The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-01-24
hloH.hANpEp INSULT.


hloH:hANDED INSULT
Il Il OnstsA tU the sssrs. sna stripes ~
Gsrmana In San1oe9 - me Fias Torn
Down; and the R1sidonces and Property
pf Amariean Clfizens Dsstroyed-Cem-
mont NJ WashinSto ton.
SAN FRANCIsco, Jan. 21.-The 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 to return to
their boats, after loss of twenty
two killed and thirty.two wounded. Ma
taafa's loss were ten killed and wounded
This was on December IS. Both the Amer
lean and British Consuls were asked by
Mataafa for advice but declined to~inter-,
fere.
On the morning of the 10Th Commander
Mullan. of the United States steamer
Nipsic, followed the German ship Alder,
which it was given out was en- route to
Saluafata. Mullsn boarded the Alder
and protested against the action Of the
Germans, who had declared they would
shell Mataafa's stronghold, which would
put the lives and property of Americans in
the greatest danger. Knappes, the German
Consul, replied discourteously to Mullan,
with an American naval Captain, and
would be responsible for his action to his
Government. On the next day the Alder
bOmbarded Lady, which had been evacu
ated the night previous Thirty four
shells were fired by the Alder aud then
four boat loads of sailors were landed who
burned the villages including two small
Roman Catholic churches
On December ~, two days after Mataafa
had whipped them, the Germans attacked
the village Of Tatapasatele, carrying de-
struction 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
fired at them, riddling them with
bullets, and then set fire. to the
houses. The remains of the flags were re-
evidence of the German outrages. One
day later the Germans sent further order.
to Mataafa to surrender, and he told
them they had attacked him and he
would fight to the death. Then the Ger
mans had wild debauch in town. About
200 sailors and marines got drunk and
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 ar
American negro named Brooks, who had
boat. They chased him, and, though he
displayed an American flag IN his boa,
and said he was an American, they said:
"All niggers are rebels" and arrested
him. He was released afterward.
The German Consul afterward wrote t.
Consul Blackjack that he had been in.
| formed that Americans had led the Ma.
taafa forces on the night Of the 18th anc
fred the first shot. Consul Blackjack re-
| piled that he had Investigated the rune,
and found it to be untrue. On the 21sl
Charles Brown, an American citizen, who
was on shore, was requested by tho En-
glish officers to ask the Germans to cease
| shooting. The Germans seized Brown
| carried him on board the war ship Eber
and after handling him roughly released
him. The Germans have made further as
saults upon the villages since the lombard
| ment of Matafagatele Tamasese's men
are still at Lautaunoo, Mataafa's forces
| having been compelled to retire owing tc
| their conflict with the Germans on Dscem.
Der 49, It is said that about 100 OF
Tamasese's forces have joined Mataafs
since the bombardment United States
Consul Blackjack has telegraphed all the
forming Secretary Bayard that tho Amer
| can flag had been shot at and torn down
by the Germans; that American citizens
have been taken prisoners by tho Ger
mans, and adds that the lives and prop
erty of American citizens are in great
danger.
1t was an American correspondent who
| took the message from Mataafa to the
American Consul, asking him for advice
Tamasese will not be able to hold out
| against Mataafa il tho Germans are
| not reinforced. The latter has given
| notice that in the event of more native
| property being destroyed he will destroy
| every article of German property III
Samoa, and even destroy the cattle and
cocoanut trees on the plantations. He is
| In a position to destroy property worth
81. 500, 600, and will do so if at all pressed.
The three Consuls met to discuss the sit.
| uation. but the consultation came to ali
abrupt end, as the only conditions upon
which the German Consul would consent
| to settlement of the troubles was that OF
the surrender of Mataafa on board of the
German war ships and the disarming OF
his followers. 1t was promised that Ma.
taafa's life would ho spared, but no guran.
i tee would be given that he would be lib.
| Grated.
The Examiner prints long letter from
Its correspondent at Apia describing the
conflict between Mataafa and the Ger.
mans and, in detail, the firing on Amer.
jean houses and the American flag
and the assaults on American residents
1t says editorially that the indig.
| mites heaped upon American citizens and
the American flag, which were singled out
by the Germans for targets, demand ex.
| emplary rcparation. 1t was on account OF
| these things that the German officers
spread reports of American interference,
deeming it advisable to put in counter
complaint
Mataafa, the rightful King, was in an
| intrenchment about two miles from Apia.
BE 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 est.
mated at 5000
At 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon the United
States man-of-war Vandalia left Mare
Island navy yard, bound for the Samoa
islands, the Present seat of warlike dis.
turbances.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2l-Tho latest de-
vc.opment in tho Samoan situation has
caused considerable excitement in Wash.
that the situation is very serious In an
interview Secretary Bayard said:
"There is nothing new in to-day 8 dispatches
The Official dispatch concerning the fighting
has already been sent to the Senate. Yester
days story is sensational version and is not
very clear. The correspondence shows tina,
the situation is very serious. The Republican
members OF the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations say that as the Senate is consider.
ering the Samoan situation in secret session il
would be indiscreet for them to discuss it,
1t was learned at the Navy Department
that the Nipsic is the only vessel in
Samoan waters. The Adams is ON the
way to San Francisco, and the Vandalia
has just left the latter port. The Trenton,
with Admiral Kimberly on board, and
the Dolphin arc en- route tor Samoa.
The Monongahela has been ordered
to Samoa as store-ship. The German
feet at Samoa cons SITS of the Adler, Olga
and Eber A large number of German iron.
l@-Q-