Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-19
OONALASKA'S AMERICAN KING
A Cheeky Adventurer Sets Himself
Up as It's Ruler.
HE ExAcTEo HEAVY TRIBUTES.
And Two or Three Natives That We're
Not His Style He Hanged
German Domineering
In Samoa.
WASHINGTON BUREAU. The OMAHA BEE,
513 FoURTEENTa STREET,

About three years ago man named Nc
Pherson sailed from San Francisco and
eventually landed on Oonalaslka, one of the
Aleutan islands belonging to this govern
ment His entire outfit consisted of q suit of
Clothes an American flag, unbounded cheek
and paper purporting to have been signed
by Attorney General Garland, appointing him
United States commissioner. After raising
the flag, he took command of the 400 natives
and forced them to address him as "King
Mcpherson" Each season he exacted heavy
tributes from them, and altogether he has
been having o lovely time. Some months
ago. however, some of the natives did not
exactly suit him, so he hung three of them.
Aspecial agent Of the treasury was sent to
investigate, and he has reported to Secretary
Window substantially the facts rs
given above. A revenue cutter will be sent
to Oonalaska, and Mcpherson will be ar
rested. 1t is the intention of the authorities
to bring Mcpherson to San Francisco and
try him for murder
GERMAN 1MPUDENCE.
Interesting light is thrown on the situation
in Samoa and the superior manner in which
American interests have been protected
there as compared with those of the British
residents. An article in the London Admir-
atty and Guard Gazette, of April6 8, just re-
ceivcd here says: After the German ships
at Samoa had declared martial law, we are
informed that boats from that squadron
boarded all vessels arriving and an order
was given that all goods must be landed at
the German firms wharf and stored in the
German firms store, to be examined by
German officers. The British residents had
10 submit to this, as did all Americans with
the exception of Mr.. Moores, who declined
tn oil 1ntv n OF n IN IN
where but to his premises. Captain Mullan.
of the United States steamer, Nipsic, also
demanded that what goods Mr.. Moores re-
quired for immediate use should be delivered
TO him after examination. This request was
acceded to- and Mr.. Moores' goods were eX
amined and landed at his wharf Mr.. Gel
ling, a British subject, went up
to Mataafa's camp as tourist
On this coming to the ears of the captain of
the German man-of-war. the Adler, he or
dered the arrest OF MIR. Ceiling and had him
brought on board his ship as prisoner An
other British subject, MIR. Hall, was dragged
out of his canoe because he did not answer
when challenged by German boat. Mr.
Cusack, proprietor of the Samoa Pines, was
prosecuted fined 500, and had his paper tenn
porarily suppressed for having reprinted an
article from a San Francisco paper on Our
Duty to Samoa The British consul having
issued a notice that British residents We're
subject solely to the jurisdiction of her ma
jesty, the queen, the captain of the Adler is
sued counter-proclamation i'll which he
said: Il herewith declare that all British
subjects in Samoa are under martial law, and
that they will be tried by martial law if they
should interfere in any way with the Ger
man authorities.' 1t is not to be wondered at
that considerable indignation was felt among
our countrymen, ana it is gratifying to find
that some of the Australian papers were
outspolken on the matter. Our correspondent
has forwarded us some extracts in which
| nOlntnu friendly
been handed over to OPPRESSION, and our trad
ing interests had been made subservient to
those of foreigners. Stress was also laid on
the fact that it had been reserved for the
American government to defend the cause of
humanity and exact the respect of interna-
tional laws. The position occupied by us
certainly appears to have been humiliating
and it is asserted that il English trade has
not progressed so much as that of the Ger
mans during the last few years it is solely
because the one government has virtually
withdrawn its protection from its own sub
iects, whilst the other has pushed the inter-
estS of its traders even to the extent OF en-
ploying armed violence in their behalf, in
making unprovoked war upon The Samoans,
abducting the lawful sovereign of the coun
try, and setting up IN his place puppet
whose chief function is to favor German as
against English and American interests.
Such are the views of those on the spot, who
should be well able to judge. We trust that
before another German squadron arrives in
improved"
THE "PATHFINDER' CALLS.
The president was greeted to-day by the
first republican nominee for the presidency,
General John G. Fremont The old path
finder called and soon after was followed by
Representative Banks who was speaker of
the Thirty-fourth congress and who will
take II seat in the lower house once more at
the beginning of the next session. Among
the other distinguished callers on the presl-
dent was calf" Taylor, of Tennessee, whose
celebrated campaign against his brother Bob,
for the governorship two years ago. was
commented upon all over the United States.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
There are yet, and have been for several
months, two vacancies in the civil service
commission. Mr.. Operly resigned to accept
the position of superintendent OF Indian
schools, prior to his appointment as commits
sioner of indian affairs. and Judge Edgerton
was summarily removed by President Cleve-
land so that MIR. Lyman, the remaining
member, constitutes the entire commission.
President Harrison, it is understood, has
been giving the matter considerable atten-
| tion, with u view to reorganizing this body,
but the contention among those who desire
| to become members has, thus far, prevented
him from accomplishing reorganization.
There is decided feeling among the repub-
licans IN favor of the new members, Mr..
Lyman being regarded by many republicans
as u "mugWump, hWhose influence was given
| for the reelection of Mr. Cleveland. The
1
resented on the board. President Cleveland
nominated Assistant Secretary of the Treas
ury Thompson, of South Carolina to be
member of the board, but the senate failed
| to confirm the nomination. Mr. Thompson is
being urged for appointment by Senators
Butler, Hampton and other democratic SEN
| ators, and a considerable number of repub-
lican senators also ndorse him. Elk Con-
gressman Merrman. of New York, one of
the democrats who stood with Randall
against the Mills bill, is being urged by Mr..
Randall, Charles A. Dana and other protec-
tion democrats, and it is thought Merriman's
chances for appointment are very good. So
the matter STANDS, with everybody expect
ing solution and a settlement by the presi-
dent any day
IOWA MAIL CONTRACTS AWARDED.
The second assistant postmaster-general
has awarded the following contracts for
carrying the mails in Iowa for two years
from July next.
Bluff Creek TO Abba, +. f. Smith, sl06;
Boxholm to Pilot Mound. #. e. Smith, sS2;
Buck Creek to SUMTER +. II, Smith, sl12;
Burrell to Decatur Il. Il. Smith, 81; Car
roll to Coon Rapids, w. b. Catchngs $3.50;
Crathorn TO LeMars +, r. Smith, sl66;
Dasie TO Yorktown, f.. Il. Smith s5l; Eagle
Center TO rraer Il. y. Smith, S232; Fielding
| to Cherokee, M. A. Moore, $l67; Fisous TO
Audubon, +. Il. Smith, Sl03; Grundy
Center To New Hartford, A. A. Colegrove,
S3l6: I.ikens to Urbana. j. w jackson $40: