Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-21

Mataafa's party. The Germans were tO
assist the rebels as much as possible,
ADD the American and English residents
were to be attacked equally with Ma
taafa's men. The king at once imfor.ned
the American and English residents of
this fact, thus giving them an oppor
tunity TO prepare for the attack. At
1880 O'Clock on that night Lieut.. Fillette,
of the United States Marine corps, in
charge of the Marine guard at
the American consulate, was
aroused by the sentry who in
formed him that a fire was in progress
in Mataafa. He, with four marines, ran
TO the scene of fire about one mile away,
and was one of the frs to arrive there.
1t was found that the residence of the
German consul, DR.. KnapPe, was on fire.
In few minutes the FIRE had communi-
Gated 70 the German postoffice at the
other end of the building and reaching
across the street the flames attacked
the German consulate.
& large force of sailors from the u. S.
ship Nipsic were sent ashore to fight the
fire. 4 few minutes later a detachment
from. the English war ship Roy alist ar
rived aud half hour afterwards large
force of sailors from the German war
ships Adler, Olga and Eber arrived, each
man carrying loaded rife
and with fixed bayonets. American
aud English sailors brought pumps and
axes. The fire in the meantime spread
to the resident of Schmidt, German vice
consul, and the Ham burg hotel, the
American and English residents among
the former being United States vice Con
sui Blocklock, fought the fire which was
only destroying German property until
they were nearly exhausted. The
American and English sailors
W rked until overcome by the heat, car
rying water, using axes and saving prop
erty. Several stOres.the court house, jail,
etc., were also destroyed. While the fire
was in progress, Knappe declared that he
thought the occurrence was purely acci
dental. Within five or SIX hours, how
ever, he expressed belief that the Amer
lean and English residents of Apia were
implicated in the matter.
On the afternoon of January Is, a
boat belonging to ex-United States Con
sui 4. l.. Hamilton, manned by two ma
tives, was seized by an armed boat from
the German ship Adler, while in neutral
water, off the Apian harbor. The boat
was afterward released, and when an ex-
PLANTATION was demanded by Consul
Blackjack, Consul Knappe replied that it
was because the boat had not display ed
any national flag. The English mer-
chant steamer, Richmond, arrived
in Apia harbor shortly before dark on
the 18th. At one o'cloSkin the morning
OF thu 10th, the Richmond was boarded
by an armed boats crew from the Adler.
The officer ii command Informed the
captain of the Richmond that war had
been declared by Germany against Sa-
moa, that the harbor had been blockade
and martial law declared. The captain
was further told that no freight would
be allowed to be taken from
the Richmond unless taken directly &c 5he
wharf of the German Trading & Planting
Co., where it would be opened auo the
propriety Of admitting it passed upon by
Beckman, manager of the German firm,
and person who was in no way connect
ed with the German government in an
official capacity. This proceeding
on the part of the Ger
man war ship verified the belief that the
German consul had received important
news from his government. Soon after
8 O'Clock in the morning proclamation
printed in English and German, but
not in Samoan, was issued by the German
consul, acclaiming a state of war for the
Somoan islands. Any assistance to the
rebels would be punished by MARTA
law, irrespective of any nationality
The introduction of the contrabapd of
war is prohibited. All vessels and boats
are liablesto search by our authorities
The police of Apia henceforth will act
under instructions from the imperial
German government. About an hour
afterward, a boat belonging to FL. s
Moors, an American merchant, whict
had gone alongside of the
ship Richmond 10 obtain freight
was seized by the German guard boat
When the seizure was reported to Vice
Consul Blackjack he at once commuuj
Gated with Capt. Mullen, who wrote to
Captain Fritz, of the Adler, demanding
an explanation of the seizure, and asking
that the boat be at once released. The
German captain replied that Germ
had declared war against Samoa, and the
boat seized because Moore refused TO lano
his goods at the German wharf. At three
o'clock in the afternoon the German
captain gave his consent that tbs boat be
released and allowed Moore to land g
few head of cattle and sheep at his own
wharf, but Insisted ON all other than live
freight be Landed at the wharf of the
G -rman firm. Vice Consul Blocklock ad
dressed letter TO Consul Knappe re-
qnesting him to explain in plain terms
whether Germany had declared wal
against Samoa, and also if martial laa
existed. After several hours the German
consul sent reply, saying: Spy order
of the imperial government, the German
consul has proclaimed martial law for
Samoa until further notice." No
reference was made in the letter
as to the declaration of wsr. Cap
tain Mullan thereupon called up
on Capt. Fritz and inquired if war had
or had not been declared by Germany.
The German captain informed Captain
Mullan that war had not been declared by
Germany. Later, Capt. Fritz once more
changed his statement and told the
American officer war had been declared.
On the afternoon Of the Goth, the British
ship LoDgfellow arrived in port from
Pauline islands, bound for Queenstown
with guano, having been obliged TO
put in for provisions. She was immedi-
ately seized By the Germans, but after her
papers were found to be clear, the com
mander of the English war ship demanded
her release AMI the German guards left
her. On the afternoon of the 20th, a
proclamation was issued by the British
consul. notifying British subj cots that
notwithstanding the German procIama-
ton, they were still subject only to the
authority of her brItanic majesty's
representative. An hour later the Ger
man captain issued proclamation mott
fViup the British that notwithstanding
their oonsul's notice, they were under
martial law, and should they in any way
interfere with its authority they would be