The San Francisco call., 1899-02-09
DENIES CONNECTION
WITH SAMOAN TROUBLE
DIR. AUGUSTIN KRAMER AR
RIVES FROM APIA.
Asserts He Is Surgeon in the Ger
man Navy on His Way Home
After Leave of Absence.

Dr. Augustin Kramer, about whom GER
tain stories have been published regard
ing his connection with the recent DO
ntlcal troubles in Samoa, arrived yester-
day on the Moana from Apia and left on
the evening train for New York on his,
way nome to Germany 1t was strongly
suspected by the other passengers on the
steamer that Dr. Kramer was travelling
lncog. and was no other than DR. Won
Rappei, president of the Municipal Coun-
ell at Apia. The latter during the Samoan
trouble claimed that the functions Of
Ch1et Justice Chambers ceased upon the
death of King Malietoa, and that he. as
president of the Council, was the supreme
authority until new King was elected.
he declared that he would close the doors
OF the Supreme Court and prevent the
Chief Justice from further exercising his
functions. The American and British
Consuls consulted with the captain of the
British man-of-war in regard to the dec
laration, who informed DR.. Rappel that
he would break open the doors If they
we're not opened the next day at II a. m.
wise to comply with the order, and the
doors were opened.
DR.. Rappel acted in various ways in an
offensive manner and led the Mataafa
men against Malietoa Tanu, son of the
dead King, riding on horseback at their
head, Captain Sturdee, the British COM
mander, met him on the street afterward
and. addressing Rappel, said: You
scoundrel, you are the cause of all this
trouble. am surprised that Germany
should be represented by SO contemplate
a man."
= DR.. Kramer when seen on the Moana
asserted that he was not Rappel, and
Kramer was his proper name, and that
His home is in Kiel, and he had been on
a two years leave of absence in Samoa
making scientific investigations for his
Government. His leave had expired and
he was going back home. He declined to
discuss the subject further. but conde-
scended to give his version of the Samoan
trouble.
reigns in Apia, where the fight between
the followers of Mataafa and Malietoa
Tanu took place. A provisional govern
ment has been established with Mataafa
the three Powers that have control in
Samoa are awaiting a joint decision. Ma
taafa Is really not the King, but is wait
ing for this decision.
when the Chief Justice, an American, de-
clared Malietoa Tanu King, although
Mataafa had been chosen in. the election
by 1000 majority. The Mataafa people de-
cided to depose Malietoa and the Vice
King Tamasese, and after a council Of
war gathered in the mountains and COM
pleteiy surrounded the town of Apia:
Malietoa had about a thousand men and
Mataafa nearly five thousand. On the
afternoon of January /, 1899, the natives
swept down from the mountains and at
tackled Malietoa'S inadequate force. NAL
ietoa. seeing no chance, fed with 300 fol-
lowers to the English man-of-war Por-
poise. The next day they were sent
ashore without arms and told to consider
themselves prisoners of Mataafa. This
they did and they were then banished to
the various small islands. Malietoa and
Tamasese remained on board the Porpofse
and were there when l left.
'As | say, matters are at standstill
until the decision of the Powers is pro-
mulgated."