The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1899-04-15

Auckland, n. H., April l2.-Eight hun
dred OF Mataafa's men ambuscaded 100
OF the blue jackets. The fight was terrific,
the American and British tars repeatedly
beating back their assailants, who sought
to overwhelm them by force of numbers
Lieutenant Lansdale and Ensign Mon
dephia and Lieutenant Freeman OF the
British glmboat Tauranga were killed.
Behended by savages.
After the rebels had been driven off
the bodies of these three officers were re-
covered. They had been decapitated by
the savage Samoan warriors.
-Four marines were killed.
Mataafa's loss was 40 killed and a num-
Der wounded, these being carried off the
field by the rebels when they retired.
The bodies of Lansdale, Monaghan and
Freeman, as well as those of the unfor-
tunate marines, were buried with military
honors at Mulinuu.
There is constant fighting with the ma
tives around Apia and the life of no Euro
pean in the island is safe.
The Murdered Men.
Lieutenant Phillip Vanhorne Lansdale
was born in the District OF Col nnbia
February Is, 1858, and entered the naval
academy June 9, 1873. He graduated in
June, 1878, and was promoted ensign in
1881 and after duty at the Washington
navy yard was ordered to the Philadelphia
in June, 1893. He was in charge OF the
caravels at the worlds fair at Chicago, ard
after receiving his full lieutenancy vas
for short time on the battleship Massa-
chusetts. In June, 1896, he was ordered
TO the Philadelphia.
Ensign John Monaghan was appointed
naval cadet from the state of Washington,
entering Annapolis in September, 1891. He
graduated and was made an ensign to the
Philadelphia, to which vessel he was at
tached up to the time OF his death.
He was born at Chewelah in March,
1873. He was one of the first white chill
dren in this section of Washington. Sur
viving him are his father, three sisters and
two brothers. Even at the time Of Mr..
Monaghans birth his parents were among
the best known citizens Of eastern Wash
ington, his father having for number of
years been engaged in trading with Inc
Indians and in other business pursuits
known to the frontier Mrs. Monaghan
VISA the daughter of Robert McCool, who
came to Walla Walla in 1859.
Confirmed by Fxautx.
Washington, April l2.-The following
dispatch from .,.d1N' raj KautA has been le
ceived
Auckland, n. T., APRIL l..--Sceretar.
Of the Navy, Washington: On April |,
while the combined of the Unitel States
ard British, '.nder Lieutenant Freeman
of the British navy, Wee entering Apia,
they were ambushed. deeply regret 10
announce the death VI Lieutenant Lans-
dale, Ensign John II. Monaghan, CoxsSain
James Butler, Ordinary Seaman Norman
Edsal and five men wounded belonging to
the Philadelphia. The British s. vas Two
men and Lieutenant Freeman killed.
Auckland, N. H., April l2.-Dispatches
from Apia, Samoa, April l, say that
party of los American and British sail
ors were forced to retreat to the beach
after having been caught in ambush on a
German plantation on that date.
iuc CNpVhtioh Nuo leu ny
A. II. Freeman of the British third class
cruiser Tauranga. Lieutenant Freeman
and Lieutenant p. V. Lan5dale and En-
sign j. r. Monaghan of the United States
cruiser Philadelphia were LEFT dead on the
field. Ensign Monaghan remained to as
sist Lieutenant Lansdale and was shot in
retiring. Two British ana two American
u, ilors were also killed
News at Washington.
Washington, April l2.-News from
Samoa was received here with feeling
approaching dismay. There was refus-
al on the part OF higher officials to dis
cuss the sad event.
The secretary of the German embassy
called early in the day upon Secretary
Hay Neither of the Officials would dis