St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-01
MALIEToA Is IN THE RIGHT.
So Says Commander Day Who
Fears That Serious Trouble Will


Fears That Serious Trouble Will
Result.
CLEVELAND, o., Jan. 31.-The home
of Commander B. F. Day, of the United
States navy, is at Warren, o.. few
miles from Cleveland. The commander
has recently returned from cruise in
the South Pacific, and has had a hand
in the Samoan matter. He submitted
this afternoon.
Il went there IN May, 1886, as captain of
the Mohican,' said he, lat g, time shortly
after Tamasese had set himself UP against
Malietoa, the rightful king. Tamasese's gov
eminent was really German p-otecto1ate.
and the commander of that country's war
ship at the islands so admitted to me. A proc
lamation, in fact, had been signed by the
German consul recognizing the uSurper,
Tamasese. Well one night / got Malietoa,
the deposed king, on board my ship at mid
night. There we arranged night move
against Tamasese's force of about GOO men,
which was encamped on the beach at least
nine miles distant. This was to take place
the night following. 1 had expressly stipu-
lated with Malietoa that there was to be no
bloodshed until gave the signal, which was
to be a cannon shot nshipboard. My calcu-
lation was that the rebel Tamasese would be
overawed by the force and readily capitulate.
Malietoa's army Of 2.0o0 men moved down
himself nicely surrounded. We got the
Mohican under way and went up to anchor
off Tamasese's town to =
CUT OFF HIS ESCAPE
by water: and arrived there about 10 O'Clock
in the forenoon. As soon as the ship was
steamed up, the Germans had their sus-
picions aroused by our leaving the harbor SO
informally, and divintng that something was
up, forthwith they dispatched mounted
messenger to Tamasese's camp, notifying
him to have nothing to do with
me. The messenger arrived before
we did, and when we were rowing
ashore in the small boats, Tamasese would
not let us land because had Samoan inter-
English traders store. and sent word to
Tamasese that l wanted to see him. A mes
senger returned shortly, saying that the rebel
chief was in the bush" Thereupon I
sent him notice that unless he came
consequences. That brought him, and
l at once tried to have him sign
agreement giving up his claim to the king
ship. Acting under the German advice he
refused My best judgment was to have
Maletoa pitch in and everlastingly whip
Tamasese. as the latter was in rebellion
against the then recognized government,
This would have forever ended the diff
Guilty. as Malietoa could have cut to pieces
Tamasese and his followers. Well, there
they were, with Malietoa
READY TO START HIS BATTLE
at my signals. Returning on board ship
found one of the head chiefs anxiously wait
ing the word to go ahead. By this time some
of the others arrived, and the English consul
served me with formal protest in the name
of the queen against my precipitating con-
fiiet, while the German consul earnestly en-
treated me not to start the affair. The United
States consul sided with me. We then all
went back, allowing the hostile parties to
retain their situation, and tried to have the
cOnSuls hit upon something
Breaking the narrative for a moment,
Mr.. Day left the room and returned
with yellowish tinged document on
which was printed in parallel columns
one in English and the other in
Samoan language following:
nted States Ship of War Mohiean, Apia
Harbor, June s, l9S6.-We, the representa-