The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-09-22
ANNEXATION OF SAMOA
NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED BUT Is
NOT UNLIKELY
GERMANY WANTS THE PLACE
Civil War Growing Out Of the Success
sion Campaign May Furnish q
Good Excuse

Associated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21.-The steam
ship Alameda from Sydney, Auckland,
Apia, Honolulu, brought further particu-
lars concerning the death of King Malietoa.
The Kings death was due to typhoid fever.
He died on Monday, August o. and was
buried on the "a, large number of natives
hnd whites attending the funeral. Rev.
S. ]. f. Newell and j. Marnott assisted by
native pastors, conducted the funeral cere-
monies.
Shortly before his death Malietoa was re-
moved from Apia to Vallima. the residence
OF the late Robert Louis Stevenson, which
is at a considerable elevation on the slopes
of Mount Naca, where Stevenson was
buried. The change from the sea beach to
the more salubrious locality of Nailima
was expected to improve the old King
health, but he gradually sank and died.
The aged monarch of Samoa was convinced
that his time had come. and he accordingly
resigned himself to this end with the fatal
ism characteristic of the Polynesian races.
In appearance Malietoa was fine look
ing. stalwart man with a gray, grizzled
mustache.
believed at Samoa that If H. NJ. S. Ringdove
has not been at Apia the Germans would
have hoisted the German flag there on
Malietoa's death and have proclaimed the
annexation of Samoa.
Malietoa leaves daughter. an attract
i've girl named Faimoa, who is II or Is
years of age. and who was educated at
the London Missionary Society's school at
Papauta, which is near Apia. He also
leaves brother, an elderly chief who lives
at Apia.
Speaking Of Samoan affairs today
Purser Smith of the steamer Alameda
said:
There is trouble expected there. and
the Germans are bringing back to the ISL
ands King Mataafa in a man-of-war. Tht
English have a gunboat there. the Ring
dove. The British, American and German
consuls, the chief justice and the president
of the municipal council of Apia have
formed themselves into board of control
pending the election of a successor to King
Malietoa, who died August 22d.
"Mataafa was deported by the powers
some years ago to the Union CTokelu ISL
auds, to the northwest of Samoa, owing
to his presence in Samoa being disturb.
ing political element. He was induced tc
surrender himself to the powers on the
understanding that 1t was for the good OF
his people that he should go away. The
exiled chief was conveyed to the Union
group in a German man-of-war, together
with several of his relatives and friends
A recent telegram from Europe announced
the likelihood of Mataafa being returned
to Samoa, and this will no doubt be done
as the consequence of Malietoa Laupepa' S
death Mataafa is popular in Samoa, and
no doubt a large section of the people
would be in favor of his appointment as
king.
There are several opposing sections
among the Samoan natives, one of the
larges. being headed by Tamasese, and II
is said that each party has nominee for
the kingship. In view of these ctIne
opinions, it will be seen that the position
of affairs In Samoa may again become very
serious, and that civil war may as likely
as not result between the rival parties
During the war of 1SSS-S9 the German
authorities nominated the chief Tamasese
as king, but the only authority he exer-
c!sed was that backed by German guns
Tamasese Is still In Samoa living at Aana
amongst the disaffected sections of which
he Is the head.