The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-16
CAUGHT LIKE CUSTER
STORY OF THE AMBUsCADE OF
AMERICANS AND BRITONs BY
SAMOAN sAVAGES
MoNAGHAN's NOBLE HERoIsM

Seized a Rifle From the Hands of a
Disabled Sailor and Defended
Lieut.. LansdaIe to the Death
But for Prompt Retreat the EN-
tire Forces of America and Eng
land Would Have Been Slain.
WASHINGTON, May 15.-Secretary
Long today made public so much of the
recent report from Admiral kautz upon
Samoan affairs as touches the killing Of
number of American sailors by Mataa-
Ia adherents near Apia on the first of
April. The report is an elaboration Of
the description Of the affair which was
cabled at the time from Auckland. No
mention Is made at any point OF the re-
ported participation in the ARRAY Of the
German, Huffnagle, the manager Of the
plantation where the fight occurred. 1t
Is shown that the failure of the Colt
gun to work properly was in a large
measure the cause of the American and
British defeat. Admiral Kautz says the
expedition was projected by Capt. Stur-
dee, of the Porpoise For several nights
preceding the fight sentries had been
fired upon by the natives and 1t became
necessary to drive the aggressors away.
Admiral Kautz said it was the opinion
of all the officers who had the matter
IN hand the force was ample, without
risk, particularly as it was to move out
along the beach and return the same
way, under the protection of the guns
OF the II. M. S. Royalist 1t Is safe to
say, says the admiral, that after Lieuts.
Freeman and Landsdale had conferred
together they did what they deemed
best under the circumstances, and the
disaster that followed could not be fore
seen.
Admiral Kautz appends the reports Of
the surviving officers of the expedition.
which were transmitted by Capt White.
or the Philadelphia. In his letter of trans
initial the captain commends in the
strongest terms the work of Passed AS
sistant Surgeon G. A. Lung He says:
AT times when the fire from the con-
cealed natives was thickest, and at all
times by his example, he encouraged the
young and inexperienced men to the
proper performance of duty On the COM
assumed command of our blue Jackets
and marched them to the United States
consulate
STORY OF THE AMBUSCADE.
Capt. White describes at some length
the happenings Of April l as gathered
from close examination OF the petty
officers and men engaged In the fight.
he says that several excursions had been
made into the beach back of Apia during
the last ten days of March. Very few
natives had been observed and when seen
they always fed when fired upor by the
Colt automatic gun. Lieut. Landslide
set great store by the gun, and frequent
ly operated it himself. Lieut. White
says:
"He seems to have depended greatly
upon the gun when our party was am
pushed on April 1. Twice it did not per
form its functions, and time was lost in
overhaul1ng it, and great delay was con-
sumed in trying to get it through the
wire fence. Lieut. Lansdale was loath to
abandon it, but the fire was so gaIIine.
that before he was wounded he was COM
PEELED to scatter the important parts and
leave it behind. Prudence led him to de-
ploy his men in open order The thfcket
was so dense that after the order for re-
treat was sounded it was not possible for
the groups to render each other mutual
support:
Lieut.. Lansdale was wounded below
the knee soon after the Colt was aban-
edoned. and rendered Incapable Of march
Ing. He was assisted by his men, and
one of them, N. e. Edsall Ordinary sea-
man,. was " g. mortally wounded while SO
dale received the wound in his chest. It
Is in evidence most clear that when En-
sign Monaghan discovered that Lieut..
Lansdaie was wounded he used his best
endeavorS to convey him to the rear and,
selling rifle from disabled man, made
a brave defense, but undoubtedly he fell
very. shortly, after Joining him. and the
hoStileS, flushed with success bore down
on our men in this vicinity.
MONAGHAN'S HEROISM.
''The men were not in sufficient n,,m-
bers to hold out any longer and they
were forced along by a fire which 1t was
Impossible to withstand. Ensign Mona
CHAN did stand. He stood steadfast bv
his wounded superior and friend; one
rifle against many-one brave man
against score Of savages He knew he
was doomed: He could not yield He
private Henry L. Hubert United
States member OF congress, informs ne
that he saw both Lieut.. Lansdale and
ed, that he had been near few minutes
before, and that he had assisted in COW
ering their retreat. He Is mentioned by
Lieut.. Perkins for bravery and good con-
duct.
James Butler, coxswain, was killed In
stantly while standing and firing against
the enemy.
81 have to commend the steadfness Of
F. D. Fisher, in charge of the Colt auto
matte gun, for GOODNESS and steadiness In
twice dismounting- and overhauling the
gun under fire. ]: S. Raulet, ordinary
seaman, assisted Ensign Monaghan in
binding up Lieut.. Lansdale's leg with a
handkerchief belonging to B. Gallaghan.
blacksmith, and assisted in carrying him
when wounded.
THE number of cartridges fired by each
of the blue jackets was fifty From what
appears to be reliable authority forty of
the assaiiants were killed and f1ftv
wounded. This information was obtained
several days after the engagement.
Whenever our men could get cover they
turned and fired"
AS BRITONS SAW IT.
The British story Is told briefly by
Lieut.. G. q. Cave In an enclosed report
made to Capt Stuart, of H. M. S. Taur-
anga, and contains no information beyond
that set out by the American officers. He
does say that the friendliness boiling
through the British and American lines
rather broke it up; that Lieut. Freeman
ordered the retreat after the engagement