The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-13
LIVES or WHITE PEOPLE THREATENED
German Consul Deceived His English and
American Colleagues.
THE ENGLISH CAPTAIN A MAN OF ACTION
He Cleared His ship and Announced
that He Would stand by the En-
gItsh Speaking People.

ing letter has been received by the Asso-
ciatod Press from It's Samoan correspond
cnt and shows how alarming was the stu
alton when the steamer Mariposa left Apia
for this city:
Apin, December 2s.-Events have moved
very rapidly since the last mail left here.
Civil war has been narrowly averted and
for the first time in Samoan history the
lives of white residents have been threat
ened by the natives. Even now bloodshed
is not far from probable. Armed guards
protect the residences OF Chief Justice
Chambers, an American citizen, and that
OF MIR. Guerre, the leading English lawyer
OF the town, who has taken prominent
part in supporting Malietoa's claim to the
throne. II fighting once begins the results
will be serious, for each side has thousands
energetic action on the part OF the English
and German warships to keep the conflict
within bounds
The whole trouble has arisen through
the injudicious action of the three treaty
powers in bringing the deported King
Mataafa back to Samoa. BY doing so they
have thrown bone OF contention and con-
verified what might otherwise have been
a peaceful election into an angry combat.
OF course at tho time America, England
and Germany agreed TO Mataafa's return
Malietoas death was not anticipated.
otherwise the home coming of the exiled
king would certainly have been delayed.
Inc trouble began Immediately upon
Mataafa's return from Jaluit. Though he
was nominally held as a prisoner the coli
suls, actuated by kindly motives, gave
him permission to reside on the royal
demesne at Muii.ni and take such OF his
adhorents as he chose with him. Mataata's
people began crowding by thousands Into
the limited space of the Mulnuu penlnsu-
la. driving out the followers nj Malietoa.
Fortunately Malietoa's people preserved a
friendly attitude and obeyed the proclama-
ton of the consuls in demanding that
peace should be maintained at all hazards.
But still the usurpers of Mulinuu were ag-
gressive AMI issued proclamation declar
ing Mataafa king of Samoa. Further, they
assumed to themselves royal powers and
secretly encouraged by the Germans, pro-
ceedcd 10 dcport public officers and APP
point their own nominees.
The climax was reached when Mataafa
and his chiefs actually discharged the
chief justice, who Is appointed, under
the Berlin treaty. by the three powers. OF
course such action was purely farcical, and
the chief justice speedily notified Mataafa
that he must Hait for the decision of the
court before he could legally declare him
self king.
The most serious element in the whole
affair is the disagreement between coin
suls, The German consul has been playing
double with his colleagues and the English
and, American officials are naturally. indig-.
nant. II was understood that there was
to be no foreign interference in the royal
elections. yet throughout it all an Under
mining curreJt of intrigue has been at
work with the Mataafa people. until they
havo been aroused to aggressive action.
have openly declared against all white con-
troll and announced their intention of dis
regarding entirely the Berlin treaty.
/ / o show the extent OF the feeling aroused,
Suatl. q religious fanatic. who ia one OF
Mataafas most prominent adherents, is
quoted as saying:
"Samoans, you must fight strong; when
you fight kill; when you meet white man
cut him up: when you meet a missionary
Kim up; when You meet Samoan cut him
up. We will break through the bonds OF
| the treaty; we will leave no municipality
/ Chief Justice Chambers commenced his
! examination into the merits of the rival
candidates on DecembeA ~ in the pres
ence of Agent Crow, and under the treaty
! the chief justice Is the final referee In
! this matter.
! Matsafa's people entered vigorous pro-
( test against the employment of attorneys
in the case. This however. the chief
! justice, considering that he had right to
run his own court as he chose, refused to
consider. and Mr.. Gucrre appeared on be-
half OF Malietoa Another lawyer, MI
/ Carruthers, representing Tamasesc, an
\ nounced that his client had retired from
the contest and that his influence would be
thrown in Malietoa's pnth.
Next day the Germans brought forward
lawyer named Won Bulow and asked
\ that he be sworn in as solicitor OF the
court. This was done. b,r In half an hour
! the chief justice had to rebuke Won Buelow
! for his disrespectful conduct toward the
J court and threatened him with disquali-
/ fcation.
| On the following day It was reported that
! suatele and other fanatical adherents OF
Mataafa had formed a plot TO murder the
chief justice. Mr.. Guerre. and other whites
concerned In the case. The CHIEF justice
I Immediately called meeting OF consals
and both English and American represent
atives agreed to hoist their flags over the
4 however, demurrsd claiming that he
would hrst have to consult the captain OF
the German warship RuIsard.
Fortunately the captain OF the English
warship Porpoise 10 man OF vigor and
dash. Through his influence a clash was
hvotueu. lie promptly ciu"s" We Sh.p
for action and declared In favor OF the
English speaking consuls. Meanwhile ma
| tive guards patrolled the roads and the
Threatened attack OF Mataafa's fanatical
ladherents was averted.
The most sensational scene In the drama
occurred, however. on December 20. when
all the evidence In the casr had been
heard and Guerre. as consul for Malletoa,
/ was summing Il up. II was discovered that
! Mataafa came from race OF princes which
had been cut on by an ancestral curse
| from The llnc of succession. An excitins
| scene ensued Natives burst out CRYING
! IN court and were promptly etected, Dat
| side the crowd Of Samoans raihed great
/ turnuit and their leaders could only with
difhculty restrain them from coming to
blows.
man Of war were In court. When the row
was al It's height the German captain in
vited the EnRlishmen eutaide War is
certain. he said. But the Engiishman did
/ moi ace Il In that light. He told the Ger
! man that M would stand with his people
| and would he ready to rub u into any one
who talked night There 10 general feel
Ing here that the whole scene was pre-.
| arranged In order 10 lead . tunult and
4 thus give the German officials a. excus1
| ter q axnsd tntsrfsrsnee' Ths prompt