The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-02-17

| PIGUhI6 lO1 IuG dbtdCA. nj Lou u ClUCk
un that night, Lieutenant FLEETS, of
the United States mari ie corps, In
charge of the marine guard at the Amel.
lean consulate, was arrou Sed by the
sentinel, who informed him that fire
was in progress in Mataafale.
FIGHTING THE FIRE.
He, with four marines, ran to the
scene of the fire about one mile ava, Z
and was one of the first to arrivs there.
It was found that a resident German
consulate, DR.. Knapp, was in the flames.
In few minutes the ire had conmuni
Gated to the German postofiee at the
other end of the building and reaching
across the street the flames attacked
| ehe German consulate.
4 large force of sailors from the
American and Engllsn men sl-wsr
went ashore and fought the fire. while
the force OF German sailors came on
shore with loaded rifles and bsyonets
Ak axed and did little to help e1tinguish
the flames. A good deal of property
was destroyed. While the fire was in
progress Knapp declared that he
thought the occurrence was entirely
accidental. Within five or six hours,
however, he expressed the belief that
the American and English residents of
Apia were i'm plicated in the matter.
WAR DECLARED.
On the afternoon of January 15 a
boat belonging to ex-United States
Vice-Oonsul E. L. Hamilton, manned
by two natives, was seized by an armed
boat from the German ship Adler,
while in neutral waters of Apia harbor.
The boat was afterwards released, and
when an explanation was demanded
by Consul Blackjack, Consul Knapp
replied it was because the boat had not
displayed any national flag.
The English merchant steamer Rich
mond arrived in Apia harbor shortly
before dark on the 18th. At l O'Clock
on the morning of the 10Th, the Rich
mond was boarded by an armed boats
crew from the Adler. The officer in
charge informed the captain of the
Richmond that war had been declared
BY Germany against Samoa, that the
harbor had been blockaded and martial
law declared.
IRRESPECTIVE OF NATIONS.
This proceeding on the part of the
German war ship verified the belief
that the German consul had received
important news from his government.
Soon after 9 o'clock in the morning a
proclamation was printed in English
and German but not in Samoan and
WAS issued by the German consul pro-
.iaIming state of war for the Samoan
Islands and that aIy assistance to
reDels will be punished by martial law
irrespective OF any nationality.
CoNTRABAND PROHIBITION.
The introduction of a contraband
war is prohibited All vessels and boats
are liable to search by our authorities.
The police of Apia henceforth will act
under instructions from the Imperial
German government.
he WANTED TO KNOW.
Yice-Consul Blackjack addressed
letter to Consul Knappe requesting
him to explain in plain terms whether
Germany had declared war against
Sam oa and also If martial law existed
and after several hours the German
Consul sent reply saying:
BY IMPERIAL ORDINATION.
"By order of imperial German consul
We have proclaimed martial law for
Somoa until further notice."
No reference was made IN the letter
as to the declaration of war Captain
Mullen thereupon called upon Captain |
Fritz and inquired if war had not been |
declared by Germany.
The German captain informed Cap |
tain Mullan that war had not been de- |
clared by Germany.
Laler, CaEtain Fritz once more |
changed his statement and told the |
American officer that war had been de-
ciared.