The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-08-06
SAM0A'S WAR ENDED.
Mataafa Brought to Terms by the
Great Powers.
WITH MALIEroEs FORCES

In tho Conflict aIataara's Loss Was Seven
! teon Killed and sixteen Hurt-Amour
the Heads Brought to the King Were
Those OF Two Amnzons
APIA, via San Francisco, Aug. 5.-War
broke out between Malietoa's and Malta
afa's force, but warships of Germany and
Great Britain, as u result of a conference
between the consuls Of the three powers,
INTERVIEWED 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 Tin 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 a
gun, which precipitated the con dict, Mata-
afa'5forces would nave been extcrminated.
1t 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
walked up the street yelling like fiends.
WAh CySS SDhTblIlS from Cnelr sockets with
excitement and throwing the several heads
about like baseballs. blood dripping all
over the bearers. Many heads were brought
In III 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 pile on the ground.
Malietoa's army consisted of about 1000
lighting men, armed with rifles. axes and
long knives. This army. with martial
music, consisting of whistles, comets, 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 ID King Maletoa sent an ulti-
matum to Mataafa demanding the sir
render of himself and chiefs, the sole con-
dition being that their lives would be
spared. No reply was made to this.
On July IL the British man-of-var Kn-
toomba arrived Mt Apia bringing joint in
structions from the powers that the rebel
hon must be subdued. The commanders
OF the British and German warships and
the consuls OF the three powers held n 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
IL, and sent word to Mataafa that if he
did not surrender before p. NJ his camp
would be shelled by the ships and Malic-
toa's warriors landed. AS the Mataafaites
were weak i'll numbers and were short of
ammunition they would have been
slaughtered had this program been carried
out.
a quarterOf an hour before the time was
up Mataafa and his chiefs boarded the
katoomba and surrendered. The katoomba
and BuZzard had cleared for action and
men stood nj the guns. Forces had gone
to the side of the island to prevent escape
i'll that direction. The German vessels re-
turned to Apia, while the Katoomba re-
manned to disarm the followers of Mntnnfa
The following is copy of letter sent bv
the consuls to Mataafa, demanding his
surrender:
we, three consuls of treaty powers,
hereby give you notice that if YOU and
your chiefs and wounded come on board
the English man ofwar within three hours
from the time that the boat which brings
this reaches Manona your lives will be
spared. If you do not come the three
men-of-war will open fire on you and Won
will be attacked hy the kings forces.
Your followers must bring all their arms
to the British man-of-war for safety. IL
you do not surrender you may still send
your women and children alongside the
British man-of-war, and they will be safe.
No boat will be allowed to leave AIanona
unless it comes direct to the British man
of-war"
Mataafa replied as follows: 81 have
agreed to all you have written me. We
are pleased to obey with humility the
great powers
The consuls issued the following proc
lamation: I'VE, consuls of the treaty pow
ers, hereby give notice to all Samoans that
Mataafa and his chiefs have surrendered.
The war is quite finished; any further dis
turDances will be suppressed by the mem
of-war. All Samoans must return at once
to their own districts. Any dsobevance
of this notice will be summarily dealt
with"
Officials and Lynchers Indicted.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Aug. 5.--The grand