Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-17

Francisco with full advices of the situation
in Samoa. The German forces have con-
tinued to act in the most high
handed manner English as well as
American rights have been repeat
edly trampled upon. No vessels
are allowed to land freight without submit
ting to an examination. The German Con-
sui charges that americans were implicated
in causing q destructive fire at Apia.
Klein, the newspaper correspondent, ar
rived on board the steamer.
SAN FRANCISCO, February 16. - The
steamer Mariposa arrived here to-day from
Australia, by way of Samoa. The Maripcsa
brings the first mail advices from the Sa-
moian Islands since January 2, when the
preceding steamship of the Oceanic Line
left there. The Mariposa left the island of
Tuluila on February 1, and brings official
reports from the United States Consul and
American naval officers of the action of the
German naval forces in Samoa since the en-
gagement Of December IS between the
natives and Germans, which were forwarded
in to-night's mail to Washington.
At the time of the departure of the Mari
posa, the necessity for the presence of the
American man-oi-war ordered to the scene
is claimed to have been urgent, as the oper-
ations of the Germans were directed more
against the American and English resi-
dents than against Mataafa and his forces
In the case of the latter chieftain, whom
the Germans affect to call a rebel, the Ger
man Consul visited his camp to induce him
to accent the German rule, while in the
case of the American and Englishmen the
right to search the vessels and private
houses in Apia was embodied in official
proclamations.
A formal declaration of war against Ma
taafa was made by the German authorities
on January 10, and martial law established
for the entire islands. On the same day
English subjects were seized and taken on
board the German man-Of-war. Instead of
war being prosecuted against Mataafa and
his followers the Germans have neglected
them almost entirely, and have confined
their operations against American and
English subjects.
APIA DESERTED.
Early in the month of January numbers
of Tamasese's men began deserting, there
being mutiny by one of his most prominent
chiefs, who decided that while it might be
legitimate enough to fight against their own
people, yet they were not willing to join
with the Germans in fighting against the
natives of Samoa. Apia remained practi-
cally deserted. The German officers from
the war ships and the German Consul made
daily trips along the beach in Apia, taking
observations of the Mataafa boats, which
were drawn up on the beach.
On the 18th of January a large boat con-
tanning TameseSe soldiers came from up the
coast and communicated with the German
warship Adler The same night several
deserters from Tamasese's side went to the
camp of King Mataafa at Masigi and in
formed him that the rebels intended to make
a raid upon Apia on the following night
and also assault Mataafa's party.
The Germans were to assist the rebels as
much as possible, and the American and
English residents were to be attacked
equally with Mataaias men. The King at
once informed the American and English
residents in Apia of this fact, thus giving
the men opportunity to prepare for an at
tack. Lieutenant Fillet, of the United
States marine corps in charge of the ma
rine guard at the American Consulate, was
aroused by the sentry on that night, and in
formed him that fire was in progress in Ma
taafala.
AMERICANS FIGHT FIRE.
With four marines he ran to the scene of
the fire, about one mile away, and was one
eel, - IA
that the residence of the German Consul,
Dr. Knappe, was in flames. In few min
utes the fire had communicated to the Ger
man postoffice at the other end OF the build
ing, and reaching across the street, the
flames attacked the German Consulate. A
large force of sailors from the United States
war ship Nipsic was sent ashore to fight the
fire.
A few minutes later detachment from
the English warship Royalist arrived, and
half an hour afterward large force of
sailors from the German warshipS Adler,
Olga and Eber arrived, each man carrying
a loaded rife with fixed bayonet, while the
American and English sailors brought
pumps and axes. The fire in the meantime
had spread to the residence of Mr.. Schmidt,
the German Vice Consul and Staadt Ham
burghOlm.
IS,
among the foremost being United States
Vice-Consul Blackjack, fought the fire,
which was only destroying German prop
erty, until they were nearly exhausted. The
American and English sailors worked until
overcome by heat, carrying water, using
axes and saving property belonging to the
German traders and planters.
WORK oFSTHE FLAMES.
store and residence of A. Shue were de-
stroved, as well as the court house, Jail,
three small German dwellings, several
native houses and native churches. While
the fire was in progress Consul knappe de-
clared he thought the occurrence was en-
tireIy accidental, due to the carelessness of
several black laborers, brought from other
islands to work on the German plantations,
and who were hanging about his residence
at the time.
Within five or six hours later, however,
Consul hnappe expressed himself that the
American and English residents of Apia
were implicated in the affair. Consul
Knappe established his offices on the prem
ises of the German Planting and Trading
Company. The German warship Eber
sailed for Auckland on the 18th, takinglthe
dispatches to be sent TO the German govern
ment concerning the burning of the con-
sulate.
A Mataata native was publicly whipped
in the afternoon in the presence of many
American, English, natives and few Ger
mans Tor having told the German Consuls
clerk in the streets few days before that
Mataafa men would soon have his head.
On January 10 a boat belonging to ex-
United States Vice Consul E. L. Hamilton,
manned by two natives, was seized by an