Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-04-20
IN SAMOA.
Americans and British Fall Into
an Ambuscade.
Mataafa's Savages Killed Three Om-
GERS and Four Marines - over
powered by Vastly Superior
Numbers - British Gum
boats Sent TO Apia.

Auckland, n. L., April 13.-Advices
from Apia, Samoa, say that on the ar
rival of the British cruiser Tauranga
at Apia the British and American con-
suls issued a proclamation to give Ma
taafa last chance and that the French
priests also used their influence, but
all efforts failed and the rebels con-
tinued their depredations. Property
was destroyed and roads were barri-
caded. On March 90 the enemy was
sighted at Naguigi and machine guns
and seven-pounder were used. The
friendlies also attacked the enemy dur
ing the latter's retreat and several
rebels were killed. The friendlies
carried one head through Apia, which
made Capt. Stuart so furious that he
threatened to shot any man found TAX
ing heads. The king then issued a proc
lamation forbdding the practice.
Expeditions in armed cutters belong
ing to the Tauranga and Porpoise are
doing considerable execution against
Mataafa's strongholds along the coast.
The British forces are being assisted
by 100 Samoans. Forty-six of Mataa-
fa's boats and several villages have
been destroyed.
On April / a force of PA British and
Americans and $50 friendlies was sur
prised in ambush at the German plan
tG ton of Vaslelo. The rebel force
opened fire on the Anglo-A
The frepdies bolted, but the marines
and blue jackets stood their ground
splendidly, Americans and British fir
ing shoulder to shoulder.
The automatic gun with the landing
party became iammed and the Ameri-
cans and British We're practically at
the mercy of the rebels. But retreat"
was sounded three times before the
marines and blue jackets retired. Lieut..
Angel II. Freeman, of the Tauranga,
who was in command of he allied
force, was shot through the heart.
Lieut.. Philip Lansdale and Ensign
Monaghan, of the United States crui-
ser Philadelphia, and two British and
two American sailors were also killed.
The same night the friendlies found
the bodies of the officers, headless. The
bodies were buried with all honors at
Mulinuu. Their heads were subse-
quently brought in by some French
priests and the graves were reopened
and the heads buried with the bodies.
The loss of the enemy is not known,
but probably so rebels were killed and
many were wounded. The bodies of
three rebels were found near the spot
where Lieut. LansdaIe and Ensign
Monaghan were killed. The priests
buried 80 rebels, and much blood was
seen on the road over which the Ma
taafans had been dragging away their
dead and wounded. There were also
pools of blood behind the cocoanut
trees, the bullets from the American
and British rifles going right through
thick trees and killing men hiding be-
hind them. Some of the rebels fired
from the tops of cocoanut palms.
The manager of the German planta-
tion has been arrested and detained
On board the Tauranga, on atfidavits
declaring that he was seen urging the
rebels to fight.
In a previous engagement 81 of Ma
taafa's warriors were killed, and there
were no casualties among the Euro
pean force.
Sydney, \. S. w. April 13.-The Brit
ish cruiser Wallaroo and the British
gunboat Goldfnch have been ordered
to proceed to Samoa.
Washington, April 13.-The following
dispatch from Admiral Kautz has been
received: ''On April 1 while the COM
bined forces OF the British and United
States under Lieut.. Freeman, British
navy, were reconnoitering near Apia,
they We're ambushed. Deeply regret
to announce the death of Lieut.. Philip
I ,l,lA IAI
Cockswain James Butler, Ordinary Sea-
man Norman Edsal and five men
wounded, belonging to the PhiIadel-
phia. The British loss in killed was
two men and Lieut.. Freeman"
Government officials believe that the
Samoan situation is one that will
yield TO sensible and cool treatment if
all the parties to the Berlin treaty are
sincere in an effort to prevent further
trouble. As put by a cabinet officer,
the killing of the sailors has not ma
terially changed the general problem,
though it adds to the difficulty of deal
ing with the situation. The only of
fetal news received was contained IN
Admiral Kautz's cabIegram.
Both the British and German embas-
sizes here last night received long cable
grams from their foreign offices re-
porting on the developments in Samoa.
That from London was from the Brit
ieh consul at Apia and said the casual
ties were one British officer killed two
or three American officers killed and
five American sailors wounded, with
two English sailors wounded. The
purport of the German dispatch is not
known.
Berlin. April 13-Sir Frank LascelIes,
the British ambassador, conferred with
Baron Buelow, the German foreign
minister, until late hour last evening.
The result of the conference has not
yet developed definitely, but it is said
that an agreement was reached re-
specting the commission. Evidently
the German government is doing its ut
most to avoid irritating Great Britain
and the United States.
indictment Against MoIineux Killed.
Watcrtown. y. Y. April 13.-Justice