New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-16
THE AMBUSH IN SAMOA.
o-r,c1aL REPORTS on THE KILLING OF
AMERICAN SAILORS.
,o,c DEATHS OF MONAGHAN AND LANs-
pALE-DEFEAT DUE TO FAILURE
OF COLT GUN
fEr TELEGRAPH To THE TRrBuSr.l

-o,,s from Lieutenant G. NJ Perkins, L. :. NJ. c.,
"a Passed Assistant Surgeon G. A. Lung. Of the
s,nedtion. transmitted through Captain Edwin
white Of the Philadelphia. The Admiral ex-
o,srates those in charge from all blame On
srndsy. April 2. the American and British off,
arc and seamen were buried with appropriate
economies on Mulinuu, the land belonging to
the Samoan Government.
M mention is made at any point Of the re-
.o-tea participation in the ARRAY of the Ger
nsn Hufnagel the manager of the plantation
where the fight occurred 1t is shown that the
failure Of the Colt gun to work properly was in
large measure the cause of the American and
British defeat
Admiral Kautz says the expedition was pro-
,scted by Captain Sturdee of the Porpoise. For
several nights preceding the sentries had been
fred on by the natives. and 1t became necessary
20 drive the aggressors away Admiral Kautz
saws it was the opinion of all the officers
Who had the matter in charge that the force was
annie 70 do the work without risk. especially
o. Il was 10 move out along the beach and re-
,pr. the same way. under the protection OF the
guns Of the Royalist. The Admiral says that
after Lieutenants Freeman and Lansda,e had
conferred together they did what they deemed
hes, under the circumstances, and the disaster
that followed could not have been foreseen.
REPORT OF CAPTAIN WHITE
Admiral Kautz appsnds the reports Of the
surviving officers of the expedition. which were
transmitted by Captain White. of the Philade-
nhis In his letter of transmittal. the Captain
commends in the strongest terms the work of
Passed Assistant Surgeon c. A Lung He says:
Al times when the fire from the concealed
natives was thlckest and AT all times, by his
example ne encouraged the young and mex
perenced men to the proper performance Of
duty on the completion OF the work OF his
profession he assumed command of blue
Jackets and marched them to the United States
Consulate
Captain White describes al some length the
happenings of April l. as gathered from a close
examination Of the petty officers and men en-
gagged in the fight He says that several excur-
sions had been made into the country back OF
Apia in the last ten days Of March. Few ma
tIves had been observed. and when seen they al
ways fed when fired on by the Colt automatic
gun Lieutenant Lansdale set great store by
the gun. and frequently operated IT himself
SAYS Captain White;
de appears TO have depended greatly upon
the gun. when the party was amoushed on April
! Twice it did not function. and time was lost
In overhauling il. and great delay was consumed
In trying 10 get IL through the wire fence Lieu
tenant Lansdale was lOath TO abandon IT, but
the fire was so CALLING That before ne was
wounded he was compelled TO scatter the import
ant parts and leave it behind Prudence LED
him to deploy his men in open order. Tne
th!cket was 20 dense that after the order for re-
treat was sounded It was not possible for the
groups TO render each other mutual support.
MONAGHAN STOOD BY LANSDALE
Lieutenant Lansdale was wounded below the
knee soon after the Colt was abandoned. and
% He W.
sisted by his men, one Of whom. N. e. Edsall
ORDINARY seaman). was MORALLY wounded while
so doing 1t is not clear when Mr.. Lansdale
ceived the wound in his chest 1t is in evidence
nest clear that when Ensign Monaghan dis
covered that Lieutenant Lansdale was wounded
he used his best endeavors to convey him TO
The rear and Selling rifle from disabled man
uade a brave defence but undoubtedly he fell
very shortly after joining him. and the hostiies'
flushed with success, bore down on our men in
mis- vicinity. The men were not IN SUFFICIENT
rum0ers 10 hold out any longer, and they were
forced along by fire which II was impossible
10 withstand. Ensign Monaghan did stand He
;food staadfast by his wounded superior and
friend rife against many-ons brave man
against q score of savages he knew ne was
loomed He could not yield. He died in heroic
performance of duty.
Private Henry l. Hulburt, United States
Marine Corps. informs me that he saw Lieu
enant Lansdale and Ensign Monaghan after
ew minutes before and that he had assisted in
covering their retreat He is mentioned by
Lieutenant Perkins for bravery and good con-
iuct James Butler (coXSWein) was killed In
sanity while standing and firing against the
Enemy
Fisher in charge Of the Colt automatic gun for
coolness and steadincss in twice dsmountng
and overhauling the gun under fire J. ;. Ran
LET lord mary seaman) assisted Ensign Monaghan
IN binding up Lieutenant Lansdale's leg with d
aP ha1o ing m (.allaRhan
smith and assisted in carrying him when first
v ounded
The number Of cartridges fired by each of the
blueiaC kefs averaged nifty From what appears !
10 be reliable authority forty Of the assailants
I-ere killed and fifty wounded This information |
was obtained several days after the engage |
nent Whenever .ur men could get cover they |
turned and fred
The British story is told briefly by Lieutenant |
;. Cave in a report made to Captain Stuart. |
u the Tauranga and contains information |
Beyond that given in the report Of the American !
Ulcers H. saws that the friendlies. boiling |
through the British and American line. rather |
lroke II up. that Lieutenant Freeman ordered |
he retreat after the engagement had been in |
progress some time beca use the men were run
hing short Of ammunition and darkness was
approaching He declares that "all ranks be
Haved sYlendidy"
MARINES FOUGHT CALAMITY.
First Lieutenant Perkins. United States Ma
rine Corps. in describing TIE fight says that
the enemy approached within fifty yards. left
aho rear, when the retreat was ordered. firing
ooioy The marines we're compelled TO pass
mo deep ravine commanded by bluff. fr I'M
winch the enemy fred continuously on them
He says
II, i1ad we been few minutes later In crossing
IN raFine II is my opinion that We would have
zen cut on and killed TO a man.
ne commends the conduct Of the marine
'uards In the highest terms particularly men
-ohing sergeants Michael McNally and Bruno
ofs'erer. the latter holding the stand OF the
ehce I'll surrounded. and afterward. when the
neh reached the sea- volunteering to lead the
'endly natives into the bush TO protect the
ahK The gallsntry Of Private Henry J.. HUI
ur'' who remained behind at the fence to the
Isl and was with Lansdale and Monaghan