The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-09

San Francisco, Feb. S-The steamer
MOana arrived from Samoa today,
bringing full details of the recent out
| break at Aoia to the Associated Press
from its correspondent at that place.
He writes that While Chief Justice
Chambers was hearing the claims of
the rival candidates for the kingship
| that MaUaafa natives, who were nu-
merically stronger, and were openly
supported by the German officials and
| the entire German population began TO
| talk of immediate war in case the de-
cision went against him, and the life
! of the chief justice was openly threat
ened by one of the chiefs. The th-ea
| consuls agreed to issue a proclamation,
putting the chief justice and his resi-
dence under the protection of the
treaty powers. For some reason the
German consul broke his word and de-
clined to do so. The British and Amer
lean consulS thereupon issued the proc
lamation, and hoisted their national
flags over the residence of the chief
justice.
Dec. 81 the chief justice decided Ma
taafa was ineligible for election, and
that Malietoa Tanu was king. The
American and British cOnsUls imme-
diately recognized the new king. The
decision was received with omirious 81
lence by the natives. Within an hour
the consuls, the president and the Ger
man and British captains held a, meet
ing. The German consul and president
declined to recognize Tanu, and went
over TO Mataafa, who was waiting at
Mulinuu, the western portion of Apia,
with 5000 men under arms, until he
had surrounded the loyal troops, 1000
in number, who occupied the central
portion of the town.
The Malietoas lacked arms and am
I
forces had surrounded the residence of
the chief justice which was guarded by
200 loyal natives, and Captain Sturdy
of H. NJ. S. PorpoiSe landed twenty-five
sailors, under Lieutenant Gaunt.
The residence was barricaded, and the
nien stood to arms all night, when the
chief justice and family were taken to
the beach. Fighting was expected to
commence at any moment, and the
British and American consuls did all
they could to prevent hostilities. A re-
newal of fighting is expected soon, as
both factions of the natives are disSat-
isfied.
If thetwo rebel parties had effected
a junction the loyalists would have
been slaughtered, but darkness came
and the fighting ceased. During the
night the Malietoa people sought ref
uge in boats and were huddled together
under the guns of the POrpOise. After
the retreat from the Tivoli to the mis-
sion it was found that King Tanu had
been left at the Tivoli. Captain Stur-
dy and Consul MaXse went TO the ho-
tel and brought the king safely back.
1t was a brave deed, and although the
rescuers We're fired upon repeatedly
they escaped without damage.
The American consul, Osborne, and
family took refuge in the British con-
Sulate, which was heavily guarded by
British sailors. By the flight of Ma
lietOa men to the POrpoise the rebels
were left in absolute possession of the
town. All Samoan houses We're looted |
and burned. White mems houses were |
invaded and searched for Samoan prop /
erty. Trees We're cut down, crops were I
spoiled, dogs and horses taken away /
and boats either stolen or destroyed. In |
this extremity the conSulS and the pres !
dent and the leading Mataafa chiefs |
came to an agreement to preserve life |
and property and to keep order. y |
government, with the pres
dent as executive head, was approved !
Oy all consuls, pending the settlement
# the whole question by their respect
We governments. The British and
American consuls agreed to this pro-
JiSiOnal arrangement, with the under
that it was in no wise to af-
ect the Berlin treaty, or any official or
he powers of any officer under it; and
hat the Malietoa people who had been
aiken On board the PorpOise should be
allowed to go to their homes, their
lrms being retained on the Porpoise.
The Associated Press correspondent
1t Apia had forwarded the decision Of
chief Justice Chambers awarding the
of the Samoan islands to Ma
ietOa Tanumafili, which decision
.aused the outbreak between the ma
ives.
Justice Chambers decision that Ma
aafa is ineligible for the kingship
vas evidently due to the introduction
# copy of the Berlin treaty, together
With the protocols of the nine sessions
f the Berlin conference, as in his de-
ision he says:
TT is plainly stated by one of the
covers represented in the conference
S a condition precedent to its consent
o the principle of the election of a
ing, that there must be one exception.
hat exception is mentioned in the
erSOn of Mataafa. Reasons were given
or making the exception, which not
My commended themselves to the
Their plenipotentiaries and commanded
heir assent, but appealed to the high
st instincts of universal humanity
CAS- long as this condition remains in
he protocol and until it is stricken
ut or altered by the same powers that
laced it there, judicial officer whose
ight to exercise the functions of his
flee depends upon the same treaty
nd protocols, cannot give any inter
to article one than that SO
lanifestly and mandatorily stated in
ne protocol of the fifth session of the :
:
GERMAN OFFICIAL ARRIVES.
San Francisco, Feb S.-Dr Kramer, {
connected with the Ger
ian legation in Samoa, arrived on the !
-eamer Moana today, and it is be- !
eyed that he brings important adj :
ices for his government regarding the {
tuation in Samoa. DIR. Kramer SAYS 7
le situation is at a standstiu and the {
ecision of the powers is all that is
eing awaited.