islands, by the appearance OF
English sap. with the ana OF tho German trading
element rhis proved miserable mistake. Several
times that onlcer, with an armed guard, invaded the
capital met the government and chiefs IN council,
occupied considerable time in defence OF tho seizure
OF Tho Peerless, ana then demanded Colonel STEM
bcrgets credentials as Commissioner from the Unitcd
States government whicl the Colonel refused 10 show
10 foreign onicer. Inc bfitisn ohicer then 40.
nounced American influence In the Islands and used OPP
probrous epithcs IN reference TO tue President of tho
United States and toward CaptainEenry Erben, Of tho
ENGLISH BRUTALITY.
Finding nil Efforts acstrvy tho existing Samoan
iutilo Captain stevens surrounded Colonel
slcilflcrger's house with his entire armed crew,
seized him and carried nln board the Barracouta,
where he was confined In u small deck house Tor q
period OF ntyn nine days. written order was sent 10
Colonel Stelnbcrgor IN ten sections ny Lieutenant
Mcleod, OF the Birracouta, which stated that ho
Colonel Seinbcrgrr) would DO under m aarm guard
mat the latter would DO supplied with bali cartridges;
that he would be shot at any effort TO escape; that
lc would be shot Il he received any message from
shore and that he was 10 be confined with or
without irons at the option Of the Captain. The
spirit and uigny OF the officers, including LIeutenauL
Mcleod rcvolted at such treatment and Colonel
Stenuergcr was invited to mess IN tho ward room.
During nis confinement Captain stevens again In
vsdeu tho capital and attempted to dsarm tho navos
an effort resulting n combat III which fourteen or
fifteen OF Captain stevens men wero Killed and
wounded.
Colonel Stcinbergcr landed al Lcyuka, In the
Fuis without money or clothing. Learning there
that Captain stevens would be scourmartalcd Colonel
Steinbcrgcr repaired 10 Auckand New Zealand,
In the United States steamer City OF san
nrnncI.cn LIZ ihcrn lnund The euiira HriLiah