The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-05
Many Insurgents Were Wounded, and
House Was RiddIed.
CABLE FROM ADMIRAL KAUTZ
SAYS l. Is QUIET. Nj THERE WILL
BE no MORE FIGHTING.
Report that the German Consul Re-
ton Not Yet Confirmed.

AUCKLAND. ". L., May 4.-Advices re-
ceived here from Apia. Samoa, to April q
state that the rebel loss by the Smelling Of
the Mataafan stronghold at Vaillima by the
war ships of Great Britain and the United
States was very heavy. Many of the rebels
were wounded. The house in which the
late Robert Louis Stevenson lived was rid
died with shot.
On April p there was a sharp skirmish
between rebels and Lieut.. r A. Gaunt's
brigade near the town of Vaillima. In this
engagement one Mataafan was killed. The
lines of the ~friendlies were attacked in the
darkness at two points, but none Of them
was killed.
On April e there was some bush fight
ing. Lieutenant Gaunt' brigade, lumber
ing 900 men. advanced under a hot fire.
The enemy lost several men, the bodies Of
the dead being dragged way. OF the
friendlies one was killed and three were
wounded. The British lieutenants, Innes.
Hickman. Shuler and Heathcote. under
Lieutenant Gaunt, led the loyalists.
The New Zealand government steamer
Tutaneckai has arrived at Apia with dis
patches announcing the request of the in
ternational commissioners that the inhabi-
tants peacefully await the arrival of the
COIuIIlSSlOucIS, WHO are NOW Ou tHclI way
to the islands from San Francisco. A meet
ing of the three consuls in view of this
message was held, but without result. the
German consul dissenting from the PROPOSE
tions of the other two consuls.
Admiral Kautz. United States navy. and
Captain Stuart, of the British cruiser Tau
ranga. wrote and dispatched through a
French priest to Mataafa, ordering him to
withdraw his forces outside of a line ten
miles long and six miles broad. Mataafa
replied defiantly, refusing to withdraw I'M
less the German consul and the captain OF
the German cruiser Fake agreed. Admiral
Kautz and Captain Stuart thereupon sent
an ultimatum to Mataafa, threatening to
compel the withdrawal of his forces. In
support of this ultimatum a plan OF action
% Srissd Sec Mas tr uponi aes and : bea ESu Rnn 3
was landed at Mulinuu and war rockets
We're got in readiness. Being informed of
these preparations, Mataafa made prompt
reply, agreeing to withdraw Immediately.
On April - an important meeting of the
King and his chiefs was held. They were
by the British and American naval COM
manderS and gave it general approval.
Lieutenant Gaunt's brigade Is now patrolling
the prescribed area King Tanu visited Adj
miral kautz and Captain Stuart on board
the American and English ships. respective
ly, and was received with the customary
salutes on his arrival and departure.
Hufnagel, the manager of the plantation
upon which an attack was made on Brit
ish and American sailors. and which re-
suited in the death OF Lieutenant Freeman.
of the British navy; Lieutenant Lansdale
and Ensign John r.. Monaghan. of the
United States cruiser Philadelphia, and two
others. is still detained on board the Ger
man cruiser Fake.
The gun carriage from the Philadelphia
which was lost at the time of the en-
gagement has been recovered. but the gun
Is still in the hands of the rebels officials
and leading residents of Samoa who have
been interviewed unite in saying that the
charges of inhumanity on the part Of the
British. which were made by a man named
Laroch, are untrue.
A majority of the inhabitants are highly
dissatisfied with the cessation of HOSTILE
ties. They say that Mataafa is beaten now
and that the trouble would all be ended in
pushed. The rebels are delighted at the de-
lay, which will give them time to refill
their cartridge shells and build more forts.
1t is the general opinion that the Islands
and Frenchmen unless Mataafa and the
rebel chiefs are severely punished.
1t is doubtful If American or British sub
jectS will give much evidence before the
International commission owing TO the fear
that If they express themselves candidly it
would interfere with trade relations. For
this reason the evidence before the COM
mission is likely to be one sided.
for foreign affairs. Baron Won Buelow, that
Mataafa was unanimously elected King OF
the Samoan islands is denounced in Samoa.
The rebels admit that the result of the
battle at Vaillima was the greatest reverse
hey have ever experienced. They were as
tonished by the manner in which Gaunt's
brigade sustained its position in the face
of a continuous fire. They were also as
by which many of the rebels were badly
wounded.