Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-03-10
THE NIPSIC'S FATE.
Still q Matter of Profound
Mystery.
THE TORPEDO STORY SECUTED
Letter From Captain Mullan on the
Tyrany and Aggressiveness
of the Germans.

Iuc IaCb ludV lu6y nave uub
been officially advised of the blowing up
of the Nipsic is regarded as sufficient
evidence that no such thing bas hap
pened. They have not telegraphed the
Acting Consul, Tor the reason that it is
not to be supposed that he has neglected
his duty and failed to inform the Gov
ernment of an event of such Importance.
In answer to the suggestion that the
by which news could reach the United
States, it is said they could not prevent
information from reaching England
through some of the English vessels at
Samoa, even supposing the reported en-
gagement 10 have been followed by q
declaration of war, which might have
resulted in cutting off Consul Black
lock from the cable at Auckland.
THE STORY A GERMAN "FEELER."
Naval officers here, without exception,
also discredit the story, although they
admit the Nipsic would have been over
matched by the Olga in sea fight They
are rather inclined to accept the view
taken by certain OF the English papers
that the publication in the German news
papers was thrown out as feeler to
learn how an attempt to chastise the
Matasfa forces for the killing OF the Ger
man seamen would be received in Ger
many and America.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-The story
published here this afternoon that the
United States man-of-war Nipsic WAS
sunk in Samoan waters during the fight
with the German corvette Olga, finds no
believers here yet, nor can any confirm
alton worthy of credence be obtained.
The interest over the alleged encounter,
however, is tremendous. Even the raw
enous hords of patriots in search of office
pause and inquire to what would such a
battle lead.
Mr.. Blaine stated last night that he
did not believe the report. Representa-
tives Hit and Morrow are disinclined to
accept the German dispatch as true.
CAPTAIN MULLAN's LETTER.
Following is part of the last letter from
Captain Mullan, of the U. S. S. Nipsic,
received by his brother in this CITY. The
letter is dated Apia, January 2S, 1889:
"Here in Samoa we have war times
and excitement. Germany has declared
war against Mataafa and proclaimed
martial law here and in Samoa, l have
protested against this martial law busi-
ness, and think it (the protest) has had
beneficial effect. They, in their procla-
nation, said that in case the citizens OF
Apia did not give in list of their
arms, ammunition, ETC., they would
be deported or imprisoned. l
told, in writing, Captain Fritze
OF the Adler that in the whole iuris.
prudence of my country, there was no
such punishment. They had procla-
nation printed on January %, and ready
to publish, but my protest had the effect
of stopping this. This proclamation spoke
of offenses and their penalties-death,
deportation, shooting, hard labor, i'm
prjsonment, etc. They do not hold Apia
nor have they invaded Samoa; hence,
under English and American law, they
cannot proclaim martial law. But they
say the German law is different.
HIGH HANDED PROCEEDINGS.
"Things are all exciting here. They
are at war with Mataafa, but all their
proclamations are directed against for
eigners. They carry on a high game
here, and our government has but one
vessel, while they have three good
ships. l hear by way Of Auck-
land that we will have more ships here.
"God only knows how this affair will
end. The Samoans do not want Ger
many to annex their islands, but have
long ago asked both England and the
Uuited States to take them.
81 am kept busy from morning till
night, and have been since the 7th of
December, when the Adams left for Cal
ifornia. My mail by this steamer will be
the heaviest have yet had, and my sew
eral reports to the Secretary are quite
lengthy and full, giving every item that
has occurred.
ga little paper, published here, the
Samoan Times, has been suppressed by
the Germans. On January 8, the Ger
man Consulate and the German Consul's
house, ETC., were burned. Loss $I00, ,000
1t was the greatest fire ever seen in Apia
| sent my men to render aid. l got thanked
in public proclamation, copy of which
l send you.
GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY.
81 think, and certainly hope, that all
my actions in this Samoan business will
be approved by the Government, for the
state of Samoa was never in such a con-
dition, and l am here alone, just at the
top and in the midst of it all, and of
course my responsibility is great. 1 hear
Germany intends sending out troops.
About January 1st, | sent Lieutenant
Hswley to Auckland to telegraph the
Secretary, and he will be back on Feb
ruary End. The German Consul at Auck-
land chartered small English steamer
the other day and he sent her here with
important German dispatches, but what
these dispatches were, no one but the
Germans know"
a COMMODORE WALKERS VIEWS.
Secretary Tracy left Washington for
New York this afternoon. Commodore
Walker, who acts as Secretary during the
absence of the head of the department.
was tonight shown the latest San Fran
cisco bulletin respecting the alleged
blowing up OF the United States steam
ship Nipsic. He had no hesitation in
stamping it as an absurd fabrication,
and he denies that any orders had been
sent to San Francisco looking to the i'm
mediate equipment of the new cruiser
Charleston. To show the utter improb-
ability of the story, Commodore Walker
called attention to the fact that news
from Samoa must 60 to Auckland, and
thence, via cable, to Europe, and then to
the eastern coast of the United States
"so," eaid the Commodore, "it is evident
that such news could not possibly reach
San Francisco before it is known in the
East. AS the Navy department has an