Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-01-30

San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. IL.
The latest dates from the Samoan
islands are to Nov II, per schooner
Ada May, Capt. Petersen From in
terviews with passengers who arrived
we learn that Apia, the capital of the
Samoan group, was IN a state of
anarchy, and bloody civil war was
raging ON the island of Tutuila. At
Apia, on the night of Nov. 3, an Ameri-
can, James Fox, was killed in drunken
orawl by one James Cochrane. A con
sular court to try the murderer was
formed. Consul Griffin in the chair,
and Messrs. Alvord, Williamson, Par
ker, and Grey, American citizens, act
ing as associate Judges A verdict OF
willful and deliberate murder was
brought in against Cochrane, who was
placed In irons on board the schooner
Ada May, but without guard, to be for
Warded to San Francisco. Soon after
ward, late in the night, an armed force
Of about thirty men, all foreigners, in
and, without word, took Cochrane
ashore and instantly hanged him to a
cocoanut tree. The affair created a
profound sensation Gildefroy Wells
Griffin, American consul at Apia, has
been the subject of a shameless indig-
nifty.
1t appears that one Capt. Wright had
set the consular authority at defiance
and Consul Griffin called upon the
French war steamer Seignelay to aid
him in the capture of Wright, who was
supposed to be on the premises of G.
S. Smith & Co., an English firm. This
tirm is also reported to be indebted to
the California Cracker company, and
for both reasons the consul called for
aid Being unable to gain admittance
the house was broken open, but Wright
was not found. The armed force from
the Seignelay then returned, but Consul
Griffin took possession of the house.
As the English flag was flying over it
demand for evacuation was made by
Sen" w. ]. Hunt, counsel for Smith
Il Co. Griffin refusing: he was seized
bodily and carried out on the street or
beach. The affair set the whole place
IN the widest excitement. t. Mere
dith, vice consul of the United States
for the islands of Tutuila and Manua-
had, has written letter to Chief Maui
gu, the leader of the rebels, informing
him that he would hold the said Maugu
responsible for any injury done to the
property of foreigners during the civil
war now raging on the island of Tutuila
The chief answered Meredith in a de-
faint and insulting manner, and threat
ened him (Meredith with the ven
geance of English and American men
of-war for mixing himself up In native
troubles. Vice Consul Meredith claims
70 represent England, Germany, and
France, as we'll as his own country. the
nations men Toned having no consular
representative at Tutuila The matter
has been referred to Consul Griffin.
The civil war Waglng on Tutulla Is
entirely native in its character, though
few whites who are married to native
women are somewhat mixed up in it.
Maueu, the principal chief on the
island and leader of the rebels, wants to
be let severely alone, and will have no
thing to do with the gov,rnment Iarty,"
the same established by the fallen
Steinberger, and which still flies the
flag of the ex-premier. The govern
ment party is determined to assert its
authority, and hence the war. Several
fights have taken place, IN which a
number of killed and wounded on both
sides had fallen. Seven heads, cut clean
from the trunks, were brought to the
camp of Maugu, and there was great
rejoicing over the trophies. At last &C
counts Maugu was reported to have left
with his followers for an adjacent island
Marcua.) He left Pago pago through
sharp ruse. Being sore pressed, he
lighted his fires On bis ramparts, and
the enemy thinking be was getting up
feast, watched them intently In the
meantime the wary rebel chief with
drew all his force in canoes, leaving
three native women to keep the fires
burning When the morning came the
government party found Maugu and
his followers far away in lone island in
she sea.
On the 9th of May last Acting
American Consul Colmesnil flew the
American flag over the Samoa group
and declared an American protectorate
for the islands. This act utterly astound-
ed the German, French, and English
residents and raised loud protestations
Consul Griffin arriving afterward and
1lceFl1S liz StutliO1iOy w 1dloG DIOICC-
torate, the act of Colmesnil became
null and void The government is now
purely native, and the chiefs say they
want no more foreigners, and the latter,
according to the Samoans, are " all on
the make and they don't care how they
make it." The German man-of-war
Hertha had sailed for the Tonga group,
and it was reported that Germany in
tended to establish 8 protectorate over
the Tongans. Mr.. Weber, manager
of the firm of Godefroy & Co., was a
passenger. A chief named Mafu az
rived from the FIJI group to protest
against a German protectorate.
Mafu is said to be a native of Tonga,
and a chief of even higher rank than
King George, the monarch of the group.
The Rev. Mr.. Baker, missionary on
the islands. is taking an active Dart in