Butte semi-weekly miner., 1889-01-23
BLOODY SCENES In SAMOA
GERMANS INSULT AMERICANS AND
AP0LOGIzE TO ENGLIsHMEN.

Several Bloody Encounters I'm One oi
which the Germans Were Forced to Re.
treat, with the Loss of Several Killed
and wounded-This Excites Them ts
wild Frenzy-Natives and Americans
Attacked Everywhere-The American
Flag Torn Down and Burned-vair
Protests of the United States Consul
What VIII Uncle Sam Do About IL
SAN FRANoIsoo, CAL, January 19.-The
steamer Alameda arrived this morning
from Australia and New Zealand via Samoa
and Honolulu. A correspondent at Apia,
Samoa, dated January 5, says:
The most serious state OF affairs exists
in Samoa. On the night OF December Is,
sailors from the German men-of-war, Adler
Olsa and Eber, attacked Mataffas soldiers
under direction OF the German consul, and
and Captain Fritz, the senior German
naval officer. As result OF the encounter
22 German sailors were killed and 80
wounded.
Since then the German war ships have
burned American houses and flags, torn
down the United States flags, seized Ameri-
can citizens in the neutral waters OF Apia
harbor, and taken them prisoners on board
the German men-oi-war. They have also
FIRED UPON THE AMERICAN FLAG.
Tamassee's men were reported becoming
more dissatisfied daily, and werefrequently
deserting his ranks.
December 12, the German man-of-war
Orga arrived from the Marshall Islands.
The night OF December 10th large
party OF German sailors went ashore at
Apia and entered the stores and houses in
search of Americans and Englishmen. They
met George Scanlan, United States Marshal
at Apia, end Morris Snyder, also an
American citizen, on the street, and after
provoking quarrel stabbed, both OF them,
inhicting serious injury. The Germans
then ran through the streets,
ATTACKING ALL PERSONS THEY MET
except Germans and adherents OF Tam
assoc, injuring among others several native
women and children.
Some of Mataafa's soldiers came in from
the bush and were anxious to shoot, but
refrained on advice OF United States Consul
Blackjack.
vi DcCeLUUCE DiGchiOOh COhu % PAO-
test to the German consul. That night
Tamassees secretary wrote to his wife in |
Apia that the Germans would attack the |
town named Mataafasatele during the |
night, This town is two miles above Apia, |
and q number of Mataafa's men were
there. The woman told one OF her rela- |
tives, who, in turn, sent word to Mataafa's 9 |
soldiers, and before midnight two hundred
armed men assembled on the shore to /
await the appearance OF the Germa n boats.
An American newspaper man named
John G. Klein accompanied Mataafa's men
to witness the proceedings in the interest OF
his papers. About o'clock in the morn.
ing three
GERMAN BOATS WERE SEEN APPROACHING.
Mataafas men asked Klein to notify the
Germans not to land as it would be re-
garded as q hostile act, and they would be
fired upon. This was done, and two Of the
boats pulled out towards the village called
Vailele, four mics from Apia. The third
boat kept along the coast, nd when oppo-
site Mata afssate'e pulled in to shore.
number OF German soldiers arose from
the bottom Of the boat and waded ashore.
Some OF Mataafa's men came up, and the
Germans began shooting at theu. The ma
tives did not return tue fire.
The Germans were soon landed. They
took shelter behind some rising ground, and
at once opened fire upon Mataafas men.
Within minute full two hundred shots
had been fired by the Germans and black
laborers employed on the German plan
tation.
Mataafa's reinforcements began to ar
rive from Mataafasatele, and as they came
up
HEAVY FIRING WAS HEARD
at Uo;i Tn fxva 4
minutes chief arrived and said the Ger
mans were firing on Mataafa's men there.
They were afraid to return the fire, al
though Chief Savay and his son had already
been killed. The messenger asked Klein
if they would be justified in returning the
fise, but he declined to advise them. The
United States vice-consul at Apia also
refused advice.
Shortly afterwards the natives came into
Apia from Easili and Vailele, saying
Mataafa's men had driven the German
sailors from the breastworks from the for
mer place.
At tVailele were about $50 sailors. These
were joined by their comrades from Fasei,
and together they formed q hollow square
and began
FIRING ON MATAAFAs MEN,
Soon after two of the latter had been
killed, they began to return the fire, shoot
ing from behind trees and from the bushes.
The sailors became panic stricken and,
despite the efforts of their officers, threw
away their guns and ran into the German
plan, alton houses and into the bush. They |,
were followed by the natives, who shot
them wherever they found them. Lieu
tenant Neiger, of the Olga, was shot and
killed while trying to rally his men. Two
other officers were wounded. A number OF
sailors managed to make their escape by
jumping into the boats and pulling out to
sea. They were picked up by the Eber,
which had come up on hearing the firing.
The bodies of the dead German sailors
were taken off the following day.
Mataaia's men retired without firing on
the village or doing any further damage.
At z O'Clock December 10, the German
man-of-war Adler left Apia. sending word
to the commander OF the United States war
ship Nipsic that the German Consul was
going to Saluaiata to stop the fighting.
The Olga also followed to Latoga, where I
the Nipsic went and found the German
ships Adler and Eber
CLEARED FOR ACTION.
During the morning consul Blackjack re-
ceived note from the German Consul,
saying the men-of-war were going to the
coast to stop the fighting and disarm
Mataaiar and Tamasese. Blackjack pro-
tested in the name OF the United States
against this action which would place the
lives and property of the Americans in |
great danger, and was also in direct con.
flict with the powers conferred upon him.
Soon after the Npsic arrived at Lacega,
Capt. Mullen went on board the Adler to |
demand the German consulhs reason for
having declared his intention to stop the
war without consulting the other consuls.
The German consul replied discourteousiy,
and said he would hold no communication
with naval captain, and would be respon.
sible only to his government.
Soon after Capt. Mullen returned to his |
ship the commander OF the Adler notified |
him that he intended to lombard Lady |
before dark. A protest was sent, and as
the captain OF the Adler showed no inclina- |
tion to notify Mataafa to remove the
women and children, Capt. Mullen sent one
of his officers ashore for that purpose