St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-18
SAFE ON AMERICAN SOIL.
Klein, the Correspondent Whose
Scalp Bismarck's Hireiings Are
Seeking, Arrives at Frisco,

SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 16.-The steam
ship Mariposa, from Australia and the
Samoan islands, arrived this morning.
Among her passengers is Johu c. Klein.
the American newspaper correspondent
who has figured in the Berlin dispatches
as having led the natives in the recent
battle with the Germans on the island.
but who claims to have witnessed the
fight as a non-cOmbatant in his capacity
as correspondent. When martial law
was declared on the islands by the Ger
mans an attempt was made by the latter
to seize Klein, but he was rescued
by the Americans and took pas
sage on the Oceanic steamer
Mariposa for this port. When the
Mariposa left Samoa the islands
were still under martial law, and Ger
marked, and it is claimed to have been
directed against Americans as well as
natives. The Mariposa left the Samoan
islands on Feb. /. On that date none of
the American men-of-war ordered to go
to the islands had arrived, and the Ger
mans, under the operation of martial
law, were in complete control of the
islands, and had commenced search of
all vessels in Samoan waters; but. after
SeiZing an English tourist named Gillian
on the steam packet Richmond, from
Auckland, Capt. Hand, of the English
war ship R0yaliSt, ordered the man re-
leased, and prepared for action. The
Germans released Gillian on this de-
mand. Goods which arrived on the
Richmond for American merchants at
Apia the Germans would not permit to
be landed unless they were taken to
o%c md hJJ
a German official. The Samoan Times
was suppressed on Jan. 10 for stating
that but for German support all of the
Samoans would join Mataafa, and that
unless
BISMARCK WAS DECEIVED
he would not attempt to enforce his un-
popular rule on the country. Prior to
this Mr.. Cusach. the editor, was fined
500 for reprinting certain American
newspaper press comments on the Sa-
moan situation. Capt. Fritze, the Ger
man naval commander, on Jan. "a is
sued an order instructing all of the resi-
dents of Apia to turn over all guns or
ammunition held by them. and pro-
claimed the right of search. Capt. Null
Ian, of the American man-of-War Nip
sic. protested against this action, stat
ing that the American government had
never ItCOSUlZtO ldiudS0oSs anu Gilde
no power would allow them to seize
arms unless used against a friendly ma
ton. German troops acting as police in
Apia attempted to arrest Klein, but on
the advice of the United States consul
he went on board the Nipsic. Jan.
2S, Capt. Frtze made demand on
Capt Mullan to release Klein. that he
might he tried before German military
tribunal. Capt. Mullan replied that he
proposed to protect all American citi-
zens in Samoa. and that Klein would not
be surrendered for trial, and on Feb.
he placed him on the Mariposa.
John c. Klein, the American news
paper correspondent, who arrived from
Samoa on the steamer Mariposa to-day,
says that he left the Islands because he
was continually in order to avoid being
seized by Germans, who were evidently
under instructions from Berlin to ar
rest him, although it was well under
stood on the islands that he took no
part whatever in the attack on the Ger
mans. He says that he left sick bed
to go out to watch the attempt of the
Germans to make landing for an at
tack on Mataafa's forces, but, that III
stead of firing shot or leading
the natives, he was a passive
spectator, beyond warning the Ger
mans not to land. as requested
to do by the natives.