The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-13
Civil War Again Threatened In the
Turbulent Islands.
PLOT TO MURDER WHITES
ONE FACTION INTENDED TO
KILL ALL OFFICIALS.
Prompt Action of the Commander of
British Warship Averted Trouble
-Mataafa Declares Himself King
and Opposes the Chief Justice
Situation s Alarming.

S san FRANCISCO, Jan. 12.-The follow
ing letter has been received by the AS
ISOLATED Press from it's Samoan CORE
spondent, and shows how alarming the
situation was when the steamer Mari
posa left Apia for this city. The letter
is dated Apia. Dec. IS:
Apia, Dec. 2S.-Events have moved
very rapidly since the last mail left
here Civil war. has been narrowly
averted, and, for the first time in Sa-
moan history, the lives of white resi-
dents have been threatened by the ma
tives. Even now bloodshed is far
from improbable Armed guards pro-
tect the residences of Chief Justice
Chambers, an American citizen, and
that Of Mr.. Gurr, the leading English
lawyer Of the town, who has taken a
prominent part in supporting Malietoa
IanuS claim TO the throne. If fighting
once begins, the results viii be serious,
Tor each side has thousands of men in
the field, and it VIII require energetic
action on the part of the English and
German warshirs to keep the conflict
within bounds.
The whole trouble has arisen through
the injudiciOus action of the three
treaty powers in bringing the deported
Mataafa back to Samoa. By doing so
they have thrown down bone of con-
tentlon, and converted what might
otherwise have been a peaceful election
into All angry combat.
The trouble began Immediately upon
Aataafa,S return from Jaluit Though
he was nominally held as a prisoner
the conSuls, actuated by kindly mo-
tiVeS,- gave him permission to reside on
the royal deneSne at AIulinuu, and to
take such OF his adherents as he chose
with HIM This permission was inter
preted literally, and Mataafa's people
began crowding by the thousands into
the limited space of the Nfulinuu PENN
sula. At first the followers of Malie-
toa, chiefs who had followed the for
tune Of the late king for years, gave
way courteously, but eventually they
found themselves driven entirely from
their matched houses, and were forced
to take refuge in another quarter OF
the town.
MATAAFA DECLARED KING.
Fortunately, Malietoa's people pre-
served a friendly attitude, and obeyed
the proclamation of the consuls. de-
handing that peace should be obtained
at all hazards. But still the usurpers
on Mulinuu were aggressive, and issued
a proclamation declaring Mataafa king
of Samoa Further, they assumed to
themselves royal powers, and, secretly
encouraged by the Germans proceeded
their own nominees. The climax
was reached when Mataafa and his
chiefs actually discharged the chief
justice, who is appointed, under the
Berlin treaty, by the three powers. OF
course, such action was purely farcicai,
and the chief justice speedily notified
MataaIa that he must wait for the de-
cision Of the court before he could Ie-
gally declare himself king.
The most serious element in the
Whoie affair is the disagreement be-
tween the consuls. The German consul
has been playing double with his col
leagues, and the English and American
officials are naturally indignant Il
was an understood thing that there
was 10 be no foreign interference in the
royal elections, yet throughout 1t all an
undermining current of intrigue has
been at work with the Mataafa people.
until they have been reused TO agrees
sive action, have openly declared
against ali white control, and aunounc-
ed their intention of disregarding en-
tirely the Berlin treaty.
To show the extent Of the feeling
aroused, Suatele, q. religious fanatic,
VINO is one of Mataafa's most 4.-orni-
nent adherents, is quoted as saying:
Samoans, you must fight strong
when you fight, kill. When you meet
a white man, cut him Up; when you
meet 4 missionary, cut him up; when
you meet q deacon, cut him uD: when
yo1- meet a Samoan, cut him uD: we
will break through the bonds Of the
treaty; We viii have no municipality"
PLOT AGAINST WHITES.
Chief Justice Chambers commenced
hi- examination into the merits of the
rival candidates for the throne on Dec.
Is, in the presence Of q great crowd of
natives and whites.
on the following day 1t was reported
that Suatele and other fanatical adher-
ents of Mataafa had formed a plot to
murder the chief justice, Mr. Gurr, and
other whites concerned in the case. The
chief justice Immediately called d meet
ing Of the consuls, and both the Eng
fish and American representatives
agreed 70 hoist their flags over the
threatened houses. The German con-
sui, however, demurred, claiming that
he would have first to consult the cap
tain Of the warship Buzzard.
Fortunately the captain of the Eng
lish Warship Porpoise was a man of
Vigor and dash. Through his influence
violence was averted. He promptly
cleared his ship for action. and declar-
ed N favor Of the English S.eaking
consuls. Meanwhile native guards pa
trolied the roads, and the threatened /
attack Of Mataafa'S fanatical adherents /
was averted-
The most sensational scene in the
Ol anna DCtuIISls however, on Dec. Is, Z
when all the evidence in the case had
been heard, and Gurr as consul for Ma
letoa7 was summing up. It was discoV-
cred that Mataafa came from a race of T
princes which had been cut off by an !
ancestral curse from the line Of sue |
eession. a tremendous scene ensued. (
Natives burst out crying il court. and |
were promptly elected. Outside. the
crowd of Samoans raised a great tu-
mutt, and their leaders could only with /
difficulty restrain them from coming to |
blows.
The captains OF both the German !
and English nen-of-war were in court. |
When the row was at its height the |
German CAPTAIN invited the English |
man outside. War is certain" he |
said
But the Englishman did not see it in /
that light. He told the German that |
he would stand by with his ship, and |
would be ready IN three minutes TO rub /
it INTO anyone who talked fight. There |
is q general feeling here that the whole /
scene was Drearranged, in order to 1
lead to q tuInult, and thus give the
German officials an excuse for armed |
interference The prompt action of the |
captain Of the PorDoise, however, de- !
feated the plot.
The trial is expected to close about |
the end Of December. and then there |
may be more trouble. Mataafa's people |
threaten that il the decision is against |
them they VIII attack the town. No |
alarm is felt, however, because Ma
taafa has only about 1,500 armed ad-
herents, whilst Aalietoa, who is quite
ready TO meet them, has over 5000 de-