Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-01-24
HloA.HANpEp INSULT.

Germans In Samoa The Flag Torn
Down, and the Residences and Property
OF American Citizens Destroyed--Coni-
ment at Washington.
SAN Francisco, Jan. 2l.-Thc steamship
Alameda has arrived from Australia and
brings advices from Samoa which confirm
| the reports Of the battle which ensued
when the Germans attempted to land, and
in which they were forced 70 return 10
their boats, after loss Of twenty
two killed and thirty-two wounded. Ma.
taafa's loss werc ten killed and wounded.
This was on December Is Both the Amer
lean and British Cousuls were asked by
Mataafa for advice but declined to inter
ferc.
On the morning Of the 10th Commander
Mullan. Of the United states steamer
;ipsic, followed the German ship Alder
which il was given out was On route TO
I Saluafata Mullan boarded the Alder
and protested against the action Of the
Germans, who had declared they would
she'll Mataafa's stronghold. which would
put the lives and property of Americans in
the greatest danger. Knappes, the German
Consul, replied discourteously to Mullan,
saying he would hold no communication
with an American naval Captain, and
would be responsible for his action 10 his
Government On the next day the Alder
bOmbardcd Lady, which had been evacu
atcd the night previous. Thirty four
shells were fired by the Alder and then
four boat loads Of sailors were landed who
burned the villages, including two small
Ron an Catholic churches.
On December 20, two days after Mataafa
had whipped them, the Germans attacked
the village Of Tatapasatelc, carrying de-
strucdon right and left In the village
were three houses owned by an American
named Hamilton, who had an American
! flag flying from each house. The Ger
mans laughed at these flags and
fred at them, Kidding them with
bullots. and then set fire TO tho
houses. The remains OF the flags were re-
covered, sand will be sent to Washington as
evidence of the German outrages. One
day later the Germans sent further orders
to Mataafa TO surrender and he told
/ them they had attacked him and he
would fight 10 the death. Then the Ger
mans had a wild dobauch in town. About
200 sailors and marines got drunk aud
charged through the town, doing
all sorts of wanton damage. They
destroyed houses in Apia owned
/ by Americans, and stabbed an Amer.
! lean named Snyder. There was an
I American negro named Brooks, who had
boat. They chased him. and, though he
displayed an American flag In his boat
and said no was an American, they said
"All niggers are rebels,n and arrest ed
! him. he was released afterward.
The German Consul aftcrward wrote to
4 Consul Blackjack that no had been in
formed that Americans had led tho Ma
taafa forces on tho night OF the 18th and
/ fred the first shot. Consul Blackjack re-
piled that he had investigated tho rumor
/ and found II TO be untrue. On the 2Ist
! Charles Brown, an American Citizen who
! was on shore, was requested by the En-
/ glsh officers 10 ask tho Germans 10 cease
4 shooting. The Germans seized Brown.
carried him on board the war ship Ebor,
and after handling him roughly released
him The Germans have made further as.
saults upon the villages since the lombard
ment OF Matafagatelo. Tamaseses men
4 are still at Lautaunoo, Mataafa's forces
/ having been compelled TO retire owing 10
their conflict with the Germans on Decem-
/ her IS. It is said that about 1000 of
( Tamascse's forces have joined Mataafa
since the bombardment. United States
Consul Blackjack has telcgraphed all the
facts respecting tho situation here, in
forming Secretary Bayard that the Amcri-
can flag had been shot at aud torn down
by the Germans; that American citizens
have been taken prisoners by the Ger.
4 mans, and adds that the lives and prop
orty Of American citizens are in great
/ danger.
4 IL was an American correspondent who
took the message from Mataafa 70 the
American Consul, asking him for advice.
Tamaseso will not DO able 70 hold out
against Mataafa II the Germans are
not reinforced, The latter has given
notice that In the event OF moro native
4 l.a b,t
every article of German property in
Samoa, and even destroy the cattle and
cocoanut trees on the plantations. Ho Is
in a position to destroy property worth
1 81, 800, 600 and WIN do so II at all pressed
The three Consuls met TO discuss the sit.
uation. but tho consultation camo 10 an
abrupt end, as the only conditions upon
which the German Consul would consent
TO a settlement of the troubles was that of
the surrender Of Mataafa on board OF the
German war ships and the disarming OF
his followers IL was promised that Ma.
taafa's life would DO spared, but no guran-
tee would be given that no would be lib
Grated.
The Examiner prints long letter from
its correspondent at Apia describing tho
conflict between Mataafa and the Ger.
mans and, in detail the firing on Amor
jean houses and the American flag
and the assaults on American residents.
1t says editorally that the lndig-
mites heapod upon American citizens and
the American flag, which were singled out
by the Germans for targets, demand ex-
cmplary reparation. IL was on account OF
these things that the German officers
spread reports Of American interference,
deeming IL advisable 10 put Ia q counter
complaint
MotaoF, tho ,-ts.htF,,l PIN ,to. Ia IA
intrenchment about two miles from Apia.
Ho has 5000 soldiers well armed and
equipped and has the sympathy Of the
American and English residents. Tam
asese Is in possession Of a fort about
seven miles distant and his force Is estl-
mated at 5000
At4oclock Sunday afternoon tho United
States man.of war Vandalia left Mare
Island navy yard, bound for the Samoa
islands, the present seat OF warlikc dis
tuTbances.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81 The latest de-
yelopment in the Samoan situation has
caused considerable excitement IN Wash
ingtOn. Men Of both political parties agree
that the situation is very serious IN an
interview Secretary Bayard said
oThcre is nothing new in to.days dispatches
The oficial dispatch concerning the lighting
has already be en- sent 10 the Senate. lesteT-
days story is sensational version and is not
very clear The correspondence shows that
the situation IS very serious. The Republicans
members OF the Senate Committee on HoreigB
Relations say that as tho Senate 10 consider
oring the Samoan situation ia secret session \
would be indiscreet for them 10 discuss IT,"
It was learned al the Navy Department
that the Nipsic is the only vessel IN
Samoan waters. The Adams is on the
way 70 San Francisco, and tho Vandalia
has Just left thelatter port The Trenton.
with Admiral Kimberly on board ana
the Dolphin are en- route Tor Samoa
The Monongahela has been ordered
10 Samoa as q store-ship The German
Heot al Samoa cons sts OF the Adler, Olga
and Ebor largo number OF German iron
cads, however, arc within easy reach Of
the islands
BALTIMORE, Nd, Jan 25.--Tho Suns
Washington special says; Secretary
Bayard stated Sunday that the State De-
partment had gone TO the extreme limit ~
It's discretion IN trying 70 arrange tho
trouble over the Samoan islands In dig
nihed and honorable manner. The Senate
had been furnished with all the CORE
spondence on the subject, and il now re-
manned for that body TO define the 20 licy
Of the Government in dealing with the
SUBJECT further.