The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-08-05
.SAMOA'S WAR ENDED.
Mataafa Brought to Terms by the
Great Powers.
ABATTLE WITH MAI1BToBs FORCES

In the Conflict Mataafa's Loss Was Seven
teen Killed and Sixteen Hurt-Amoug
the Heads Brought to tho King Were
Those of Two Amazons.
APIA, via San Francisco, Aug. 5.-war
broke out between Malietoa's and Mata-
afa's forces, but warships Of Germany and
Great Britain, as a result of a conference
between the consuls Of the three powers
intervened and stopped the fighting. There
was no American vessel there. On the de-
mand Of the German and British officers
Mataafa and his chiefs promptly surren-
dered. Mataafa's loss in the brief battle
was sixteen killed and seventeen wounded.
Malietoa had four killed and twelve hurt.
Malietoa had carefully planned his attack,
and but for the accidental discharge of
gun, which precipitated the conflict, Mata-
afa's forces would nave been exterminated.
II is the customs of the Samoans to de-
capitate killed or even wounded enemies.
Among the heads brought TO the king
were those of two women, but it is believed
they were killed by mistake, though they
took an active part in the fight. When the
warriors returned to Apia each man who
had the luck to cut the head off an enemy
marched through the streets with it, and
with eyes starting from their sockets with
excitement and throwing the several heads
about like baseballs, blood dripping all
over the bearers. Many heads were brought
| in in this manner, and after being eXhib-
| tied about the town were presented to
Malietoa as trophies of war. The king
graciously received them, and they were
then thrown in a pile on the ground.
Malietoa's army consisted of about 1000
| fighting men, armed with rifles, axes and
| long knives. This army, with martial
music, consisting of whistles, cornets, horns
and drums, started on the morning of
July toward the seat of war Malietoa's
army was far more powerful than Ma
taafa's, having plenty of arms and am
munition and many more warriors. Malie-
toa also had the advantage in securing the
aid of tribes which Mataafa had counted
upon to back him.
On July 13 King Malietoa sent an ulti-
matum to Mataafa demanding the sur
| render of himself and chiefs, the sole con-
/ dition being that their lives would be
4 spared. No reply was made to this.
On July 10 the British man-of-war Ka-
toomba arrived at Apia, bringing joint in
structions from the powers that the rebel
lion must be subdued. The commanders
of the British and German warships and
the consuls of the three powers held a con.
sultation. 1t was decided to demand
Mataafa's surrender, and the British and
German warships sailed for Manona. They
arrived there early on the morning of July
IS, and sent word to Mataafa that if ht
did not surrender before l p. m. his camp
would be shelled by the ships and Malie
toa's warriors landed. AS the Mataafaite'
were weak in numbers and were short o.
| ammunition they would have been
slaughtered had this program been carried
out.
A quarterof an hour before the time wa.
up Mataafa and his chiefs boarded the
Katoomba and surrendered The KatoombS
and Buzzard had cleared for action anC
men stood at the guns Forces had gont
to the side of the island to prevent escape
in that direction. The German vessels re
turned to Apia, while the Katoomba re
mained to disarm the followers of Mataafa
The following is a copy of letter sent by
the consuls to Mataafa, demanding hi
surrender;
1--WE, three consuls of treaty powers
hereby give you notice that if you anC
your chiefs and wounded come on boarC
the English man-of-war within three hour
from the time that the boat which bring
this reaches Manona your lives will b,
spared. If you do not come the thre,
men-of-war will open fire ON you and yol
will be attacked by the kings forces
Your followers must bring all their arm
to the British man-of-war for safety.
you do not surrender you may still senC
your women and children alongside tn,
British man-of-war and they will be safe
No boat will be allowed to leave Manoni
unless it comes direct to the British man
of-war"
Mataafa replied as follows: ~ hav,
: agreed to all you have written me. w,
are pleased to obey with humility tn
great powers"
The oonsuls issued the following proc
lamation; 1--WE, consuls Of the treaty pow
ers, hereby give notice to all Samoans tina
Mataafa and his chiefs have surrendered
The war is quite finished; any further dis
turbances will be suppressed by the men
of-war. All Sam0ans must return at ono
to their own districts. Amy disobeyanc
of this notice will be summarily deal
with"