Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-01-21
GERMAN OUTRAGES.
The Stars and Stripes Torn Down
and Burned.
REIGN OF TERROR IN SAMOA
:. sailors and Their Property Laid
Waste by German shelIs-Eng-
llsh Onlcers shot At.

Sax Francisco, Jan 21.-The steamer
Alameda arrived here from Samoa. A cor
respondent, writing from Apia, Samoa,
under date of Jan. 5, says:
"A most serious state of affairs exists in
Samoa As result of the recent attack by
the Germans on Mataafa, III which twenty
two German sailors were killed and thirty
two wounded, the German war ships have
burned the American houses and flags, torn
down the United States flags, seized some
American citizens in the neutral water Of
Apis harbor and taken them prisoners on
board the German men of war. A boats
crew from German vessel, in command of
an officer, have shot at the captain and lieu
tenant of an English man of war;
The latter adds that King Mataafa's party
had been fighting almost constantly since the
battle at Lautoanua, killing and wounding
many of Tamasseses men. They began to
fail of ammunition, but were able to obtain
10000 Snider cartridges, mortgaging their
lands 10 pay for ammunition. Tamassese's
men were reported becoming more dssatis-
fled daily, and desertions from his ranks be-
came very frequent.
4 On the nighu of Dec 16, $50 German sailors
came ashore at Apia and entered the stores,
saloons and native houses in search of
Americans Englishmen and half castes
They entered the residence OF George Scan
Ian, United States Marshal in Apia. He
was not in, but the sailors found him and his
brother, Morris Snyder, also an American
citizen, further up the street, and, starting
q quarrel stabbed both of the Americans in
the back. 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 the Mataafa
soldiers came in from the bush and were
anxious to begin shooting, but were urged
by United States Consul Blackjack not to
fire.
On Dec Ia the United States consul sent
protest to the German consul asserting that
the conduct OF the Germans had been out
rageous, and had placed American lives and
property in great jeopardy. AT z O'clock on
the morning OF Dec IL the Olga left Apia
and steamed up the coast, and returned that
evening with Tamasase's, secretary That
night the secretary wrote letter to his wife
in Apia that the Germans would attack
the town Of Matafagatele during the
night, and would attack Mataafa's men
while they were sleeping. This town is two
miles above Apia. The woman told the
news to relative in Apia, who in turn sent
word to Mataafa's soldiers. Before midnight
200 armed men had assembled on shore, a
short distance above the English consulate,
and, concealing themselves in the bush,
waited for the appearance of the German
boat, which, it was said would contain a
number of Tamasseses men as well as Ger
man sailors. The Germans made the pro-
posed attack, and quite number were killed
and wounded on both sides.
On the morning of Dec 10 the German
man of war Adler left Apia, sending word
to the United States ship Nipsic that the
German consul was on board going to Salu-
afata to stop the fighting. Consul Black
lock protested against the action of the Ger
man consul, which would place the wives
and property of the American in greatest
danger. The Nipsic put after the Adler, and
at Latongo Capt. Mullan went on board the
Adler to demand of Consul Knappes the
reason for his action. The German consul
replied discourteously to Mullan, and said he
would hold no communication with an
American naval captain, and would be re-
sponsible for his acts to his government On
the next day the Adler bombarded Lady,
which had been evacuated the night pre-
vions Th;rty-four shells were fired by the
Adler, and then four boat loads of sailors
were landed, who burned the villages, includ-
ing two small Roman Catholic churches
The ships then returned to Apia
On Dec. Is Consul Knappe sent letter to
Mataafa telling him the German ships would
shell his villages unless he came on boarl the
German man of war before noon on Dec 20.
and caused his people TO give up all their
guns Mataafa did not reply, but sent back
word after the battle that he was sorry to
kill German sailors, but that the Samoans
intended to fight for their liberty, and would
fight whoever attacked them
On the following day the German colsul
ordered the Samoans to bring their firearms
on board the Olga during the day, and said
that if this was not done the ship would bom-
bard the village of Matafagatele. Consul
Blackjack at once entered a protest.
and informed him that T. l. Ham
ilton, an American citizen, owned three
houses in Matafagatee, over which the
American flag had been placed, and added
that il this property was damaged the Ger
man government would be held responsible
The German consul made no reply About
o'clock on the morning Of the 2lst the Olga
went to Matafagatele, anchoring one mile
from shore, and she began throwing shells on
shore Alter firing twenty-five shells the
vessel sent three boat loads of marines
ashore and destroyed the village by fire.
Hamilton went to the destroyed village in
the afternoon and found his three houses in
ruin.
A large American nag, formerly used for
consular purposes, which had been placed on
one Of the houses, had been burned by the
German men of war and then torn down.
Fragments OF the flag were taken to Apia and
delivered to Consul Blackjack, who has for
warded i to Secretary Bayard Tne German
consul afterward wrote TO Consul Blackjack
that he had been informed that Amer
leans had led the Mataafa forces on
the night Of the 18th, and fired the frst shot.
Consul Blackjack replied that ha had investi.