The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-01-12
German Sailors Fired Upon by
Natives.
A Panic Amongst the
White Residents.
An American Journalist Alleged to
Have Fired tho First Shot,

Ap1A, December 2G. 1888.

On the Nth Dec. III. |. G.. NJ. 5.
Olga arrived at Apia from Jaluit, an
island in the Marshall Group, where
she left Malictoa, the cX-king of Sa-
moa. On account Of the native
troubles here it was decided to leave
him there for the present. On ar
rival of the Olga, and for many
weeks previously Mataafa and his
followers had been led to believe
that the German warships had strict
orders not to assist the Tamasese
Government in any way whatever.
The natives had also been informed
that they need take no notice Of the
German-Samoan treaty having re-
ference to trespass on German pro-
perty during war time. Captain
Leary, of the U. S. S. adams, gave
his opinion that the rebels and Gov
eminent troops could simply do as
they pleased, as according to inter-
national law both parties were bel
ligerents. 1t was also reported that
the English and American officials
had tried to induce the German
Consul to take the same view, which
he positively declined.
In October last the rebel chief
Mataafa issued Il proclamation to
the effect that he and his soldiers
would respect all foreign property,
when marked by the flags of the
different nationalites. However,
these were only promises, as the re-
bells acted in u disgraceful way,
German property being destroyed
in all directions. When the atten-
tion OF the natives was called to the
German flag, they simply laughed.
As the Olga remained inactive in
port for two days the Ger.
man residents were subjected tc
further insults and provocation.
On Sunday, the 10th inst, about
l2O German sailors received liberty
to go ashore, Whilst amusing
themselves in various ways, half
caste named George Seaman, with
others, who pretend to have Ameri
can protection, provoked the sailor:
to such an extent that street row
occurred. Several Samoans joined
issue with the half-castes, throwing
stones and other missiles aU the
men-of-wars men. Shots were fired
one of the sailors being wounded il
the hand. The half-castes and Sa
means also received a rongh handl
ing. Early next morning the Olgi
left Apia for Saluafata, where II
|. G.. Nj. S. Eber had been at an
Choir for some time. On arrival
DR.. Knappe heard an account o
how matters had been going OF
, there, and was informed tina
, further damage had been done b,
the rebels. a part of the rebel
had come from Laulii during tn
night with the intention of captur
ing Mr.. Brandeis and his secretar,
and also to cut off the heads of til
wounded men in the hospital n
Eva. After consultation betwee
the captains of the men-of-war, TIL
', consul and the head of the Govern
ment, the Olga returned TO Apis
1t had been agreed during the COZ
: ference at Saluaiata that the Gen
= man cruiser Adler, with the consl
.. on board, should proceed to Lauli
= the headquarters of Mataafa, o
Tuesday morning, and the consr
was to request the rebel chief to il
=. duce his people to throw down the
: arms, at the same time giving
guarantee that the Tamasesc part
= would do likewise, Unfortunatel
: this friendly action towards the M
u tiyes was destined not to be carrie
;, out, the following details spealiir
y for themselves;
= As there is n large plantatiC
= named Nailele, situated about tv
" miles on the Apia side of Lauli
p that is between the headquarters
y the rebels aud the city, 1t was deer
J. ed advisable to place some of Il
= sailors belonging to the Olga the
y for tho purpose Of preventing
= possible disorderly retreat of the 7
~ bells TO Apia through the said pla
= tation and also to protect the latt
against further damages To ear
out this intention about $50 sailo
in were put into boats, to row do'
ID the coast to the plantation, Duri
ST the night previous, rumors were I
ir over the town that large numb
of Iamaseses soldiers had be
~ brought mp from saualata by I
}, Olga, This was aipure fahrloali,
We The natives, however, believed
S, and kept a strict watch from shJ
to over The man-oi-war, An Amerle
81 citizen, a journalist, named j
Klein, who has been living with /
as rebels nearly all the time he !