Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-20
KLEIN OF SAMOA GETS In
THE NEWSPAPER MAN AGAINST
WHOM BISMARCK'S JATELINS
ARE AIMED.

gator Islands-KIein Tells His Owl
Side of the Story-He Had to Escape
to Prevent Being Captured by the
Germans-Aggressions and Outrages by
Bismarcks NavaIR Forces A Protest
from an American Naval Officer.
SAN FRANCISCO, February 16.-The steam
ship Mariposa from Australia and the
Samoan islands, arrived, this morning
Among the passengers is John G. Klein, the
American newspaper correspondent who
has figured in the Berlin dispatches as hav.
ing led the atives in the recent battle with
the Germans on the island, but who claims
to have witnessed the fight as q non-com-
batant in his capacity as correspondent.
When martial law was declared on the
islands by the Germans an attempt was
made by the latter to seize Klein, but he
was rescued by the Americans and took
passage on the Oceanic steamer Mariposa
for this port.
When the Mariposa left, the Samoan
islands we're still under martial law, and
German aggression had become very
marked, and is claimed to have been
DIRECTED AGAINST THE AMERICANS
as well as the natives. The Mariposa left
the Samoan islands February l. On that
date none of the American men-of-war, or
dered to 60 to the islands, had arrived, and
the Germans under operation OF their law,
were IN complete control OF the islands,
and had commenced the search of all ves-
sells in Samoan waters, but after seizng an
English tourist named Gillen on the packet
Richmond, Capt. Hand OF the English war
ship Royalist ordered the man released,
and prepared for action. The Germans
released Gillen on this demand.
Goods which arrived on the Richmond
for American merchants at Apia the Ger
mans would not permit to be landed, un-
less passed upon by German official.
The Samoan "Times" was suppressed
January 10th for stating that, but for
German support, all the Samoans would
Join Mataafa, and that, unless Bismarck
was deceived, he would not attempt to
ENFORCE UNPOPULAR RULE ON THE COUNTRY.
Prior to this Cusack was fined $100 for
reporting certain American newspaper
press comments on the Samoan situation.
Captain Fritz, German naval COM
mander, on January %, issued an order
instructing all residents to turn over all
guns and ammunition held by them, and
proclaiming the right OF search. Captain
Mullan of the American man-of-war Nipsic
protested against this action, stating that
ognized Tamasese, and that no power
would allow them to seize arms unless used
against friendly nation.
URGENT NEED OF AMERICAN SHIPS OF WAR.
The ship Mariposa brings the first mail
advices from the Samoan islands since
January 2. The Mariposa left the island
OF Tutuila on February 1. At the time OF
the departure OF the Mariposa, the neces-
sity for the presence Of the American men,
of-war ordered to the scene, is claimed to
have been urgent, as the operations of the
Germans were directed more against the
American and English residents than
against Mataafa and his forces. L.
A formal declaration OF war against King
MataHfa was made by the German author
tiles January 10Th, and martial law for
the entire islands was proclaimed the same
day.
Native subjects were seized and taken on
board the German man-of-war. American
and English subjects were niso threatened
with depOrtatio and an English steamer I
was taken in charge 10y an armed boat !
from the German war ships. Instead OF
war being prosecuted against Mataafa and
his followers the Germaus neglected them
almost entirely and confined themselves to
operations against the American and En- '
glish subjects.
DEsERTIoNs FROM TAMAsEsE's ARMY. r
Early in the month of January numbers
of Tamasese's men began deserting, among i
them being one OF the most prominent
chiefs. They are not willing to join with Z
the Germans in fighting against the natives
of Samoa.
On the Sth of January q large boat-load a
Of Tamasese's soldiers came from up the
coast, and communicated with the German .
ship Adler. The same night several deser-
Ta ma fn
King MataHfa at Masia, and informed him
that the rebels intended to max q raid on
Apia the next night and also assault d
Mataafa's party. The Germans were to n
assist the rebels as much as possible, and "
the American and English residents were to 4
be attacked equally with Mataafa's men. r.
The king at once informed the American G.
and English residents of this fact, thus 8
giving them an opportunity to ii
PREPARE FOR THE ATTACK fe
On that night it was found that the resi- - -
dence OF the German consul, DR.. Knapp, a.
was in flames. In few minutes the lire o.
communicated to the German postoffice at II
the other end OF the building, and reaching +
across the streets, the flames attacked the r.
German consulate. q
large force OF sailors from th American n
and English men. .of-war went ashore and n
fought the fire willie a force of German h
soldiers came on shore with loaded rifles a.
and avonets fixed, and did little to help h
extinguish the flames. great deal OF re-
property was destroyed.
WnIfe the fire was in progress, Knappe HI
declared he thought the occurrence was en- m
tirely accidental. Within five or six hours f
however, he expressed the belief that Amer
ican and English residents OF Apia were i'm
plicated in the matter.
On the afternoon of July 10, boat be.
tn toI fofa nj
Hamilton, manned by two natives, was h,
seized by an armed boat from the German Y
ship Adler. while in neutral waters. The tt
boat was afterwards released, and when b.
AN EXPLANATION WAS DEMANDED n
by Consul Blackjack, Consul Knapp re- n
piled it was because the boat had not dis ii
PLAYED any flag.
The English steamer Richmond arrived a
in the harbor shortly before dark, on the
18th. at l O'Clock in the morning of the
18th the Richmond was boarded by an
armed boats crew from the Adler. The h,
officer in command infor.ned the captain :,
OF the Richmond that war had been de- -,
elared by Germany against Samoa; that "
the harbor had been blockaded, martiallaw y, :,
had been declared, and the captain was ~
further told that no freight wonli be al. " "
lowed to be taken from his ship unless y.
taken directly to the wharf of the German ="
Trading and Planting Company, where it ~
would be opened and the propriety OF ad-
mtting 1T be passed upon by Beckman.
MANAGER OF THE GERMAN FIRM,
and a person who was in no way connected -
with the German government in an official
capacity.
This proceeding on the part of the Ger.
man ship verified the belief that the Ger
man consul had received naws from bis
government. L..
Soon after o'clock in the morning "
proclamation was presented in the English n
and German languages, but not in the M
Samoan, and was issued by the Ger
man consul The proclama tion declared
a OF state of war on the Samoan islands,
and warned all persons that ANY assistance v,
to the rebels will be punished by martial D
law, irrespective OF any nationality, In =