The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-02
THE Fighting IN SAMOA.
Details of Death of Mon
Afghan and Lansdale.
BEHEADED BEFORE DEAD.

Furnishing Cartridges TO Ma,
taafans I'm Bags of Rfee-The Rebels
Attacked While In Possession of Ste.
venson's House Desperate Battles
Between Natives and Gaunt's Brigade
With FrIendIies-The Rebels Flying
the German Flag.
Auckland, N. T., April 27.-Particu.
lars of the fighting in Samoa, contained
in the advices received here from Apia
under date of April 18th, show that the
battle between the friendly natives and
the rebels took place at Vallejo and that
the latter lost 100 men killed and woun-
ded.
Further details of the deaths of En-
sign j.. S. Monaghan, of the United
States cruiser Philadelphia and Lieu
tenant P. V. L~ansdale, Of the same YES
sci, have been received. They show
that Monaghan was beheaded before
he was dead. A deserter from the Ma
taafan forces says Monaghan and Lans-
dale were r~etreating when they were
discovered by a chief and his wife, who
were looking for dead men. They gave
the alarm and Monaghan was shot
while continuing the retreat. Later, it
appears the rebels returned and killed
Lansdale. Monaghan fought until he
was wounded and he was then behead-
ed. The doctors examination OF the
rQpoainc cnnHrpoc tho ctatnpoontc madn
Sautele, the principal rebel chief, ran
away and told his people a hundred
British had been killed.
Mataafan deserters assert that the
Germans sent cartridges in bags of rice
and sugar along the coast in December.
Admiral Kautz, it is asserted in the
advices, received, fired a blank shot on
April 8th across the bows of a German
schooner which was leaving Apia with
out reporting.
The rebels who were in possession
of the late Robert l.. S~tevenson's house
and some forts were attacked in the
rear by some Tamaseses friendlies,
who killed three Of them, and wounded
Others. One friendly native was killed
in the fight.
FIlSullul WtdlutI LIDS DeeH prevail
ing at Apia, the sailors being compelled
to sleep four nights in the wet trenches.
The friendly natives under the COM
mand of Lieutenant R. A. Gaunt, of the
British third class cruiser Porpoise,
were attacked on April 18th from the
French mission station at Falita. One
OF his men was wounded. The rebels
were eventually routed, with the loss Of
four men killed.
The Tamasese lines were extended
on April 18th to the Vailele battlefield.
Mataafa attacked the friendlies and
Gaunt's brigade Joined in the engage
ment and fought we'll. Four bodies of
slain rebels were recovered. The 9TH
ers were dragged away One friendly
was killed and beheaded and one was
wounded. The rebels had a German
1000 women and children have sought
refuge at the Maluit station Of the Lon
don missionary society.
The rebels are Selling the traders
rifles, cartridges and stores and the
traders are fleeing to Apia. Business
is at a standstill and a strong land
force is urgently needed.
Won Buelow, formerly a lieutenant
in the German army and the man who
organized the forces of Mataafa here,
armed with a sword, gun and cartridges,
proceeded to Savan, (Savaii?), with
thirteen boats and 400 rebels and the
German warship Fake sailed on a
secret mission with Her. Rose, the
German counsel, on board. Captain
Leslie c.. Stuart, commander Of the
British third class cruiser Tauranga
i'm tho 0hcQnan IF A6riro1 Ko,,t1 VIII
was coaling the Philadelphia at Pangc
P1ngo, wrote to the German counsel
urging him to secure Won Buelow and
the next day the Fake returned with
Won Guelow on board.
The offer of New Zealand to send
troops to Samoa has caused enthusiasm
at Apia. The inhabitants are almost
unanimous in the belief that the treaty
is a failure n there is a strong feeling
in favor of annexation. Prominent
American citizens and British subjects
say German annexation is preferable
to the triple control and that unless
Mataafa is subdued another war is in
evitable within a year.
The British third class cruiser Por.
poise is still engaged in punitive
cruises.
III <APlAA 1O(h a was AOu0hC -
Manga, fifteen miles eastward of Apia
Two thousand rebels attacked a Gaun'
landing party, consisting of about 10(
men. The latter were subjected to {
not fire and retreated to the shelving
beach, where they defended themselve:
bravely for a time and afterward swan
off to their boats under a heavy fire.
Chief Muliangi with twelve friendly
natives refused to retire and charged
into a burning village driving a mum.
Der of rebels before them with splendid
reclesS bravery. Gaunt's party ther
returned to the assistance of the friend.
lies and the whole party retired. Will
-four men wounded and after several O.
the party had had miraculous escapes.
The cutter belonging to the party
fired all it's Nordenfeldt ammunition
during the fight and the Porpois,