The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-22
NEW KING FOR SAMOA.
Rivalry for the Place is Likely to
Cause Trouble.

San Francisco, Sept. 22.-The steam
ship Alameda, from Sydney, Auckland,
Apia and Honolulu, brought further
particulars concerning the death of
King Malietoa. The kings death was
due to typhoid fever. He died on Mon
day, August %, and was buried on the
oath, a large number of natives and
whites attending the funeral. Reverends
J. Ewel and ]. NJ. Arnott, assisted by
native priests, conducted the cere2on-
les.
Shortly before his death. Malietoa was
removed from Apia to Vailima, the resi-
dence of the late Robert Louis Steven
son, which is at a considerable eleva-
ton on the slopes of Mount Vaca, where
Stevenson was buried. The change
from the sea beach to the more salu-
briOuS locality of Vailima was expect
ed to improve the old kings health, but
he gradually sank and died. The aged
monarch of Samoa was notified that his
time had come, and he accordingly re-
signed himself to his end with the IA
talism characteristic Of the POlynesian
races. In appearance Malietoa was a
fine looking, Stalwart man, with griZ-
zled mustache.
According to report received, 1t was
believed at Samoa that if H. NJ. S.
Ringdove had not been at Apia, the
Germans would have hOiSted the Ger
man flag there on Malietoa's death, and
have proclaimed the annexation of
Samoa.
tractive girl, named Faimoa, who is II
or Is years of age, and who was edu-
Gated at the London missionary society
school at Papuata, which is near Apia.
He also leaves a brother, an elderly
chief, who lives at Apia.
Speaking of Samoan affairs, Purser
Smith of the steamer Alameda, says:
There is trouble expected there and
the Germans are bringing back to the
islands King Mataafa in a man of war.
The English have a gunboat there-the
RingdOve. The British, American and
German cOnsuls, the chief Justice and
the president of the municipal council
of Apia have formed themselves into a
board of control pending the election of
a successor to King MalietOa of the
Samoan group.
''Mataafa was deported by the powers
some years ago to the Union (TOkelau)
islands, to the northwest of Samoa, oW-
ing to his presence in Samoa being a
disturbing political element. He was
induced to surrender himself to the
powers, on the understanding that it
was for the good of his people that he
should go away. The exiled chief was
conveyed to the Union group in a Ger
man man of war, together with sew
eral of his relatives and friends. A re-
cent cablegram from Europe announced
the likelihood of Mataafa being return
ed to Samoa, and this will no doubt be
done, as the consequence of MalietOa's
death. Mataafa and Malietoa were re-
lated to each other. Mataafa is popular
in Samoa, and no doubt 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
largest being headed by Tamasese and
it is said that each party has nominee
for the kingship. In view of the con-
flicting opinions, it will be seen that
the position of affairs in Samoa may
again become very serious and that ac-
tive war may as likely as not result be-
tween the rival parties.
During the war of 1S8S-89 the Ger
man authorities nominated the chief
Tamasese as king, but the only author
ity he exercised was that backed by the
German guns. Tamasese is still in Sa-
moa, living at Ana amongst the disaf-
fected sections of which he is the