West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-01-31
THE SAMOAN AFFAIR

GhhV4tN
The trouble in Samoa between the forces
OF Mataafa and Tamasesc rival asnirnnts
for power, the latter being endorsed by tho
Germans has resulted in a serious ARRAY.
A passenger who has just arrived at san
Francisco from Apia, Samoa, on the steamer
Alameda, furnishes particulars of the row.
He shys:
ION the night OF December 10 nearly eno
., Sernian ~. sailors came ashore at Apia and en-
tered tho stores, saloons and native houses
IN search OF Americans, Englishmen
anu hah castles Ihev entered tho
resldense OF George Scanlon, United
states Marshal in Apia. He was not i'm. hut
the sailors found him and his brother. Morris
snyder, also am American citizen. further
up tho street, and, starting a quarrel, stabbed
10th OF the Americans in the back.
Inc Americans escaped 10 n native
Snufch, where their wounds were dressed
The German sailors ran through the streets
attacking all persons they met except tho
Germans Some OF Mataafa's soldiers came
I'm from the bush and wcro anxious to begin
shooting, but wero urgel hy United Ststcs
Consul Blackjack not TO fire.
The following day the United States Con
SUI sent protest TO the German Consul ms
sorting the conduct of the Germans had bcen
ouuage0uS That samo night the Germans
attacked the town OF Maafogatelo mud ouito
sides "" ""'"
"On December 30 the German man. OF. war
Adler bombarded Lady, which had been
evacuated the night before Thirty. Sour
shells were fired by the Adler and then fo"r
village '"'
The Olga went to Matofogatelo December
~ and began firing shells ON shore and do
stroyed the village 10y fire. The three houses
OF H. J.. Hamilton. an Ameri.
can citizen, were burned A large
American flag, formerly used for
consular purposes, which had been placed ON
5h Ga one Oh the houses, had been burned by the
Gerinan men of-war and then torn down
fragments OF the flag were then taken 10
Apia and delivered 20 Consul Blackloclr who
mas forwarded It 70 Secretary Bayard.
,,liv ny ~, nS,eIh,an Consul afterward wrote 10
consul Biacklock that he had been informed
that Americans had led tho Matanfa forces
ON tho night OF the 18TH and fired the frat
shot. Consul Blackjack replied TINT no md
lnvesugated the rumor and found il 20 be
Tho Samoan Times, published Mt Ania
December is. "e"' Va
AZ two o'clock on the morning of TI,es,lay
slkn'y German sailors from the steamer Olga
MeIe minded at Mataafa and forty IN ore
were sent in boats along the coast Al
ueIman farmers plantation the ore
party were reinforced by All tbe Inn
Ported Ported laborers thus employed. This
ha-
tween the 2OJ men who came down the beacb
the previous day aud the German snilors and
iatorerS. Realizing the danger OF interfer
ing with the Germans, Matnafa retired
ln'ahd Few hundred yards. Tho
oefmans Followed him and fired into his
men. killing son OF the chief. This terribly
excited the chief. but he wns preyented by
ms own people from returning the firing az
the tormaus. While struggling against
ths opposition the chief was himself shot
and fen dead beside his SON
mhtahtas men then, by n common impulse
hhu WITHOUT orders, returned the fire i hair
first volcy killed six Germans and wounJed
some others. Several OF Tamaseses men then
hed, ana the labOreis from the Dlanlatton
refused TO flgh'. The sailors thereiIpon beot
hasty retreat 10 their boats. Matanfais
warriors following them for some distanca
Nataafa lost about ten killed and vyounded
while the German loss is stated nt twenty
Killed. Among the dead IL Lieutenant
Seeger.
A Washington telegram SAYS: "a copv Of
the above despatch in regard to the alleged
insults TO Americans and tho American Iino
at Samoa by German soldiers was
shown 10 Secretary Bayard this evening.
He said the disturbance referred n
was undoubtedly the same as that briefly do.
scribed by Consul Blackjack ln his cable
message TO the department on the 9TH inst.
The Consurs account. he said was not nearly
30 sensational as the one lust received from
ran Francisco, but contained later informa-
uon, as ~ told that tho Americans who vgera
seized had been released Immediately after
war;. The Secretary ndded that the dennrt-
ment - In constant communication with
Samon. through its agents and the latest in
formation re- eiyed is that affairs are dulet.
nDd that no ferrous trouble has occurred aimee
the 9TH inst.n
The IN ted States steamship Vandalia
has sailed from San Francisco for Samoa.