Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-21
SAMOAN TROUBLES.
Latest News Concerning the War in
Progress at Apia.


Progress at Apia.
By the Alameda, which arrived on Sat-
urday we are placed in possession of Homo
lulu dates to January 18th inst and by the
Pacific Commercial Adrertiser of that date
are placed in possession of news of an ex-
citing character from Samoa to Saturday,
I December 22d ult. From the paper men
toned we learn that on Monday, December
18th. the Captain of the German corvette
Olga intimated to the Captains of the Brit
ish and American warships in Apia his in
| tention Of putting an end, in peaceful
manner, to the war between Mataafa and
Tamasese. This seemed to please the Eng.
| lishman and the American.
The Olga Joined the Eber, living off the
scene of action. Their boats conveyed 200
of Tamaseses men to position closer to
| that of Mataafa. The Olga returned to
| Apia the same afternoon, her Captain, for
the first time, paying an official visit to the
British gnnboat Royalist. Captain Hand,
of the Royalist, made no demonstration
| further than to keep up full steam on his
ship.
At 2 o'clock Tuesday morning eighty
sailors from the Olga landed at Matautu,
and forty more along the coast, the eighty
men marching inland to meet Mataafa. At
the German firms plantation, Vailili, the
ported labor, so that Mataafa was between
the 200 men who came down the day be-
fore, and the German sailors and foreign
| laborers.
Mataafa retired inlsnd a few hundred
yards at their approach. The Germans
| fired into Mataafa's people, killing son of
chief. The chief was prevented by his
own people from firing into the Germans,
but while struggling against the formers
efforts he was shot, and tell dead beside
his son. Mataafa's people returned the
! fire, killing six Germans and wounding
| others. Several of Tamaseses men fed,
and the lsborers refused to fight, leaving
| the Germans to fight it out. The sailors
beat a retreat to their boats, Mataafa's war
riors pursuing them. Mataafa lost ten
killed and thirty wounded, while the Ger
man loss is stated at twenty killed or died
of their wounds. Among the dead is
| Lieutenant Sieger.
| The Nipsic steamed to Saluafata Tuesday,
| bearing that the German warships were
! going TO shell Mataafas stronghold. Cap
tain Mullan entered his protest against
their reported project. 1t was not taken
notice of, however, for the Osla threw
shells into the spot where Mataafa WIS
supposed to be. Dat of party of fire,
! three were killed and two wounded BY q
Adler shelled and burned Matsafa's Tesid-
( ence
| The Times reports that Mataaf4 and
Tamasese were back in the bush and the
| foreign residents OF Apia were in IA worse
position than before. The Germans were
circulating report that Mataafa' Is men had
fired first, but the paper denies the state
ment.
Thursday Ma.aafa's men evirced de-
termination 10 die on the battlefield rather
than again become the slaves o. Brandeis
and Tamasese. The Germans made no Sc
, cret of their intentions to crush Mataafa il
| they could. The British and American
wa rships were made ready for action. A
Calling gun was stationed on the veranda
of the United States Consulate. British
Consul de Costelogon advised British resi-
dents to send their wives and children on
board the Royalist or to The Consulate.
The bombardment of Matafaga,ele took
place on Thursday. About thirty shots or
shells were thrown, after which men were
landed and burned the town.
At meeting Of the three Consuls the
Gefman Consul proposed that Mataafa's
people should be disarmed and he surren-
Z, der himself on beard one of the German
war ships. His life was promised 10 be
spared, but no guarantee would be given for
his liberation. The proposition did not
suit, SO that further consultation was use
less. The bombardment of Matafagatele
was in consequence of the Mataafa party
disregarding proclamation from the Ger.
man Consul to bring their arms on board @
German warship.