Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-08-25
NUMBER 8
GLTMPSES OF SAMOA.
REV. DR.. TALMAae DESCRIBES The
ISLANDS AND THEIR CUSTOMS.
Scenes of Battle and shipwrecis-A Visit to
the Royal Palace rrade Gin" and
"Kava"-- King rIalietoa's Missionary
Flag-Beach Combers,
lCopyrIght, louis K!opsch, ls94. ]

"Kava"-- King Malietoa's Missionary
Flag-Beach Combers,
Copyright, Louis Klopsch, is91J
ApIA, Samoa, July "A hundred
and sixty dead men IN the angry wa
ters; one ship sunk out of sight 50 that
not SO much as plank OF rope has
eince appeared; Of our three great Amer
lean warships lying in the harbor the
Leipsio beached, the Trenton and Van
dalia demolished; of the three great
German men of-war the Eber and Olga
gone completely under; the Adler rolled
over on It's side and cracking apart amid
ships; out Of al the vessels in harbor
only one saved, and that because it had
steam up and could sail out into tho
sea; three days of wrecllage and fright
and horror which shook the island, and
by report of next steamer transtixed all
nations, ell this brief putting of what
IN antipodcan hurricane did for this
harbor in March, 1889: While all up
and down the beach Of this island are
pieces Of the wrecllago Of that unpar-
alleled tempest, only ono skeleton OF
ship remains, the Adler, sufficiently
distinct to represent that scene OF cy-
clonic infernization. 1t is rather unfor-
tunato that Samoa, In the popular mind
Of all nations, stands as O synonym OF
shipwreck, for the place Is as fine
specimen Of foiageand fruitage as tho
world holds. Indeed its harbor is tho
sea captains anxiety; for, though
wide barber, 1t has only small en-
trance, and rocks in al directions toss
the white foam. Tho captain told us wo
need not think we were left if we saw
him sailing out to sea, for he would do
SO If sQuall came up, but he would re-
turn and take US.
After more than seven days Of ocean
rolling, without sight Of ship or land,
the Samoan islands greet you like a be-
attic vision. As re caIno OF deck this
morning the waters were covered with
small boats Of natives bringing specl-
mems Of coral and all manner Of flowers
and fruits, ready to sell these and trans
port 10 shore all the passengers VINO
chose to 60 q boat belonging to tho
German legation, with four stout oars.
men, took us three quarters OF O mile 70
the beach. From thence we went to.
King Malietoa's residence. But it is
time Of war. The king had fled to tho
forest a few nights before no was
thought to be at village house, and it
was surrounded and shot into, and tho
king would have been slain If he had
been there. The whole island Is in o
turmoil We. were shown the hng's
rooms and his-pictures and bric-a-brao.
Tho walls suggested fondness for Ger.
man and English royalty, but I found
not the face Of any American president
or general. We saw the queen, and at
the invitation Of the warriors went into
the. guards, tept--about - dusky sol;
diers, each reclining on pillow o.
round wood upheld by two small sup
ports, q .mnee qlnfortable ptlloW, It
would seem to me, than that in Bethel
from the foot Of which Jacob saw the
angeles.
Each Of the warriors had gun with
In reach. At their invitation we sat
down on a mat beside those who wero
sitting and in scant vocabulary talked
over the Samoan troubles We saw, one
soldier who had been shot in the foot,
and ne was limpng along leaning on
an assistant, -Four men were killed last
night in skirmish, and another Skin
m1sh Is. to take'placo tonight There arc
natives who do not want to pay their
taxes, and their various grievances have
been summed M, and 2 young warrior
wants to get the throne and introduce
the millennium.
Meanwhile Q 6err1an and Easlish map ;.
of-war. il. In the. :harhor. and, an. Aineri-
can man; warts expeQted. SOON What
will be the result nc, one can prophesY.
But this is. ertaik-this island and al
the group Of islands are suffering from
foreign Interference. 1t is q common
saying among the natives: that first
comes tho missionary then Tcon7es'the
merchant then comes the consul, then.
comes the moa-of-wqr, then--oh, my
Why should three great nations like
the English, German and American
atoop. to such small business as to DO
Watching with anxious and expensive
vigilance thes4 islands for fear that this
Or that foreign government should get-a
little advantage? Better CAN home your
warships and leave all to the mission
a,ync xIrII