Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-02-09
THE SAMOAN MATTER
Commander Day Of the United
states Navy Makes q
Statement.
he Fears That Serious Trouble
Will Yet Be the
Result.


the South Pacific and has had a hand in
the Samoan matter. He submitted to an
interview with q correspondent yesterday
afternoon.
went there in May, 1886, as captain OF the
Mohican, said ne, at = time shortly after
Tamasese had set himself up against Male
toa, the rightful kiog. Tamasese's govern
ment was really q German protectorate, and
the commander Of that country's war ship at
the islands so admitted TO me. A proclama-
ton, In fact, had been signed by the German
consul recognizing the usurper, Tamasese.
Wei. one night ! got Malietoa, the deposed
king, on board my ship at midnight. There
we arranged a night move against
Tamasese's force OF about 600 men,
which was encamped on the beach at least
niue miles distant. This was to take place
the night following. ] had expressly stipu-
lated with Malictoa that there was to be no
bloodshed until ] gave the signal, which was
to be a cannon shot on shipboard. My calcu-
lation was that the rebel Tamasese would be
overawed by the force and readily capltulate.
Nalietoa's army OF 1000 men moved down as
planned, and at daylight Tamasese found
himself nicely surrounded. We got the MO
hican under way and went up to anchor OF
Tamase- e's town to
CUT OFF HIS EsCATE
BY water and arrived there about 10 O'Clock
I'm the forenoon. AS soon as the ship was
steamed up the Germans had their suspicious
aroused hy oar leaving the harbor SO lnfor-
mally, ana divining That something was up,
forthwith they dispatched a mounted messcn-
ger To Tamasese's camp notifying him 70 nave
nothing 10 90 win me. Ia messenger ar
rived before We did ard when We were WIN
ashore in the small boats, 1amasese would
not let IA land because ! hal a Samoan inter
Dretpr IN the boat. went ashore 10 an En-
glish traders store and tent word to Talnasese
That wanted TO see him. A messenger
returned shortly saying that the rebel
chief was in the bush" l~hereupon !
sen, him uotice that unless he came | would
not hg responsible for the consequences. mas
brought him. aud I ~ once tried TO have MN
sim nm agreement giving no bis claim TO the
kipgShip. Acting under the German ADVICE
he refused. Ny best Judgment was to have
Malipioa pitch Ia aDd everiastinEly whip
Tamasesc, as the latter wss in rebellion
against the thea recognized government.
This wou,d have forever ended the difficulty,
"a MAlirtoa could have car 10 pieces Tama-
sesc aud his followers. Well, there they we're,
with MalietOa.
KFAbl TO START MS BATTLE
nj nv signals. Returning on board ship |
found one az the head CHIEFS anXiousiy wait
ING fhc word 10 10 ahead. By this umr some
Of the others arrived, and the English consul
served me with "A formal protest In the name
OF the queen against my lrccipitating a con
Act. While the German consul earnestly en,
treated me not 10 start the affair. The United
States consul sided with me. We then al
went back. allowing the hostile parties 10 Tt
tain their situation, and tried 10 nave the
consuls hit upon something,
breaking the narrative for a mOmen'
Mr.. Day left The room and returned
with a yellowish tinged document or
which was printed in parallel columns
one in English and the other in Samoan
lancuage-the following:
United states ship of War Mohican, Apii
Uarbor. Juue lSs6 We, the representative
of Mallotoa and his government, and We, th'
representative OF Tamssese and his party, d'
hereby solomly swear to the following agree
ment,
Flrst-That from this dav forward Their
sh All be perpetual peace In Samoa.
Second-Ihat the two parties OF Malictot
and Tamasese shall live in friendship an
cordial relations.
Third-That from this day forward al
forts shalt be rdestroycd, and that n
firearms OF a defensive nature shall be carrie
hv any Samoan
To,maseec's Chiefs "alietoa's Chiefs
90, nioN"'
p,yI TOOMATE,
ArAurh. LE1rALAt his mark
III, NVtf'o'
LAMITrh, CItNAFI'
a,ttx NAEA,
MIrNSh, Pau < Cis mark,
SELL.
We the representatives 81 the great 20
crnments. are hereby Witnesses to the slgl
inc az this agreement Of friendship.
DIR. STUEREL,
Ipper!al German Consul General.
i G~REESEBAUM,
United states Consul.
WnFRrD POWELL
Her Brtt8nia Majesty's Consul.
That referring 20 the above, 'res1med NJ
Day, In n rather regrctful tone, us the peat
lnaac against my Judgment. 1t lasted Il
about August, lNS7.n Commander Day ga,
that Brands, formerly a clerk in a Germs
trading company, is premier uuder Tamases
and .hst he il controlled by the German co
sui. Continuing. Commander Day said:
instead of an autonomy the Samoan 60
eminent is n protecteraJc in full intents al
purposes. In fact, the commander of Il
German naval force told me: We are pr
tecting this government from Tamases
The new King, Tamasese, was never populi
outside Of his own province, and his actor
aud government were SO arbitrary that 1t r
suited in q rebellion. The discontent'
Samoans chose Mataafa-who was next
rank TO the Kidnapped Malietoa to be the
king. Now that the followers OF Mataa
have fired on the German forces. that cou
try viii nc DOUBT senu an cNpeulIlon 10 :
moa and deport him-the same trcatme
hat was bestowed upon Maiietoa-for his q
~ temeIity, il they don't kill him outrigt
as ! expect.
In finishing his interview, Command
day said:
Malietoa wore a shirt ard no trousers
shoes when hc came 10 visit me. There
one great trouble Mataafa has to conte
with, and thst ia getting munitions OF ";
The German government supplies Tnmase
with old "Heury'' and schneider ria'
aud furnishes ammunition. On the other haI
Mataafa has To get arms as best re ca
without any rich government backing him
If our government intends to insert
rights there, and prevent the Germa
getting full control Of those islands. I
wisest move thnt could be made would
to send out to Mataafa a supply Of arl
and ammunition. With these he COZ
bold his own against any force (
Germans can send against him for sol
time. have an idea that it is going
be a very serious complication.
A lady's marriage ring which was i