, 1889-03-21
THE SAMOAN TROUBLES.
The German NIan-of- War, Olga, Stops the
Mail Steamer.

The German Man-of- War, Olga, Stops the
Mail Steamer.
SAN FAASCIsCo, March l6.-The Amer
leans and Englishmen still accuse the
German officia of inteTceptinG their |
mail matter and reading the contents |
for the information of their government. /
The schooner which met the steamship |
Alameda at Nituila and took on board |
the mails for Apia, was met by the !
German corvette Olga when midway be.
tween Nituila and NapIa and took all
the official and private mail matter, d.
rectinR the schooner TO return to SItuila.
The corvette met the Zealaudia with the
mail intended for the United States, all
OF which mail matter was taken by Ala
media for Apia, therefore II was first
taken aboard the German man-uf-war
before being turned over TO the post
Office in Apia. As the American mail
steamers do not touch at Apia, the
American mail matter must pass through
German hands before reaching the Sa-
moan capital. 1t Is thought that here
after one OF the American men .of-war
will meet the mail steamer at Nituila.
SAN Francisco. March I6.-On the
forenoon of February II, during a heavy
north-Westerly gale, the American bark
entine Constitution, Capt. Peter Collery,
dragged her anchors and struck the
westerly end of the reef in this harbor;
at the first blow the rldder was driven
In and her stern crushed. She began to
I'LL Immediately and soon turned over
on her beam ends and sunk beside the
reef; the hull being entirely submerged.
a boat had been dispatched by the
United States man-of-war Nipsic in re-
sponse to the signal OF distress and they
succeeded in landing the crew in safety.
She was owned by Nicholas Byrd of San
Francisco and was freighted with a gen.
eral cargo for ApIa. The schooners
Matnafa and Tamasese were also wreck
ed.
Apia, Samoa, the 26 Feb, via steam
ship Misunderstanding a part of the
month the affairs here have been practi-
cally at standstin. Tie German au-
thorIties, consular and naval, have been
exceedingly civil. This state OF inactiv-
ity dates back to the arrival of the steam
er Wanui with dispatches for the Ger
man consul, on Jan. %, and is no donbt
the result of orders then received. A
declaration of state of was with Samo-
an Islands seems to have become dead
letter, while military occupation of Apia
which declaration of martial law would
seem TO have implied, has no existance,
save maintaining strong guard at the
German consulate. A nominal guard is
still kept at American and English con-
sulates in view of the fact that there has
been no official retraction on these de-
clarations, and of numerous proclama-
tions with which the town was flooded
and consequently no settlement of the
matter as an issue. The German con-
sui mas made repeated overtures to Ma
taata, looking toward the adjustment of
the quarrel and constitution of peace.
but the terms proposed always embodied
q strong German interest in the future
administration, Negotiations have
therefore been OF no avail and the Ger.
man officers occupy the unenviable posi-
ton Of men who have deeply comprom-
ised themselves without seeing their
way clear to retract consistently with
the preservation OF their dignity. Ma
taafa, in the midst of his warriors, rests
secure in his entrenched camp, and
awaits the arrival of Admiral Kimberly,
having full faith in the support of the
United States. His picket lines extend
down the coast for a distance OF five
miles, close watch being maintained on
the road leading from Apia to Laulu
and Lutuamun. Tamasese, with his
forces reduced by desertion to about
Lutuamun. Numbers of his former ad-
heTents have 10 ned the standard nt Ma
tssfa, or, grown weary Of the war, have
returned to their homes. There has
been no collision between the opposing
forces for long time.
on Februaryt Sth, however, a small
detached party of Malietoa's men, which
was reconnoitering IN the vicinity OF the
fort, fell in with foraging party OF the
enemy and succeeded in killing one OF
Tamasese's greatest leaders and staunch.
est supporters, the one sole Futi ruler
from Mataala in Savaii.
On February End. Her Majesty's shin
Calliope, Capt. II. F. Kane, arrived from
New Zealand to relieve the Royalists;
the latter sailed from Auckland on the
4th inst. This change has been the
source OF untold satisfaction to the En-
elish residents on Samoa. Early in the
month Capt. Fritze made known the
fact that the consular courts, American
and Euglish, were considered by him as
open fer hearing of causes, despite hi.
proclamation of martial law, reseryinn
to himself, however. the administration
OF the police under regulations of Jan
10th, thereby acknowledging the ability
OF the three courts to perform their civil
functions undisturbed, which virtually
abrogates the necessity for the estab-
siishment OF martial law. Tie Samoan
Times, an English newspaper, was sup
pressed by the German Consul as a
dangerous organ.