Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-04-20

& ~ NASCA A0AAo14-6s
and Lieut. p. I. Lansdale, of the [ ait
ed States cruiser Philadelphia, and
Ensign J. r. Monaghan, Of the United
States cruiser Philadelphia, were left
dead On the field. Ensign Monaghan
remained to assist Lieut.. Lansdale,
and was shot retiring.
Two British and two American ma
rines were also killed
4 Samoan AmbuscaGe.
Auckland, y. L.. April ia dis
patch from APia, Samoa, says that on
April l a force of PA British and
Americans and 80 friendlies was sur
I prised in ambush at the German plan
tatiou of Easlao. The rebel force
opened fire on the rear. left flank and
front of the AngIO-Americanforc The
friend,ies bolted. but the marines and
| blue jackets stood their ground SPLEEN
didly, the Americans and British fir
I ing shoulder to shoulder.
Automatic Gum Became damned.
The Colt automatic gun with the
landing party became damned and the
Americans and British were practical
" at the mercy of the rebels. But re
treat was sounded three times before
the marines and blue jackets retired.
Officers Killed and wounded.
Lieut.. Angel II. freeman, first lieu
tentant OF the Tauranga, who was in
command of the allied force. was shot
through the heart.
Lieut.. Philip Van Horn Lansdale. Of
the United States cruiser Philadelphia,
had his leg shattered while e2ideayor-
ing to fix the damned gun
An Extraordinary Escape.
Seaman Hunt, of the British cruiser
Porpoise. had an extraordinary es-
cape. He remained with Lieut.. Lans-
dale until dubbed over the head and
Knocked senselesS. The blue jacket re-
vived as the natives were cutting Oft
his right ear and were turning him
over to cut off his left ear. Al this
juncture shell from the British
cruiser RoyaIist burst on the battle
field, soaring the rebels. and Hunt
succeeded in escaping to the beach, al
though severely stabbed in one foot.
HeadIess Bodies Found.
The same night the friendlies found
the bodies of all the officers, headIess.
The bodies were buried with all hon
ors at Mulinuu, on Easter Sunday.
Their heads were subsequently
brought in by some French priests,
and the graves were reopened and the
heads buried with the bodies.
Lieutenants Freeman and Lansdale
were capable and popular officers. The
former was single and the latter was
married in June.
Officers Behaved Sp;endidly.
The officers who returned are Lieut..
George E. Cave, of the Porpoise, and
Lieut.. c. VI. Perkins, of the Philadel-
phia. All behaved splendidly. Lieut..
Cave took command of the retreat.
Capt. Sturdee of the Porpoise was
away on an expedition with his cruis-
er, and Gaunt's brigade was also alb
sent on duty.
Rebel Loss Believed to be Heavy.
The loss of the enemy is not known
but probably so of the rebels were
killed and many were wounded. The
bodies of three rebels were found near
where Lieut.. Lansdale and Ensig gin
Monaghan of the Philadelphia were
killed. The priests buried IS rebels,
and much blood was seen on the road
over which the Mataafans had been
dragging away their dead and wound
ed. There were also pools of blood be-
hind the cocoanut trees, the bullets
from the American and British rifles
going right through thick trees and
killing men hiding behind them. Some
Of the rebels fired from the tops of
cocoanut palms.
The rebels opened fire near the town
last evening.
Reinforcements to be Summoned.
1t is now proposed to summon an
other war ship to distribute more arms
among the friendlies, and to import
additional friendlies from Tutulea. 1t
is also suggested that troops might be |
obtained from New Zealand or sgd |
ney, New South Wales.
Arms Needed for FriendIfes.
If a sufficient quantity of arms could |
be obtained about 1000 friendlies |
could be used against the Mataafans. |
But they are not brave and have not |
shown fighting qualities, excepting !
those with Gaunt's brigade, and that |
force may not accomplish much.
Earned Golden Opinions.
Admiral Kautz, Capt. E. White of /
the Philadelphia, and the Americans |
and officers generally have earned gol- /
den opinions, as have Captains Stuart |
and Sturdee, of the British navy. They I
are doing everything possible, and ev-
cry one recognizes that better men |
could not be handling the situation.
Consul Rose n Mischief Maker.
The Samoans say Mataafa, on three /
occasions had resolved TO surrender,
but the German consul. Herr Rose. ad- |
vised him not TO do so. and he now
says he will never give in, but viii |
Fl ght to the death.
War Ships Available.
The British admiralty has number
o. war ships not far from Samoa, in
the Australian islands, special de-
tign of small cruiser being used in that
locality. The chief naval station ac-
eessible to Samoa is on the China coast,
where the Asiatic squadron embraces {
some of the largest war ships in the
British navy. In number, armament
and tonnage, the British ships on this