Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-01-21
for having declared his intention to stop
the war without consulting the Consuls.
GERMAN DIsCOURTFsy-

the war without consulting the Consuls.
GERMAN DIscoURTEsY.
The German Consul replied discount Iteous-
ly to Captain Mullsn, and said be would
hold no communication with an American
naval Captain, and would be responsible
for his acts TO his Government Soon after
this the Captain OF the Adler sent word "a
Captain Mullan who had returnei TO the
Nipsic, that he intended TO lombard Lady
before dark.
a protest was sent to the Captain Of th,
Adler, and as the latter had shown no in
clination 10 notify Mataafa to remove th'
women and children, Captain Mullen sem
one Of his officers ashore for that purpose
The Adler did not lombard the town thai
night. but returned on the following morn
ing aud began to lombard Lsdly, which
had been evacuated the night previous
rhirty-four shells were fired by tie Adler,
and then four boat loads Of sailors were
landed from the Olga and Adler, who
burned the yillsge, including two small
Roman Catholic Churches The ships then
returned TO Apia.
fOk LlkkKl1.
On December Is Coasul Knappe had
sent letter to Mstaais telling him. the
German ships would she'll his villages un-
less he came on board the German man-of
war before noon on December 20, and
cause his people to give up ali their guns
Matasfa did not reply to this letter, but
sent back word after the battle that he was
sorry TO kill the German sailors, bat that
the Samoans intended to fight for their
liberty, and would fgh. whoever attacked
them.
On the afternoon of December 20, the
three Consuls met to arrive at some settle
ment OF the trouble. Mataala's presence
was desired by the United States and the
British Consul', but the German Consul
refused TO meet him, and the meeting had
no result
On the following day TIE German Con-
sui issued proclamation ordering the
Samoaps to bring their firearms on board
TIE Olga daring the day, ard that if this
was not done the ship would lombard the
villsge of Matafagatele Consul Black
lock at once returned protest. and at the
same time informed him that f. l.. Ham
ilton. an American citizen. and formerly
the United States Vice Consul in Apia,
owned three houses in Mataiagatele, over
which the American hsg had been paced,
and adding that ii this property was dam
aged, the Government wOuld be held re-
spOnsible. The German Consul made no
reply.
TORE DOWN THE AMERICAN FLAG.
Abou.7 o'clock on the morning Of the
DIST the Olga went to Mataiagatele
auchoring one mile fom shore. At 8
o'clock she began throwing shells, no Sa-
means having come on board with arms
After firing % shells the vessel sent three
boatloads ashore aud destroyed the village
by fire. Hamilton went to the destroyed
village in the afternoon, and found his
three housfs in ruins.
A large American flag formerly used for
consular purposes, which had been placed
on oue OF the houses, had been burned by
the German men.Of-wsr aud then torn
down. Fragments OF the flag were taken
to Apia aud delivered TO Consul Blackjack,
who has forwarded it to Secretary Baysrd.
The German Consul afterward wrots 10
Consul Blackjack declaring that he had
been informed that the Americans had led
the Mataafa's forces on the night Of the
18th. and fired the first shot Consul
BlscklOCk replied that he had investigated
the rumOr and found il to be untrue.
AN AMERICAN ARRESTED.
Ga the 2ls; boa. from the German
man-of.war Olga WAS chasing boat in
neutral waters opposite the American
Consulate. The Germans fired number
"A i,,,,s - go rVat, ne.s..,, ,.,ss,s
range OF the boat containing the English
officers, the latter of whom narrowly ee-
COPIED feing shot. The commander Of the
Olga afterwards apOlogzed TO the English
officers.
Charles Brown, an American citizen
who vas on the shore, was requested by
the English officers TO ask the Germans to
cease shooting. The Germans seizsd
Brown, carrid him on board the war ship
Eber, and after handling him roughly re-
leased him.
The Germazs have made no further as-
saulls on the villages since the lombard
ment of Matsfagsiele, and are evidently
awaiting reinforcement. Should they make
the second attack upon Mataafa's forces
they wonld certainly be defeated, az the
latter have !, 800 we'll armed troops. 1t is
claimed that about 900 Of Timaseses'
forces have joined Mataafa since the bonn
bardment by the Germans, not sympa-
thizing with the attack upon their coun
tTymen.
The United States Consul, Blackjack
has telegrsphed all the facts respecting th'
situation here, informing Secretary BsysrC
that the American flag has been shot al
and torn down and burned by the Ger
mans; that American citizens have beer
taken prii oner by the Germans, aud State
that the lives and property Of American
citizens are in great danger.