The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-17
GA STo n Ia.
Psa,s tbs :, The Kind You Have Always BUugh
signature at &@NAzztzx
MATAAFA TO M'KINL Ely
Writes Letter showing Fine Feeling
md 4GnOd sense.


washington, Sept 15-The president re-
ceived in audience at the White House
this afternoon Mr. John George Leigh,
who has spent several months in Samoa
as special correspondent of the London
Times and is now on his return journey
to England. While in one OF the black
villages Of Upolua Mr.. Leigh learend that
a watch. believed to have belonged TO
either Lieutenant Lansdale or Ensign
Monaghan. the two officers OF the United
States cruiser Philadelphia who were
killed during the recent war against Ma
taafa. had been found and was In the
possession of a native. He at once com
nunicated with Mataafa whom he mad
visited only a fewdays previously, and
promptly received a reply from the nigh
chief assuring him that no effort would
be spared to recover the relic and begging
him. should the search prove successful
to restore the watch to the rightful
owner, with my heartfelt condolences.
He added: 'You know what 1 feel about
America and the late unhappy war" At
the same time he placed at Mr.. Leigh's
command his grandson and boats crew
who were instructed to carry In every ne
cessary direction Mataafa's orders TO his
adherents While these messengers were
in the island of Savaii a watch and chain
with locket and other articles attached
were handed to Mr.. Leigh and identified
as the property OF the late Lieutenant
Lansdale A few days later the CORE
spondent left Samoa for San Francisco,
where he met the young widow OF the Ia
mented officer and placed the trinkets in
her possession. Long ago, at the instig-
alton of her family and Of Lansdale's
comrades in the navy, unsuccessful ef-
forts had been made to trace the articles
so hope that they would ever be found
had practically Seen abandoned
Mr.. Leigh this afternoon handed to the
president a letter from Mataafa Of which
the following IS translation:
ITO his excellency. William Mckinley.
president Of the United States Of Ameri-
ca.
your exceIlency: I have today been in
formed that a watch has been found by
one of my people which is believed 70
have belonged 10 Lieutenant Lansdale or
Ensign J. r Monaghan. who were IN
Apr4l l. I have learned that Mr.. Leigh
is about 20 leave Samoa for America and
I have asked him 20 convey the watch
70 your excellency in the hope that you
will cause il 70 be restored 70 the be-
reaved mother or nearest relative OF the
brave and lamented officer. Mr.. Leigh
viii tell you that I have sincerely de-
plored the sad. untimely death ot the
brave officers and men who came from
America and persisted In the late IN
happy (useless) war Nv sorrow IS the
more because OF the great friendship
which your grea. country has IN the past
extended TO Samoa I am especially an
xlaus that this should be made known
= the sadly striker mother and relatives
May It be the viii q God that there VIII
never again Be strife between America
and the Samo2as and that the three
powers viii recognize nay submission 70
sheir viii and desire for good govern
meat. pray God may give you long
Hfe. IT. J. AfATAAFA."
Mr. Mckinley IN TIRE course OF CONVEX
sation with Ny Leigh. expressed himself
much g-atsfed al this proof Of Mztazfz's
thoughtful humanity and said thar &
would s1o7s him more than ordinary
pleasure 70 personally respond 20 The let
ter. When NJ. Leigh left Samoa active
en5savors we're being made 70 recover
Ensign Noaaghzns z1tca ana Mr Leigh
believes taas i wiH follow him 70 wash
lngzou BY the man due In week o. 30.
IN that event. 8 VIII Of course. be a.
czcs forwarded 20 he relatives