Evening star., 1899-02-09
NEAR A FIGHT AT SAMOA
British Warship Threatened to Fire on a
German.
Further Details of the Trouble Over
the Rival Kings, Malietoa
and Mataafa.

A special to the New York World from
San Francisco quotes an interview with
Mr. A. Wulf of ST. Louis, who was at
Apa, Samoa. at the time of the trouble
there over the question of the election of a
king. According to Mr. Wulf the British
cruiser Porpoise and the German cruiser
Fake came near having a battle at Apia.
The Porpoise trained her guns on the Ger
man warship and was all ready for action.
Il was ashore for an hour and talked
with several British officers and natives
said Mr.. Wulf. Il learned that the captain
of the Fake was backing up the Germans
and Mataafa.
Finally the British warship cleared for
action, with two guns pointed toward the
Fake and eight toward town. AT the
same time Captain Sturdee of the PoTpoise
issued a proclamation declaring that il
there We're any susp cious movements in
the way of opposing or resisting the con-
sttuted authority by any resident of Apia,
any German or any native, he wou open
fire on the town and the German warshlp.
hen the German officials had taken
note OF the proclamation the captain of the
Ealke sent an officer on board the PorpOiSe
to obtain personal information as to the
earneStneSS of the proclamation. Captain
Suurdee answered:
.' Tell your captain to take yourself him
self and his ship to hadeS. An Englishman
never says things he does not mean
''Tllis message had an excellent effect in
maintaining the courts authority when the
chief justice announced his decision that
young Maiietoa should be king
THE people of Apia were convinced that
Great Britain and the United States are
going to remain in Samoa at al costs"
DIR. RaffeI's Story.
DIR. Raffel, who has been removed as
president of the municipal council at Apia
was passenger on the Moana- 1t is un-
derstood that he is carrying official advices
to his government DR.. Raffe said:
Quiet reigns in Apia and a provisional
government has been established with Ma
taafa at It's head. The representatives of
the three powers in Samoa are awaiting d
JOINT decision from their governments.
Mataa1a is really not the king. but
mercy a substitute awaiting the decision
of the powers. The chlet justice, an Amer
lean, declared Maiietoa Tanu king when by
the election Mataata mad really been chosen
by majority of 400.
The Mataafa people did not like this
and on December IL, 1898, decided to turn
out Maiietoa Tanu and Vice KING Tama-
sese 1hey held council of war and then
under the leadership of various chefs diff
1erent bands of Mataafas s men gathered in
the mountains about Apia and completely
surrounded the town. The Malietoa men
We're IN town and knew that MataaIa was
about TO attack them. Manetoa had in all
about LOCO men, " hiie Mataafa had about
HNe times that number
The battle of Natives.
ON the afternoon of January II the sig
mai was given and the natives, pouring out
OF mountains, swept down on the city and
attacAed Malietoa's inadequate force. The
struggle Was bloody, both sides showing
great bravery. 1t was soon over, however
A hundred and fifty men from Malietoa's
side went over to the enemy and Malietoa
seeing no chance, fled with his 800 followers
TO the English man of-war Porpoise
lhe next day the followers OF MaIietoa
We're sent ashore without arms. and told
to consider themselves the prisoners of Ma
tddId mis- they dIG, and 1t was not long
btl0Ie tney were All DaniShed TO SaVau
1utuIla, S4dnono, ADOiIua and other IS
lanus. Mahetoa Tanu and 1amasese re-
NAMED auoaId the Porpoise and We're
there when The MOano saued.
The total annlnGIaJ4on of MaIietoa's
forces was pareiy aVerted. Had they come
ashore with arms none would have been
IeTt TO tell the taIe.
w hat stirred the blood of Mataafa's
men Was that MuIiana, chief acting as
d poHceman for Manetoa. shot and Killed
Saltumua, very hlgn cnIef from Savau on
Matad1a 5 side. The TWO met IN the street
ana MuIldna, approaching Saitumua, turned
ms fiile upon MIN and shot hlm through
the stomach.
matters are al a StandstilI and the de-
clSlon OF the powers is beng awaited