The record-union., 1898-09-22
Germany Plotting to Secure Control
of the Islands.
Only for The Presence of the British Steam
ship Ringdove at Apla,
It is Believed the Germans Woua
Have Hoisted Their Flag Over
the Islands on the Death OF
King Malietoa.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. p. - The
steamship Alameda, from Sydney,
Auckland, Apia and Honolulu, brought
further particulars concerning the
death of King Malietoa. The King s
death was due to typhoid fever. He
died on Monday, August I'D, and was
buried on the 9th. A large number
of natives and whites attended the fu-
neral. Revs. S. j. E. Newall and j.
Marriott, assisted by native pastors
conducted the funeral ceremonies.
Shortly before his death Malietoa was
removed from Apia to Valima, 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 salubrlous
locality of Vailima was expected TO
improve the Kings health, but he
gradually sank and died.
The aged monarch of Samoa was con-
WINGED that his time had come, and
he accordingly resigned himself to this
end with the fatalish characteristic or
the Polynesian races. In appearance
Malietoa was a fine-looking, stalwart
man, with a gray, grizzled mustache.
According to a report current, it was
believed at Samoa that if H. NJ. 5.
Ringdove had not been at Apia the
Germans would have hoisted the Ger
man flag there on Malicious death.
and have proclaimed the annexation of
Samoa
Malietoa leaves a daughter, an at
tractive girl, named -Faimoa, who is
II or Is years of age, and was edu-
Gated at the London Missionary Socie-
tvs School at Papauta, 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 said:
There is trouble expected there, and
the Germans are bringing back to the
islands King Mataafa in 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, who died on August
I'D
"Mataafa was deported by the Pow
ers some years ago to the Union
(Tokelau Islands, to the northwest of
Samoa, owing to his presence in Sa-
moa being a disturbing political ele-
ment. He was induced to surrender
himself to the Powers, on the under
standing that ii 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 cablegram from
Europe announced the likelihood of
Mataafa being returned to Samoa, and
this will no doubt be done, as the con-
sequence of Malietoa Laupepa's death.
Mataafa and Laupepa were related to
each other. Mataafa is popular in
Samoa, and no doubt a large section
of people would be in favor of his ap-
pointment as King.
There are several sections among
the Samoan natives, one OF the largest
being headed by Tamasese, and it is
said that each party has a nominee
for the Kingship. In view of these
conflicting opinions, it will be seen that
the position of affairs in Samoa may
again become very serious, and that