Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-14
EXCITEMENT IN SAMOA.
A Letter Received Which Describes the Elk
cited State of the Country

A Letter Received Which Describes the EX-
cited State of the Country.
WASH, GToN, March 9.-The following
is part of the last letter from Capt.
Milan, of the United States steamer
Nipsic, received by his brother, of this
city. The letter is dated, Apia, Jan. %,
1889, and reads: "Here in Samoa
we have war times and excitement.
Germany has declared war against
Mataafa and procolaims martial law here
and in Samoa. L have protested against
this martial law business, and think it
has had beneficial effect. They, in their
proclamation said in case the citizens of
Apia did not give in list of their
arms and ammunition they would be de
ported or imprisoned. I told in writing
to Captain Fritz, of the Adler, that in the
whole jurisprudence of nay country there
was no such punishment. They had the
proclamation of war printed an. %, and
ready to publish them on cocoanut trees,
ETC., but my protest had the effect of
stopping this. This proclamation spoke
of offenses and penalties-death, deport-
ment, shooting, hard labor, ETC.,
they do not hold Apia nor have they in
vaded Samoa, hence under English and
American law, cannot proclaim martial
law. But they say the German law is diff
erent. Things ale exciting here. They
are at war with Mataafe, but all their
proclamations are directed against for
eiguers. They carry on high game here
and our government has but one vessel
while they have three good ships. hear
by way of Auckland that we will
have more ships here. God only
knows how this affair will end. The
Samoans do not want Germany to annex
their island, but have long ago asked
both England and the United States to
take them. l am kept busy from morn
ing to night, and have been since the 18th
Of December, when Adams left for Cali
fornia. Ny mail by this steamer will be
the heaviest I have yet had, and
my several reports to the secretary
are quite lengthy and full, and
give every item that has occurred.
A little paper published here, the Sam
Times, has been suppressed by the Ger
mans. January 9th the German con-
goulate' house, ETC., was burned. Loss
100000. 1t was the greatest fire ever
in A pia, and / sent men to render aid. [
SITS thanked in public proclamation, a
copy of which 1 send you. I think, and
certainly hope all my actions
in this Samoan business will
be approved by the government
for the state of Samoa was never in such
condition, and am here just at the top
and in the midst of it all, and of course
the responsibility is great. I hear Ger
many intends sending out troops. About
January 1st l sent Lieut.. Hawley to
Auckland to telegraph to the secretary,
and he will be back February End. The
German consul at Auckland chartered a
small English steamer the other day, and
sent her here with important German |
dispatches, but what these dispatches |
were no one but the Germans know"
SAN FRANCISCO, March 9.-The secre
tary of the navy telegraphed the Union |
iron works this afternoon inquiring how |
soon. the Charleston could be gotten |
ready for service. In consequence of
this telegram all sorts of rumors have |
been ahoat this afternoon regarding |
Samoa to the effect that the reported |
sinking of the Nipsic had been confirmed
and that one of the Oceanic steamship |
com panies' steamer had been seized by |
a German gun boat near Samoa.
SAN FRANCISCO, March "a cable dis
patch was sent TO New Castle, Australia,
yesterday, by firm of this city. to their
agent, ordering the captain of their yes
sci, that is now loading coal there for
San Francisco to call at Apia, en- route,
in order to supply the United States
fleet with fuel, should the war vessels re-
q aire it. This vessel will be able with
ordinary weather, to reach Apia within
25 days, leaving New Castls several
days before the supply of fuel now On
the way from Baltimore can possibly ar
rive. As an evidence of the uneasy feel
ing now existing among mercantile firms
engaged in business with Samoa, 1t Is
learned that orders for cargo of lumber
destined for Samoa had been counter
manded until matters are quieter on the
islands.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 9.-In an edi-
torial article headed, "The First Shot,"
on the reported engagement
between the q. s. S. Nipsic and the
German corvette Olga, the California