The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-22

though they were doing all they could to
muster men in Apia, they were unable to
make even a respectable showing.
TWO KINGS.
Shortly after this Mataafa was anointed
and proclaimed King in the public square
at Mulimni in the presence of a very large
gathering of people. Replying to the COM
~plimentary speeches that were made to him,
he stated that he accepted the office only
to please the people, as he personally had
no ambition to be King of Samoa. AS they
had freely chosen him he would take up the
! reins Of government as soon as the treaty
powers had confirmed their choice, and he
should always do his best to bring about
that harmony and good feeling between the
whites and his WI people that always
ought to exist. A few days later in a native
house not far from the Supreme Court Tanu
was invested with a number of titles and
anOinted by some inferior chiefs of his fol-
lowing. Thus there were two kings.
Mr.. Chief Justice Chambers, against the
advice of people whose opinions should have
had weight with him, decided to have a
trial in open court instead of making care
full inquiries from all sides and deciding
after the result of these had fixed his con-
illusions. The decision, as already cabled,
was in favor of Tanu. The missionaries and
the attorneys were full of glee, but almost
the whole body of the Samoan people We're
But this situation did not endure long. On
the afternoon of this very day, the 31st Of
december, the Ia~nu-IamaSeSe party COM
menced the erection of breastworkS in the
west end Of Apia across the road, while
about three hundred yards distant q detach-
ment of Mataafaites took up q position
threatening these works. At 5 p. m. twenty
eight very large boats, being a part of the
Mataafa navy, crossed the harbor and
landed just beyond Mataute point. Being
expostulated with by the British consul and
captain of the Porpoise, they proceeded
about a mile farther away and landed at
Asi, a deserted village. This party, was
about 1900 strong. and many of their boats
were over eighty feet in length. One, prob
ably the largest boat of it's kind in the
world, was 152 feet long and sixteen feet
beam. This strong party seriously threat
ened the Tanu-Tamasese left wing; it was
indeed considerably stronger than their en-
tire army, which was undertaking to de-
fend about one and a quarter miles of sea
coast.
The night passed without firing, and until
3 p. m. the next day. Jan /, both sides
manouVered for the advantage. AT p. m.
news was received that all the Mataafa
forces were in position, completely sur
rounding the Tanu people, and that a for
ward movement was to be made. From the
tower of the Tfvoli Hotel, which occupied
about the center of the field of operation,
the position Of the advancing Mataafa
forces could readily be determined by the
columns of smoke which arose from the
different houses which were burned as they
came one, the Tanu forces slowly retreating
before them. Near the cathedral both par
ties were within hail and each side appeared
anxious that the other should
the firing. Now a stalwart Mataafaite
WOulu waltz out from DenlIlQ Ills IOTl. run
some distance toward the foe, caper about
with his long two-handed knife, and chal-
lenge them to send a champion TO meet
him in single combat. Then a Tanu man,
arrayed in all his savage tinery, with an
immense red turban, would caper in front
of his fort and make some offensive ges-
lures, not peculiar to savageS alone, and
dare the other side to charge to their sure
death. In the meanwhile the few whites in
the neighborhood had placed their families
in their cellars, and the men of the family
were cautiously and curiously watching the
whole proceedings from their ~verandas,
ready TO get back into a place OF safety as
soon as the first shot was fired.
TANU MEN WARNED.
The excitement grew in intensity. when
out from the Mataafa side stepped four old
men clad in white flowing garments, each
carrying a stick about six feet long and
about the thickness of an ordinary cane.
With these they advanced. When a talk is
desired an orator advances, leans on his
stick, and m attention. These old
fellows boldly came up to the little bridge
which alone separated them from their foes
and declared that those who wished to live
should come ever to their side and surrender
their arms. or they would soon all be head
less dead men. While they were talking the
Mataafaites came out of their fort and
slowly, almost imperceptibly, advanced
against the hin line Of Tanuites, who pro-
posed to defend their works. Finally Fola
and Anane, two chiefs of the Tanuites,
jumped over the wall of their fortress and
ran to surrender to their white-turbaned