The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1899-04-26
ON THE WAY AND AT SAMOA.

easy trip so fan and had the equator
February 2S about 5 p. NJ. The whistles
blew and every body yelled and we
looked for Old Neptune but he did mt
come aboard.
We don't know but we may find
trouble in Samoa. We drill at general
quarters every day and are going by
Apia TO the barbor of Pago Pago, and
there will strip for action and so to Apia
and be ready for the Dutch, or any one
the Newark down here and that Admir-
al Kautz will transfer his flag and the
Philadelphia be sent to Manila. Of
course We will transfer with the Admir-
al. A cool breeze has kept US comfort
able until today. Now it Is warm, hot
breeze, and everything else is hot. They
say it is very hot at Apia. We will only
get one mail down here, which is al
ready on the way and will arrive about
the 9th on the Moana. After March 1st
all our mail will await us at Honolulu.
1t is too hot TO write much and | will
finish at Apia.
At Pago Pago-Talk about the gar
dens of Babylon! Ii they were any more
| beautiful / should like to have seen
them. The harbor is nothing but an in
let with just room To turn around easily
and the mountains rise out of the waters
nj Of truiu ID,
with trees and all kinds of verdure, and
flowers on every hand. The natives
wear only a piece of cloth wrapped
around them and the women a little
mother hubbard dress only about to the
knees. The men are, almost without ex-
ception, sx-footers and might he over l80
to 200 pounds in weight. The women
also are tall and extremely vivacious,
the men being the reverse. | have
some cloth like the Kanakas Of Hawaii
| have ceased to fnakea and which il get
a. IN. and sail at this p. M. We merely
called TO see how things were at our
coaling station. There are four or five
missionary churches around the inlet
and Jesuit school and church of hch
l have picture. The natives say they
are only waiting f,r us at Apa to settle
the trouble. Maiet,A and Mataafa are
in the hills with their men. Two
English and one German gunboat in the
harbor and the Devil to pay" all rouini.
| hope we will get IA liberty at Apia So
| can visit Steveuson's grave and also
get some pictures. We are hauling in
our anchor SO will close and finish ai
Apis.
Apia-Here We are at anchor and
will try to finish this letter to you. The
situation here is rather critical. The
English captain and the German are
not on speaking terms AT ALL However,
the old Admiral will straighten things
out and lay down the law to them. The
English and Americans are together
here. Their boats are inside side by
side, with the German next and now the
Admiral has anchored us right in the
channel 90 none of US can get ont until
he moves. 1t is something to have the
largest ship, the largest guns and the
most men. / will write again before
the mail leaves
| The first thing want TO cay is that
we will in all probability be at Apia
long time. We found the Germans had
armed Mataafa and his $500 men who
were eager to fight and Sunday, the
18th, We fired our first gun on the
natives who were invading the town.
Fighting has continued ever since, day
and night, and 200 men are standing
guard behind intrenchmenls day and
night and holding the savages back
Five men have been killed to date, the
natives mutilated some Of them horri-
ably, their favorite trick with big long
knife is to lurk behind tree and as you
pass, whack off your head with one
powerful sweep. The forest is SO thick
you can't see 100 feet from the road in
broad daylight. The band and messen-
ger boys and two gunners are all the men
lett on the ship except the fireroom gang.
Steam is kept up at all times for fear of
the sundden terrible storms which
spring up here once in while, the har-
Dor being only dent in the reef. Two
of our boys are wounded bad and all
hands are tired out and the Admiral says
he will camp until the thing is settled.
! Unless we get regiment or two here