New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-10
CANARDs ABOUT SAMOA.
SAN FRANCISCO WILD WITH EXCITEMENT
OVER ALLEGED FURTHER oUTRAGEs.
REPORT THAT THE NIPs1o WAS REALLY SUNK
AND THAT THE GERMANS HAD SEIZED THE
STEAMER ALAMEDA-THE RUMoRs EN-.
PHATIoALLY DIsOREDITED IN
WASHINGTON = TWO DIS
ToRTE.D TBLEGRAMs.

ToRTED TBLEGRAMs
lBT TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNEI
San Francisco, March o.-The city went Wild
to-day over war rumors from Samoa Some one
started the canad that tho Produce Exchange had
ceiyed news Of the seizure of the American steamer
Alameda at Samoa. This was followed in q few
minutes by Washington dispatch declaring that the
report Of the sinking Of the Nipsic he'd been con-
frnied, and that orders had been received to rush
the Charleston and go 30 work on the men-ofwar at
Mare Island. The streets were blocked around tho
newspaper bulletin-boards, and largo crowds in all
the business resorts discussed the rumors. No such
excitement has been seen here for months.
When the rumon were chased down they were
found to be based on the fact that the Union Iron
Works had recsived a dispatch asking them how
soon they could get the Charleston ready for sea;
while Colonel Crocker of the Southern Pacific Rail
road had received adispatch about the transportation
OF guns by rail No orders had been received by
Commodore Bellnap, at Marc Island, to hasten work
on any Of the vessels at that Navy Yard. From
officers who came down from the Navy Yard II was
learned that nothing could be done there TO 1T out
swift sailing steamers for service should they be
needed, the yard has supply Of modern guns. He
declared that the Charleston could not be made ready
for sea under fortnight, and that It would
be impossible TO get her guns across tho continent
and into proper shape before month. 1t VIII bo
work OF some difficulty to ht the guns 10 the car
rages after both are delivered here.
spreckels & Co., who own the steamer Alameda,
have received news that she arrived safely at Auck
land, but they have heard nothing further. She was
duo in sydney yesterday, and Mr.. spreeels said this
afternoon that she might have been intercepted be-
tween Sydney and Auckland by German cruisers.
Washington March 9.-seoretary Tracy left Wash
ington for New-York this after%bon Commodore
Wsker who acts as Secretary during the absence Of
the head Of the Department. was tonight shown the
latest San Francisco bulletin respecting the alleged
hlowng-up Of tho United states steamer Nipsic He
had no hesitation IN stamping 1t as an absurd fabr-
cation, And he denies that any orders have been sent
to San Francisco looking to the immediate equipment
of tho new cruiser Charleston
To show the utter imprpbabllity OF the story, Com
modore Walker says that telegrAphie news reaching
San Francisco from Samoa mist GROSS from Auckland
to Australia. thence across the Dutch East Indian
Islands to Asia, up through Europe 10 England, and
the Atlantic Ocean the eastern coast of the
United States where It Is taken up by the land lines
and transmitted 10 California So. said the Commo-
dore II Is evident that such could not possibly
reach San Francisco before itsis known In the East
as tho Navy Department has an oficer stationed at
Auckland for the very purpose Of forwarding norTna-
on respecting Samoan affairs, and II is not to be
supposed that he would overlook matter like the
sinking of the Nipsio.
Il Is learned that the reported destruction Of the
Npsc was not even mentioned al the Cabinet meeting
this afternoon, which fact Is an additional proof that
none OF the Executive Departments Is In possession
| Of information which would confirm the rumor.
In the State Department the fact that they
have not been officially advised Of tho blow
| ing up Of the NipSie Is regarded as sufficient
evidence that no such thing has happened. They
hF4s pof tolegraphed the ang Consul Tor The reason
that Il Is not 70 be supposed that no has neglected his
duty and failed TO inform hts Government Of an event
| OF such Importance In answer to the suggestion
| that the GermGns would control every avenue by
which the news could roach the United statcs, 1t Is
said that they could not prevent the Information from
reaching In gland through some OF the English vessels
at Samoa, even supposlng that tho reported engage
mont had beon followed BY declaration Of war; which
| might have resulted In cutting of Consul Blachlock
from the cable a. Auckland Naval oiicers he here
| they admit that the HipsIc would have beer over
matched b the olss in sOa aght They arc rather her
English papen. that tho publication in German
roTS IN out as seer s 20 s learn ts hSm Sn an
OF the German ssamen would be received In Germany
and America
The sensational report that the United States
steamer NipsIe had been blown up by one Of tho
/ German covette 0lgas torpedoes, az samoa, was
generally discussed by the officers at the Navy Yari
yesterday but # caused excitement. Tho report
Yard said: II such an engagement had tahen place,
we would probably have heard more about II than
d s' Bs;5 %sne fRS ShoG RS%S the p
has been at Auckland for several weeks, for the pur
OF sending the earliest information from Samoa
by cable and II tho olga had destroyed the Npso,
or II there had been any real engagement he would
| But after ell should not be surprised 10 learn at
any time that there had rally been conflict know
! Commander Dennis W. Mullan pretty thoroughly, as
he served on The same vessel with for moro than
| two years, and know him 10 be man Of quick I'm
,pulse passionate and ready TO stop man from going
| foo FAR N IL a wel-known fact that the American
Navy officers have had TO put up with every possible
| insult on the part OF the German people In samoa,
and the German officers themselves havo treated the
oficers of the Npsic with indgnlties that arc hard
/ fo sWalow Muilan Is not a coward, neither would
SneSest that he would GO beyond discretion, but he
wiil not put up with everything. He served In the
| sQuadrons In ihe latter part OF the CNh war; and