The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-08-05
BLOODY WAR IN SAMOA.
Malietoa's Forces Attack and Route
Those of Their Ancient En-
emy Mataafa
The Dead Are Beheaded and the
Ghastly Trophies Carried
In Triumph.

Savage scenes We're Witnessed In the
streets Of Apia--Ths Treaty Powers
Kcstors Peace.
APIA, Samoa, Aug 4.-Ths long pre-
dicted war In Samoa has been commenced
aud finished, the intervention OF the til go
great powers putting decisive end to the
trouble. The first outbreak Of hostilities
occurred July z. when the royal forces
started marching on Malie. Matsafn's
canp. They captured the outpost. dis
AIMED shs four men in IL, after which the
were set Al liberty. The next day tho war
actually began. the frst blood was shed.
Mataafa's loss il estimated at thirty killed
and twenty wounded. Fifteen heads were
brought In triumph TO the king. Matasfa's
forces were scattered. Malietoa carefully
planned the attack, and but for the acol-
dental discharge of a gun, which precipi-
have been exterIbinatsd.
Malietoa and his chief became impatient
aS what they considered the indifference of
the three powers and deter mined to take
the matter into their own hands an i the
advance upon Malie began. One section of
the kings army was sent through the bush.
with orders to sp cad out and connect with
another section. Below Nalie third sec
tion. accompanied by an armed feet OF ff-
teen boats sailing close to shore. went
along the beach. According to the plan
Mataafa was to be hemmsd In on all sides.
Tho accidental discharge of gun precipi-
tated the conflict before the circle around
Mstaafa was completed. The followers of
Malietoa and the adhsrents of Mataafa
met. Both lins extended from the ocean.
Back three or four miles into The interior
a large detachment of Matnafa's
men we're stationed in q cattle ward.
As the kings men advanced. some of Ma
taafa's force recognized friends and called
out cordial greetings. Handshakes were
tndulRed in, and II seemed az il friendly
relations would be re-sstablished. Ono
fsrooious old warrior. named Patu. urged
the kinG's men back into the ranks. when
somebody hred shot, and the fight com
n,encsd. The firing became general and
deadly. On the sea beach. opposite the
cattle yard. were posted number of she
kings men. NataafA's men advanced and
weie exposed to 4 rakinR fire.
| Another detachment Of Malietoa's troops
+! tool advantage of an opening in a side wall
and poured repeated deadly volleys into the
Mataaatas. who were forced to abandon the
stock yards and compelled to retreat for
shelter to another stone wall Q little dis
tance into the bush. Here they made q
stand and Malistoa's men retired. When
they attacked the place next morning Ma
taafa and bis warriors had fed to Male.
Fifteen heads were brought in triumph
to the king. 1t being the custom of Sanoans
to deoapitate killed or even wounded one
| ,roin~ ho haoAa
women. but il 10 believed they were killed
BY mistake, though they took an active part
in the fight.
Tho royal party marched on TO Malie,
whore they met the section which ought to
have prevented Mataafa's escape. but
Mataafa ana follovss made their ESCAPE
in boats TO the adjoining island of Manono
King Malietoa sent an ultimatum to
Natasfa. demanding the surrender Of him
self and chiefs, the sole condition being
that their lives would be spared. No reply
WAS made TO this On July l6 the British man
Of war Katoomba arrived at Apta bring
ing joint nstruotlons from the powers that
| the rebellion must be subdued. The com
manders of tbs British and German war.
ships and the consuls of the three powers
held consultation and its was decided to
demand Aataafa's surrender and the Brit
ish and German wsrships, no American
vessel being there. sailed for Manono.
They arrived early on the morning Of July
lS and sent word to Mataafa that il he did
not surrender before one p. m. his camp
toa's warriors landed. As thu Mataaies
were weak in number. short Of ammuni-
tiop, they would have been slaughtered had
this prog anime been carried out.
But q quarter OF an hour before the tine
was 40 Mataafa and hia chiefs boarded the
Katoomba and surrendered. The Katoomba
and Buzzard had cleared for action, and
| men stood at their guns.
MalistoA's army consisted Of about 1000
fighting mon armed with rifles. axes and
long knives. This army. with martial
N usio consisting Of whistles. oornets. horns
and drums. started ON the morning Of July
8 toward the seat of war. Malietoa's army
was far more powerful than Mataafa's.
having plenty OF arms and ammunition
and many more wsrriors. Maliotoa also
had the advantage in securing the aid OF
tribes which Mataafa had counted upon to
back him. Although Mataafa hsd been
disappointed in nos securing allie'. he
wouid not surrender. When the
attack came: Mntaafa's forces.
having lost his nephew. who was killed and
decapitated. ordered nineteen boats to lie
off Mulunu. Malietoa's residence and strong
hold for the purpose of drawing Malietoa's
attention, while, in the meantime. dark
ness settinR in. he lowered his ensign. ont
IuoWh AokPOASs nhu ~ hio W hhAies
This town was formerly tho kings resi-
dsnce and was beautifully laid ous in
Samoan style. The houses wore we'll built,
but rather than have the town fall into the
kings hands, Mataafa preferred to soc il go
up in smoke. Matasfa's strategy with the
boats being suocessful In keeping the enemy
of. he departed with his followera for an
island OF the Samoan group.
That afternoon the oonqueross OF NAL
ieton's warriors returned to Apia with the
spoila OF victory, the apoils consisting of
bleeding heads of human beings. Each
man who had tho luok 10 cut y head off I'M
enemy marched through the streets of Apia
with his snsmy's head. They walked up
the street yelling like fsnds with their
ewes stating from their sockets with OK
oitemsnt and throwing the ssvered heads
about like base balls, blood ddPpinR all
over the bearsrs. Many heads we're brought
i'll this manner, and after being exhibited
about town were p esentod 10 Malietoa ns
8 ophes OF war. Tho king graoiously re-
ceivsd them and thsy were then thrown In
a pile on the ground. Mataafa iost sixteen
killed and asventeen wounded. Mnlietoa's
loss was four killed and tweive wonnded.
There we're two German warships in the
harbo'. bus the American and British sub
jeots were unprotected. Msiieto>'s OK
cited hends ma ched to aud fro through the
town. clearing everybody out of the way.
White ptople took refuge ON the tops of
houses while the warrior held the streets.
The whites were Al the mercy OF excited
natives. who we're craxed with victory and