The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-07-29
GNEASiNDSS IN SAMOA.
The Attitude Of the Natives Far
From Reassuring,
COMMISSIONERS WELL RECEIVED,


tween the Supporters of the Rival
T,ings-Chier Justice Chambers Left
In Disgust. and Is Home Again.
San Francisco, July 29.--Samoan ad-
vices under date of July Ia were re-
ceived yesterday by the steamer Moana,
which vessel brought among its pas
lengers Chief Justice Chambers.
The situation in Samoa is one OF
great uneasiness, the attitude of the
natives being far from reassuring.
Several fights have occurred in dif-
fereDt parts of the islands between
supporters of the rivals for the king
ship, and several natives have been
killed Nothing much seems to have
been accomplished by the high COM
mission since arms to the number OF
400 were surrendered by the contend
ing factions. Chief Justice Chambers,
being dissatisfied with the support ex-
tended to his court by the commits
sioners, left for Washington. Their
action In refusing the aid asked for
to sustain the courts authority is said
to have been prompted by dispatches
received by the German commissioner
from his home government, which. 1t
is claimed, is greatly displeased with
his recognition of the decision of the
supreme court in the kingship case.
The commissioners have been well
received on all the islands they have
visited At Tutila the natives were
prepared to accept the proposed aboli-
tion of the royal office and the sub
stltution of an executive appointed by
the three powers. At Sapotulifia, the
headquarters of Lanatia, that chtettain
was defiant in manner, indicating flu
ture trouble. At Safune, the only place
where the natives took a prominent
part in the proceedings, there was a
| fight with axes, knives and stones in
the presence of the commissioners, one
man being severely wounded. The
trouble was caused by the meeting of
parties of Mataafa and Malietoa men,
who were bearing food offerings to the
commissioners.
At Safata on July some Mataafa
men attacked the home of an opposi-
| tion chief named Taahui, who, with
two others, was badly wounded. H. M
| S. Torch went to the scene, but quiet
had been restored.
The chief justice issued orders to
certain towns in Sanaii to appear be-
fore the supreme court in certain civil
cases where the Judgment of the court
had not been complied with CHIEF
Lanatia ordered them not to obey, tell.
ing the towns to pay no attention tC
the orders of the court, which were
only words on paper. Some towns die
not appear, while from the remaining
ones only Malietoa men appeared. The
Mataafa men openly defied the court
The chief justice then asked the com
missioners to support his authority
with warships If necessary, and or
their refusal he decided to leave
Samoa.
After the return of the British war
ship Torch from Satafa the Malietof
men there took offense because the
persons who attacked Chief Tanmuis
house on July had not been punished
and made an attack on some of thu
followers of the rival Chief Suatele
one being killed and several wounded
two Of the latter being Suatele's adopt
ed sons. One of these died later in tn
German hospital in Apia.
The warships Torch and Cormoran
steamed again to Satafa and ARRESTED
two Malietoa chiefs and the Mataaf;
chief, who are now lodged In Jail il
| ADitb all lulO Ln6 mat
ter. The men-of-war at present ther
are the Tauranga, Torch and Cormor
ant.
Mataafa has never been in Apia sine
he visited the commissioners on tn
Badger at the time he agreed to sur
render his arms. This he claims h
has done, and he accepts without reser
vation the abolition of the kingship.
| fbof
and his immediate Supporters have re
mained in the neighborhood of Apia
After his abdication Malietoa Tanu in
tended to go to Sidney and remain
there for some time, and the Torcl
was put at his disposal to carry hin
as far as Fiji, where his sister, tn
Princess Famaiui, is living. But act
ing on the advice of his chiefs, he de
cided to remain in Samoa
President Solento took office o
June 10 and Immediately had troubl
with Vice King Tamasese and hi
chiefs, who considered that, althoug
Tanu had abdicated the kingship, the
still constituted Samoan government
The commissioners were appealed t
and they requested the chief justice t
see the Malietoa chiefs and try an
settle thing amicably. This they diC
and the chief left Mulinuu Point an
the residence of the late president D.
Solf occupies the residence now at
rental.
In an interview Chief Justice Chan
bers said:
"All is now quiet in Samoa. but
cannot answer for the future. Bot
Mataafa and Malietoa affect to be sal
isfed with the present arrangement
. which abolishes the Office of king an
= vests the responsibility of governmeI
In the consuls of the three powers.
81 feel sure Malietoa is sincere I
this. Mataafa is ambitious. For man
years he has thirsted for power, an
will not be so easily satisfied. At tn
j same time he is a man Of exception;
j. ability; is shrewd, and l have nevt
e thought the interests of the native
. would especially suffer In his hands
Judge Chambers, who is accompanie
by his family, is on a four month
e leave of absence, but says that h
g business in the United States is
such a nature that he will probably NJ
return to Apia.