The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-09
AT APIA.
Details of Samoan
Outbreak.
GERMANS TO BLAME
Consul Would Not Accept
Chief Justices Decision.

San Francisco, Cal, Feb. S.-The
steamer Moana, which arrived from
Samoa today, brought full details Of
the recent outbreak at Apia to the AS
ISOLATED Press from Its correspondent
there
He writes that while Chief Justice
Chambers was considering the claims
of the rival candidates for the king
ship, the Mataafa natives, who were
numerically the stronger, were openly
supported by the German officials, and
the entire German population began
to talk of immediate war in case the
decision went against him.
The life of the chief justice was
openly threatened by one of the chiefs.
The three oonsuls agreed to issue
proclamation putting the chief justice
and his residence under the protection
of the treaty powers.
For some reason, the German con-
s1l declined to carry out the agree
ment. The British and American con-
suls thereupon, issued a proclamation
and hoisted their national flags over
the residence Of the chief justice. De-
cember 81, the chief justice decided that
Mataafa was ineligible for election and
that Malietoa Tanus was king.
The American and British consuls i'm
mediately recognized the new king.
The decision was received with omi-
nous silence by the natives Within an
hour the consuls, president and Ger
German and British held a meeting
The German consul and the captains
present decided not TO recognize Tanus,
and went over to Mataafa, who was
waiting at Mulinu, the western portion
of Apia-
With 5000 men under arms, Mataafa
surrounded the loyal troops 1900 in
number, who occupied the central por-
ton of the towns. The Malietoans
lacked arms and ammunition. In a. few
hours the rebel forces had surrounded
the residence of the chief Justice, who
was guarded by 200 loyal natives, and
Capt Sturdy of H. M. S. Porpoise, Ian
ded % sailors under Lieut. Gaunt.
If the two rebel parties had effected
q junction the loyalist might have been
slaughtered, but darkness came and
the lighting ceased. During the night
Malietoa's people sought refuge in
boats and were huddled together under
the guns of the Porpoise.
The American consul, Osborne, and
family took refuge in the British con-
sulate which was closely guarded by
British sailors. By the flight Of the
Malietoa men to the Porpoise, the rebels
were left in absolute possession Of the
and burned White mems houses were
invaded and searched for Samoan prop
erty. The trees were cut down, crops
were spoiled, dogs and horses taken
away and boats stolen or destroyed. In
this extremity the consuls, the presid-
ent and the leading Mataafan chiefs
came to an agreement to preserve life
and property and to keep order A pro-
visional government with the president
as the executive head was approved by
all the consuls pending settlement of
the whole question by their representa-
tive governments.
The first act of the provisional gov
eminent showed the fixed determine
ton of the German officials to assume
an ascendaEcy in Samoan affairs. ByI
public notice the provisional govern
ment abolished the supreme court, and
then decided that the president was the
acting chief justice, and that Chief JUS
tice Chambers no longer held office.
They seized the supreme court and
placed new locks on all the doors. Chief
Justice Chambers and the British and
American eonsuls issued a proclama-
ton that the court would be opened by
Chief Justice Chambers as usual in the
morning. Capt. Sturdy of the Porpoise
gave notice that if any resistance to
the opening Of the court by Justice
Chambers was offered, the Porpoise
would fire on the town. Capt. Sturdy
also appealed to the German captain
for assistance without avail.
Mataafa upon receiving Sturdy'S ul-
timatum, withdrew his armed guard
from the court house, and on JAM, the
chief justice, with guard of rs men,
landed. The chief justice and the twoI
ccnsuis walked to the court house. and,
after an exciting colloquy with the Ger
man consul, Chambers ordered the door
session of court was then held Three
cheers for the justice and the British
and American consuls were given by
the British and Americans, and the
crowd dispersed.
The Germans still insist that DR..
Rafael is chief justice. On Jan. 10 the
wealthiest German merchant in Samoa
smashed all the windows in the SUI
preme court building. He was fined
800 and sentenced to 100 days impris-
onment. In the court he insulted the
judge and glored in his deed. He was
sent to Jail, and late that night DIR. |
Rafael, claiming to be chief justice, or
dered the Jail keeper, a Swiss with Ger
man sympathies, to take the prisoner
to the German consul. This was done,
and the next day the merchant was
fined 30 pounds by the German consul. |
Everybody in Apia is anxiously
awaiting news of action by the three
powers. The action of the provisional
government in deporting the Malietoa
chiefs is claimed to be in direct viola
ton of the agreement. made with the
consuls.
Everything points to another fight
among the nations soon. Part Of the
Mataafa people are dissatisfied with
the deportation of the chiefs and are
talking of uniting with the Malietoa
faction.
During the fighting between the ma
tives Mataafa's party lost 10 killed and
IA wounded, and the kings party lost
4 killed and wounded