The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-20
THE FIGHTING IN SAMOA.

American and British Officers Killed
in Ambush and Beheadcd by the
Natives.
The situation in Samoa has taken q
very sci ious turn, and the news comes
that party OF British and American
beach, under cover OF the war vessels
after having been caught in an ambush
on q German plantation.
| On April | u force Of PA British and
Americans and $50 friendlies were sur.
prised in ambush at the German plan
tation of Vaslelo. The rebel force
opened fire on the rear, left flank and
front OF the Anglo American force.
The friendlies bolted, but the marines
and blucjackets stood their ground
splendidly, Americans and British
firing shoulder to shoulder. The Colt
automatic gun with tho landing party
became jammed, and the Americans
and British were practically at the
mercy Of the rebels. But aretreutH
was sounded three times before the
marines and bluejackets retired.
Lieut. Angel II. Freeman, first lieu
tenant OF the Tauranga, who was in
| command OF the allied forces, was shot
through the heart.
Lieut.. Philip Van Horn I.ansdale, of
the United States cruiser Philadcl-
phia, had his leg shattered while en-
deuvoring to fix the jammed gun.
Seaman Hunt, OF the British cruiser
Porpoise, had an extraordinary cape
He remained with Lieut.. Lansdale
until clubbed over the head and knock
ed senseless. The blue jacket revived
as the natives wore cutting Off his right
,,,;, /, I
off his left ear. At this juncturc q
shell from the British cruiser Royalist
burst on the battlefield, scattering the
rebels, and Hunt succeeded in escaping
to the beach, although severely stabbed
in one foot.
The same night the friendlics found
the bodies Of all the officers headless.
The bodies were buried with all honor
at Mulinuu on Easter Sunday. Their
heads were subsequently brought in by
some French priests. The graves were
ro.opened and the heads buried with
the bodies. Lieutenants Freeman and
Lansdale were capable and popular Off
GERS. The former was single, and the
latter was married in June.
The officers who returned are Lieut..
George E. Cave, OF the porpoise, and
Lieut.. 9 M. Perkins, of the Philadel-
phia. All behaved splendldly. Lieut..
Cave took command of the retreat.
Capt. Sturdee. of the Porpoise, was
away on an expedition with his cruiser,
and Gaunt's brigade was also absent on
duty.
The loss Of the enemy is rot known,
but probably lifty Of the rebels were
killed. The priests buried 3S rebels,
and much blood was seen on the road
over which the Mataafans had been
dragging away their dead and wound
ed. There were also pools Of blood be-
hind the cocoanut trees, the bullets
from the American and British lilies
going right through thick trees and
killing men hiding behind them. Sumo
OF the rebels fired from the town last
evening. 1t is proposed to summon
another '7arship TO distribute more
arms among the friendlies, and to i'm
port additional friendlies from Tutuil
1t Is also suggested that troops might
be obtained from New Zealand or Syd.
ney, New South Wales.
If sufficient quantity Of arms could
De obtained, about two thousand friend
lies could be used against tho Mataaf-
ans. But they are not brave, and have
not shown fighting qualities excepting
those with Gaunt's brigade, and that
force may not accomplish much.
| Admiral KautZ, Captain e. w
White, Of the Philadelphia, and the
have earned golden opinions, as have
Captains Stuart and Sturdee Of The
British navy. They are doing every
thing possible, and every one realizo
that better men could not be handling
| the situation.
The Samoans say Mataafa on three
occasions, had resolved to surrender
but the German CONSUL Herr Rose, ad
vised him not to do 30, and he now says
he will never give In, but will fight tt
| the death.
Lieutenant Philip Van Horn Lans
| dale was born in the District Of Colum
bia, February Is, 1858, and entered the
| Naval academy juno 6, 1873. He grad
uated in 1873, and was promoted snsigr
| in 1881, and after duty at Washing tor
navy yard was transferred to the Phil.
adelphia In June, 1890. He was made
lieutenant, junior grade, in 1893. He
was in charge OF tho caravals at the
Worlds Fair in Chicago, and after re-
ceiving his full lieutenancy was u short
time on the battleship Massachusetts
In June, 1898, he was ordered to the
Philadelphia.
Ensign John II. Monaghan was ap.
pointed to the Naval academy as 8
cadet from the State OF Washington
entering Annapolis on September 7
1891. He graduated and was made al
ensign in July, 1897, being assigned t,
the Philadelphia, to which vessel h'
: was attached up to the time OF hi
death.
Lieut.. Freeman, killed in Samoa, /
/ given in the British naval list as Lieut.
, Angel II. Freeman, the senior licuten
ant Of the cruiser Tauranga, and, nex
to Captain Stuart, in command OF th
, vessel. AS chief lieutenant, he wa
executive officer OF the Tauranga
The British admiralty has numte
= Of ships not far from Samoa in th'
!, Australasian islands, special desigl
OF small cruisers boing used In that 10
cality. The chief naval station access
, iblc to Samoa Is on the China coast
} where tho Asiatic squadron embrace
] some OF tho largest warships in thu
r British navy. In number, armamcn
= and tonnage, the British ships on thi
s station far exceed those Of Germany o
' any other power. Tho chief German