Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-01-28
STORY OF THE FIGHT.
THE SITUATION AT SAMOA LOOKED UPON
AS ALARMING.
Klein Says that Drunken German Sailors Started
the Trouble They Stab Two American Git
matchmaking Native Village
"A Graphic Narrative.

NEW YORK, January 27.-The following
from John c. Klein, special correspOn-
dent, is printed here this morning:
APIA, SAMOA, January 5.-Never in
the history of Samoa has the situation
been 50 alarming as at the present time,
not alone for the natives themselves, but
for the American and English residents
also. As the result of the continued
tyrannical action of the Imperial German
Consul, DR.. Knsppe twenty-five sailors
from the three German war ships now in
the hsrbor have been killed and
thirty-two wounded, many OF whom
will also die, while American
and English houses have been
burned, together with ths flags of these
nations, American citizens taken prisoners
by armed German men-0f-war boats. the
occupants OF which forced them 10 submit
at the muzzles Of their rifles, and the Cap
tain and First Lieutenant of sn English
man-of-war were nearly shot by German
sailors from one Of the war vessels. All
this has happened within four days. and
the actual trouble has only Just COM
menced. Tamasee's los3 in killed alone
up TO the present time has been about
ninety.
The German manoi-war 0lsa, fifteen
guns, Captain Won Erbardt, arrived from
Jeluil about noon OF the 14th. She lef,
the depOsed King Of Malietoa in the Mar
shall Islands.
A serious exhibition OF German brutality
took place on the evening of the 10th.
when about one hundred and eighty Sea
men from the men-of-war Olga and Adler
cams ashore at Metafele, By which name
the lower part of Apis is designated, and
proceeded TO terrorizs the entire place
The sailors took possession Of the saloons
and proceeded to increase their courage
byan unlimited supply of beer. In one
saloon they happened to meet George and
Morris Scanland, both OF whom are Ameri-
can citizens, the former being United
States Marshal for Apia. Half an hour
batore they entered Scanlan's house, the
Germans, OF whom there were over
fifty in The saloon, alluded to,
made some disparaging remarks to the
Americans, whsraupon George Scsnland
Knocked one of them down. lie and his
brother were at oncs attacked by the other
German sailors, who drew their sheath.
knives and stabbed both of the Americans
twice in the back.
Several halfclstes and natives ran in TO
assist the Americans and the fight became
general. The fighters finally got into the
street, where the natives and half-castes
fought the sailors with stones, having no
other means of defense at hand. They
were forced 10 retreat, however, oil the
other German sailors Joining in the at
tack. TIE Scandland brothers, covered
with blood, were taken to native church
about two hundred yards from the Ameri-
can Consulate, which had been turned into
temporary hospital for the reception Of
MatAia's men wounded in battle Here
their wounds, which were quite serious.
but not fatal, were dressed.
In the mean time the German sailors be-
gan TO ran emuck through Matafele. Ma
tive houses were entered and women and
children stoned and beaten, and nearly all
the men being away fighting in the bush
against Tamasese half dczen drun ken
sailors from the Olga entered native
house adjoining the residence of the Eng
lish Wesleyan Missionary Society, and at
tackled an old, gray-haired woman while
she was in the act of defending her chill
dren. These yalorous men of war broke
three of her ribs with stones, fractured
both arms, injured her skull, and struck
her three times in the back, causing severe
injuries. Among the entire crowd of sail
ors were six or seven German oflicers, sew
eral of whom were drank.
Word had meanwhile been sent to some
Of Matafa's soldiers who happened to BIZ in
the vicinity Of Apia, and they came in
with their guns. anxious only to begin
shooting the Germans who still kept up
their abuse, which they directed especially
toward native women and children. Uni
tsd States Vice Consul Blackjack, who has
great influence over the natives, urged
them to make 10 emontration against
the German sailors, and they accepted his
advice.
On the morning Of the 18th U. S. Con
sui Blackjack sent vigorous protest to
the German Consul and asserted that the
action of the German sailors had placed
American life and property in serious
jeopardy.
MATTERS have much changed since this
morning" said Consul Knsppe. "We
have sunf ared very heavy losses. You will
be advised of our future mOvements.n - The
Consul positively refused to give the
slightest intiml alton of what steps he in
tended to take. why do you, the Ger
man Consul, representing only one OF the
nations which made the treaty with
Samoa, take it upon yourself TO stop the
war without consulting with The American
and English Consuls;' asked Captain
Mullsn.
IL will answer t) ny Government, cir, -
replied the Consul haughtily. "Onr men
were fired upon first" ne added. Gwen
before they landed" put in Capt in Fritz
Both of these deliberate misstatements
were made in the most positive manner
About hnlf-pAst four o'clock, after the
fight between the natives and Germans, ia .
the afternoon an officer from the Adler /
came on board the Nipsic with the iDior /
nation that the Adler and Olga intended .
to lombard the village of Lsulii in the .
evening. 1t was added that time would .
be given all foreigners" TO secure safety .
by leaving the village. This was most .
procedure, and may he .
when it is stated that there .
were no foreigners within two miles Of .
Lsnlli, except those on board Of the wsr
ships. Captain Mullen sent Gn officer on
shore TO notify King Matalala that be htd .
better send his women and children 10
some place of safety.
This he did at once, and also left the .
village himself with such soldiers as hap
pened TO he present. The entire party,
numbering perhaps five hundred so1ls.
siampeded 10 the brush, taking with them
such OF their possessions as they could con-
yeniently carry on their flight.
At o'clock on the morning Of the 18th
the Adler left for Apia, taking Consul
X Kuspps with her The vessel returned at
; O'Clock in the morning. Captain Null
Ian had sent boat to Apia for Consul
who arrived az daylight Cap
tain Mullan then seat boat to the Adler.
which had taken up position in front OF
Lsulii for the purpose OF b9mbardment Of
Iaulii. 10 order TO avoid meeting the
American Consul, however, the German
Consul had cunniugly remained in Apia.
The American boat had not gone more
than two hundred yards from the Adler on
her return to the Nipsic when the German
ship opened hre on the grass buts, which
chiefly composed the village Of Lsulii.
Before beginning TO lombard, however,
the people OF Tamase.e who had come down
from the fort at Lsutusnu were allowed 20
loot the village unmolested. After they
had got safely cut Of the way firing com
meDced, and the inspiritiug sight was wit
messed Of a modern man -ofWsr tbro wing
twenty-oue large and thirteen small shells
at q ANAL native rillara Not sOnl was