, 1889-02-17
A REHASH.
Latest Mail Advices from the
Samoan Islands.
Arrival Of John C. Klein in
San Francisco.
Account Of the 0utrages Com
mitted by Germans.

Samoan islands, arrived this morning.
Among the passengers is John q. Klein,
the American newspaper correspondent
who has figured in the Berlin dispatches
as having led the natives in the recent
battle with Germans on the islands but
who claims to have witnessed the fight as
a non-combatant in his capacity as cor
respondent. When martial law was de-
clared on the islands an attempt was made
by the latter to seize Klein, but he was
rescued by Americans and took passage
on the oceanic steamer Mariposa for this
port. When the Mariposa left the Sa-
moan islands were still under martial law
and German aggression had become very
marked and is claimed to have been di
rected against Americans as well as ma
tives.
The Mariposa left the Samoan islands
Feb. |. On that date ION of the Amer
lean men-of-war ordered to go to the isl
ands had arrived and the Germans under
the operation of martial law were in COM
plete control of the islands, and had com
menced to search all vessels in Samoan
waters, but after Selling an English tour
ist named Gillen on the steamer packet
Richmond. Capt. Hand of the English
war ship Royalist ordered the man re-
leased and prepared for action. The Ger
mans released Gillen on this demand. =
The goods which arrived on the Rich
mopd for American merchants at Apia
the Germans would not permit to be
lsnded unless taken to the German
house and passed upon by German Off
cials. The Samoan Times was suppressed
on Jan. 10 for stating hat but for Ger
man support all Samoans would join Ma
taafa and that unless Bismarck was de-
ceived he would not attempt to enforce an
unpopular rule on the country. Prior to
this Editor Cusack was fined 500 for re-
printing certain American newspaper
press comments on the Samoan situa-
ton.
Capt. Fritz. German naval commander,
IN Jan. % issued an order instructing all
residents to turn over all guns or ammu-
milton held by them, and proclaimed the
right of search. Capt. Mullen of the
American man of war Nipsic, protested
against this action. stating that the Amer.
lean government had never recognized
Tamasese, and that no power would allow
them to seize arms unless used against a
friendly nation. The German troops,
acting as u power in Apia, attempted to
arrest Klein, but or the advice of the
United States consul he vent on board
the Nipsic. Jan. % Capt. Fritz made a
demand on Capt. Mullan to release Klein,
that he might be tired before the German
military tribunal. Capt. Mullen replied
that he proposed to protect all American
citizens in Samoa, and that Klein would
not be surrendered for trial. and on Feb.
l placed him on the Mariposa.
The steamer Mariposs brings the first
mail advices from the Samoan islands
since Jan. 2. The Mariposa left the island
of Tutuila on Feb. l. At the time of the
departure of the Mariposa the necessity
for the presence of American men-of-war
ordered to the scene is claimed to nave
been urgent, as the operations of the
Germans were directed more against
American and English residents than
against Mataafa and his forces. A for
NAL declaration of war against King Ma
taafa was made by the German authori-
ties on Jan. 10, and martial law for the
entire island on the same day. English
subjects were seized and taken on board
the German man-of-war, and American
and English subjects were also threatened
with deportation, and an English steamer
was taken in charge by an armed boat
from a German war ship. Instead of war
being prosecuted against Mataafa and his
AohioVSi6f VIC oCiL hCkitSlCu lhNm
almost entirely and confined themselves
to operations against American and Eng
l~ish.subjects.
Early in the month of January a num-
Der of Tamasese's men began deserving,
among them being one of his most
prominent chiefs. They were not willing
to Join with the Germans in fighting
against the natives of Samoa. On the
9Th OF January a large boat load of
Tamasese's soldiers came from up the
coast and communicated with the German
war ship Adler. The same night several
deserters from Tamasese's side went to
the camp of King Mataafa at Masaigi
and informed him that the rebels intended
to make a raid on Apia on the following
night and also assault Mataafa's party.
The Germans were to assist the rebels as
much as possible and American and En-
glish residents were to be attacked equally
with Mataafa's men. The king at once
informed the American and English resi-
dents of this fact, thus giving them an
opportunity to prepare for an attack.
At 12:3 80 o'clock that night Lieut.. Fill
lette of the United States marine corps in
charge of the marine guard at the Ameri-
can consulate, was aroused by a sentry
who informed him that a fire was in pro-
RreSS IN mataaIa s camp. ne, with 1Our
marines, ran to the scene of the fire about
one mile way and was one of the first to
arrive there. 1t was found that the resi-
dence of the German consul, DR.. Knappe,
was in flames. In a few minutes the
fire had communicated to the German
post Office at the other end of the building
and reaching across the street, the flames
attacked the herman consulate. A large
force of sailors from the American and
English men of war went a shore and
fought the fire, while a force of German
sailors came on shore with loaded rifles
and bayonets fixed and did little to help
extinguish the flames. A great deal of
property was destroyed.
While the fire was in progress, Knappe
declared that he thought the occurrence
was entirely accidental. Within five or
six hours, however, he expressed the be.
lief that the American and English resi-
dents of Apia were implicated In the
matter.
On the afternoon of Jan. Is a boat be-