Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-09
ARRIVED FROM APIA.
American Sailors Return to San Francisco
from Samoa.

L
media, San Francisco, July THE Oceanic
steamer Alameda touched at Apia and
took away nine officers and sixty men Of
the United States frigate Trenton, who
were left here when the steamer Rockton
sailed for San Francisco last month with
$50 survivors of the recent hurricane. Adj
miral Kimberly and his two staff officers,
| Lieutenants Rittenhouse and Merriam,
| and five men remain in Apla
| The admiral states that the department
| had probably issued orders under
| the impression that the United States
man-of-war Alert was here. but as there
| was no American war vessel at Apia now,
he did not care to abandon the place en-
tirely. The admiral intends to remain
here until the arrival of the American
| man-of-war. when he will probably use
her for flagship. AS soon as mail, which
had been received by the Mariposa arrived
here, Lieutenant Graham. the officer in
command, went to the barracks and read a
dispatch to the men announcing the fact
that they were to return this week. When
the Alameda arrived today the men and
baggage were placed aboard. In few
hours number of native boats went out
to her and hundreds of natives stood on
the shore and gave the American sailors a
parting cheer.
During the last six weeks the Samoan
islands have enjoyed a period. OF quiet
such as has not been known for many
months before. The native parties virtu-
ally declared truce early in May. and
since that time the political situation of
the country has assumed a peaceful as
pect. The only man-of-war here now lis
the German gunboat Wolf, which ar
rived from New Zealand June 10;
The Nipsic, the only American vessel
saved from the storm, has gone to Homo
Alert. Two ships left here for Auckland
May 8, but in six days they returned. and
Captain Mullan of the Nipsic and Captain
Green of the Alert reported that after
going $50 miles they deemed it inadvisable
to proceed further. The Nipsic's rudder
broke. and she became practically I'M
manageable. The rudder was repaired.
progress that there seemed to
be no probability Of their reaching
Auckland before the last week in May. at
which season severe weather might be ex-
pected off the New Zealand coast. Captain
Mullane desired to proceed if possible. but
laid the matter before the line officers of
his own ship. None of the Nipsic's officers
ingness to accept the risk Of encountering
bad weather. Captain Mullan, however,
believed it would be impossible, to lower
boats from the Nipsic in case it
became necessary to do so, and there
seemed to be some danger that if
the vessel met with rough water she would
lose her rudder entirely and be swept into
Captain Mullan accordingly gave orders
for the ships return to Apia. Admiral
Kimberly expressed considerable dis
pleasure at the return of the Nipsic and
Alert. after having gone $50 miles, and re-
proved Captain Mullan for his action.
Captain Mullan asked to be relieved of
his commsnd. The admiral at once de-
tached him and ordered Lieutenant Com
mander Ii. w. Lyon, of the Trenton, to
take command of the Nipsic, He also issued
orders for the ships to go to Pago-Pago
and take on coal and to proceed to Auck-
land The Nipsic and the Alert sailed for
sailed for Pago-Pago within few hours
after their return here. The orders were
afterwards changed and Honolulu was
made the destination of the ships instead
of Auckland. The vessels sailed from Pa
Qo-Pago for Honolulu June l.
The regular mail schooner which runs
to Tutuila every month to connect with
the Oceanic steamer to and from San
Francisco, failed to meet the north-bouud
steamer Zelandia; which passed May
and nd consequently tEgs no @on mail left
month Captain Mullan had gone to
Tutuila on a schooner to tgke the steamer
for San Francisco, but he was left at Leone
for a month to wait for the next steamer
to pass Chief Engineer G. w. Hall, of
the Nipsic, who was i'll with dysentery,
was detached from his vessel by the medi-
cal board. He was also left at Leone to
the 10th instant. His home was in
Syracuse, \. Y.
During the last two months there has
been practically a state of peace between
the two native parties. Mataafa wrote to
Tamasese, expressing a desire that peace
be proclaimed. Tamasese said he
was willing to to. stop top fighting fighting for
make any negotiations for permanent
peace until the result of the Berlin confer
ence should be learned here. Mataafa
abandoned his Notifications early in May;
sent his men home and moved to the east
ern end of Apia. He desired to show Adj
miral Kim berly and the American people |
generally that he desires to do all in his
power to promote peace. He said he was |
ready to abide by the decision Of the Ber-
lin conference.
Mataafa gave feast few weeks ago, |
to (which he invited over 100 for |
eign residents and Others including |
all American naval officers here |
and the American, British and Ger |
man consuls None of the Germans were |
present. Mataafa made a speech in which |
he thanked Admiral Kimberly for bring |
ing about the present peaceful state of az |
fairs in Samoa Most of Tamasese's men |
have left their camp at Luatuanuu and |
gone home. 4 number Of them have Wis |
tied Apia recently and have not been mo- |
Tested by the other party.
\ fatal accident occurred here two |
weeks ago which created much excitement |
at the time. Two Trenton sailors were IN /
q saloon kept by German named Weight. |
The latter had loaded revolver in !
his hand and in attempting 10 |
lower the hammer the weapon |
was discharged The ball struck one Of /
the sailors named kernhardt RlcSln and /
killed him instantly. There was some l
doubt as TO whether or not the shooting |
was accidental, so Weight was detained by |
q guard of Americans until the German |
consul was notified Of the affair. The coa-
sui had an investigation, and discharged |
the man.
Corporal Jebu Nichols Of the Trenton's /
guard. was killed May 4. BY the |
tall of a quantity of lumber. under which |
be was standing
A box was received here from the state |
department st Washington this week con-
tanning about 81, 100 worth OF gold and /
silver watches and other articles and s, so
u gold coin TO De distributed among the /
natives who rendered assistance 10 the /
ships during the hurricane IN /
March. The distribution of the gifts will /
be made by Consul Blackjack
The latest FROM the Berlin conference
was received here by the Mariposa this
week, by which il was learned that the
conference had practically concluded lis
work IL is not rrchable that anything /
viii he done towards establishing gov |
eminent here uursi Official information Is