Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-17

United States Vice Consul BlacklOcK,
fought the fire, which was only destroying
German property, until they were
nearly exhausted. The American and
English sailors worked until over
come by the heat, carrying water,
using axes aud saving property. Several
stores, the court house, Jail, ETC., were also
destroyed.
While the fire was in progress Knappe de-
clared that he thought the occurrence was
entirely accidental. Within five or six hours,
however, he expressed the belief that the
American and English residents Of Apia
were implicated in the matter.
On tho afternoon Of January Is a boat be.
longing TO ex-United States Vice Consul f..
l.. Hamilton, manned by two natives, was
seized by an armed boat from the German
waters of Apia harbor. The boat was after
wards released, and when an explanation
was demanded by Consul Blackjack, Consul
Knappe replied that IL was because the boat
had not displayed any national flag.
The English merchant steamer Richmond
arrived in Apia harbor shortly before dark
on the 18th. At | o'clock on the morning of
the 18th the Richmond was boarded by an
armed boats crew from the Adler. The
officer in omman informed the captain OF
the Richmond that war had been declared by
Germany against Samoa; that the harbor
had been blockaded and martial law declared.
The captain was further told that no freight
would be allowed TO be taken from the Rich
mond, unless taken directly to the wharf OF
the German Trading and Planting company,
where it would be opened and the propriety
Of admitting 1t be passed upon by
Beckman, manager OF the German
firm, and a person who was In no way con-
nected with the German government in an
Official capacity. This proceeding on
the part of the German war ship
verified the belief that the German consul
had received important news from his gov
ernment Soon after Q O'Clock If the morn
ing the following proclamation printed in
English and German, but not in Samoan,
was issued by the German consul, proclaim
ing a state of war for the Samoan islands:
"Any assistance to the rebels will be pun
ished by martial law, irrespective of any ma
tionality. The introduction of contraband
of war is prohibited. All vessels and
boats are liable to search by our authorities.
The police of Apia henceforth will act under
instructions from the imperial German gov
ernment.''
An hour after the document had been is
sued a boat belon ging to Fl. S. Moore, an
American merchant, which had gone along
side the Richmond to obtain freight, was
seized by the German guard boat. When the
seizure was reported to Vice Consul Black
lock he at once communicated with Captain
MILAN, who wrote to Captain Fritz
Of the Adler, demanding an e%xplana-
ton of the seizure and asking
that the boat be at once released.
The German captain replied that Germany
had declared war against Samoa, and that
the boat was seized because Moore refused
to land his goods at the German wharf. AT
3 O'Clock in the afternoon tho German cap
tain gave his consent that the boat be re
leased, and allowed Moore to land a few
head of cattle and sheep at his own wharf,
but insisted that all other than live freight
be landed at the wharf of the German firm.
Consul Blackjack addressed a letter to
Consul Knappe, requesting HIM TO explain
whether Germany had declared war against
Samoa, and also If martial law existed.
After several hours the German consul sent
. reply, saying: "By order of the imperial
government the German consul had pro-
claimed martial law for Samoa until further
notice. No reference was made in the
letter as to the declaration of war. Captain
Mullan t%hereupon called upon Cap.
tain Fritz and inquired if war
had or had not been declared
by Germany. The Germ an captain informed
Captain Mullan that war had not been de-
clared by Germa ny. Later Captain Fritz
once more change ed his statement, and told
the American officer that war had been de-
clared.
On the afternoon of the Goth the British
ship Longfcllow arrived in port from
the Pauline Islands, bound for Queens
town with guano, having been
Obliged sto put in for provisions.
She was Immediately seized by the German
but after her papers were found to be clear
the commander Of the English war ship de-
manded her release and the GermBn guards
left her.
On the afternoon of the Goth a proolama-
tion was issued by the British consul notify
ing British subjects that, Notwithstanding
the German proclamation, they were stilllsub.
1ect only to the authority of the queens rep
resentative. An hour later the German
captain issued a proclamation notifying the
British that, Notwithstanding their consuls
notice, they werc under martial law, and
should they in any way interfere with the
authority they would be seized and tried ac-
cordingly. That evening John G. Klein, the
American newspaper correspondent, who
has attained much notoriety in connection
WIN inc JrOuDleS, TeCclVeu ScCTcJ hlOTIld-
ton that Captain Fritz and the German con.
sui had decided to arrest HIM under the
martial law, try him and either execute or
deport him to the Marshal islands.
AT Z O'Clock the following morning an
armed guard went on board the English mer-
chant steamer Richmond and arrested an
English tourist named Gillian, taking him on
board the Olga. They claimed Gillian was
arrested because he was believed
to be O spy. The English consul
and the captain of the English war YES
sci protested against the arrest and notified
the Germans that Gillian would be taken
back by force if necessary. lie was then re-
leased. A proclamation was issued on Janu-
airy 81 by the American vice consul, Black
lock, notifying the American citizens of the
German proclamation of war, and forbidding
them to take part in any hostile operations
ON either side, telling them that rs long rs
they remained non combatants they would be
entitled to personal immunity and protec
ton. That afternoon Captain Fritz notified
Editor Cusack. of the samoan Times,
that his paper had been suppressed from
that date, because of the publication of GER
tain articles offensive to the German authori-
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