The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
THE TROUBLE IN SAMOA.
The American Flag Fired Upon,
Torn Down and Burned.
A Number of Americans Stabbed
by German Sailors.

The trouble in Samoa between the forces
of Mataafa and Tamasese, rival aspirants
for power, the latter being Endorsed by the
Germans, has resulted in a serious affray.
A passenger who has just arrived at San
Francisco from Apia, Samoa, on the steamer
Alameda, furnishes particulars of the row.
He Iays:
ION the night of December 16 nearly 200
German sailors came ashore at Apia and en-
tered the stores, saloons and native houses
in search of Americans, Englishmen
and half castles. They entered the
residence of George Scanlon, United
States Marshal IN Apla. He was not in, but
the sailors found him and his brother, Morris
Snyder, also an American citizen, further
up the street, and, starting quarrel, stabbed
both Of the Americans in the back.
1.-The Americans escaped to a native
church, where their wounds were dressed.
The German sailors ran through the streets
attacking all persons they met except the
Germans Some Of Mataafa's soldiers came
in from the bush and were anxious to begin
shooting, but were urged by United States
Consul Blackjack not to fire.
"The following day the United States Con-
sui sent protest to the German Consul, as
serting the conduct of the Germans had been
outrageous. That same night the Germans
attacked the town of MatafogateIe and quite
q number were killed and wounded on both
Eides.
ION December 20 the German man-ef-war
Adler bombarded Lady, which had been
shells were fired by the Adler and then four
boat-loads Of sailors landed and burned the
village.
"The Olga went to Matofogatele December
81 and began firing shells on shore and de-
stroyed the village by fire. The three houses
OF E. L. Hamilton, an Ameri-
Gam st1en ss were foeard enFngd nsad large
consular purposes, which had been placed on
on one of the houses. had been burned by the
German men-of-war and then torn down.
Fragments Of the flag were then taken to
Apia and delivered to Consul Blackjack, who
has forwarded it to Secretary Bayard.
1.-THE German Consul afterward wrote to
Consul Blackjack that he had been informed
that, Americans had led the Mataafa forces
on the night of the 18th, and fired the first
shot Consul Blackjack replied that he had
investigated the rumor and found it to be
untrue"
The Samoan Tines published at Apia,
gives the following version of the fight OF
December IS:
At two o'clock on the morning of Tuesday
eighty German sailors from the steamer Olga
were landed at Mataafa and forty more
German farmers plantation the shore
party were reinforced by all the i'm
ported laborers thus employed This
placed King Mataafa with his force be-
tween the 2O0 men who came down the beach
the previous day and the German sailors and
!aborers: Realizing the danger of interfer.
ing with the Germans Mataafa retired
inland a few hundred yards. The
Germans followed him and fired into his
men. killing son Of the chief This terribly
excited the chief, but be was prevented by
his own people from returning the firing Of
the Germans. While struggling against
this opposition the chief was himself shot
and fell dead beside his son.
Mataafas men then, by a common impulse
and without orders, returned the fire. their
first volley killed six Germans and wounded
some Others Several of Tamasese's men then
fed. and the laboreis from the plantation
refused to fight. The sailors thereupon beat
q hasty retreat to their boats, Mataafa's
warriors following them for some distance.
Mataafa lost about ten killed and wounded,
while the German loss is stated at twenty
killed. Among the dead Is Lieutenant
Seeger.
A Washington telegram says: ga COPY of
the above despatch in regard to the alleged
insults to Americans and the American flag
at Samoa by German soldiers was
shown to Secretary Bayard this evening
He said the disturbance referred to
was undoubtedly the same as that briefly de-
scribed by Consul Blackjack IN his cable
message to the department on the 5th inst.
The Consuls account, he said, was not nearly
SO sensational as the one just received from
San Francisco. but contained later informa-
tion, as it told that the Americans who were
seized had been released Immediately after
ward. The Secretary added that the depart
ment Is In constant communication with
Samoa, through its agents, and the latest in
formation received is that affairs are quiet,
and that no serious trouble has occurred since
the 5th inst"
The United States steamship Vandalia
has sailed from San Francisco for Samoa.