The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-09

complete Details of the Recent Troubles
on the IsIsnd--Germsns Recognized
One Chief and America and England
Another.
San Francisco, February s. The steam
or Moana when arrived from Samoa to-
outbreak at Apia to the Associated Press
from Its cores pondent there. He writes
that while Chief Justice Chambers was
considering the claims Of the rival candi-
dates for the kingship, the Mataafa
natives who were numerically the strong
er, were openly supported by the German
officials and the entire German popula-
tion began to talk of immediate war in
case the decision went az ainst him. The
life of the chief justice was openly
threatened by one of the chiefs
The three consuls agreed TO issue
proclamation putting the chief justice
and his residence under the protection of
the treaty powers For some reason the
German declined to carry out tho agree
ment. The British and American oonsuss
thereupon Issued a proclamation anu
hoisted their national 6ags over the resi-
dence of the chief justice.
December -, the chief justice decided
that Mataafa was ineligible for election
anu the Malietoa TanDs was king. The
American and british consuls Immediate
ly recognized the new king. The decision
was received In ominous silence by the
natives. Within an hour the consuls. the
president and the German and British
IA hal ttaafinn iha German
consul and the president declined to
recognize Ianus and went over tu
Mataafa, who was waiting at Mulins, the
western portion Of Apin.
With 5000 men under arms, Matanfa
surrounded the royal troops 1900 in num-
Der. who occupied the central portion Of
the town.
The Malietoans laoked arms andiamm,
milton In few hours the rebel force
had surrounded the residence Of tne ohiui
JUSTICE who was guarded by COCO luys!
natives, ana Captain sturdy Of Ii. NJ. :.
Porpoise. landed 20 sailors under Lieut..
6aunt.
"A he residence was barricaded and tie
n on stood to arms until the next morn
ing when the chief justice and famil
were taken to the bsach The British
and Amsricsn consuls did all they could
to prevent hostilities. If the two rebel
parties had effected IA junction the
loyalists might have been slaughtered.
but darkness came and the lighting
ceased During the night Malicious
people sought refuge in boats and were
huddled together under guns of the
Porpoise
Alter the retreat from the Iivoli to the
mission it was found that King Tauus
had been left at the livou. Captain
Sturdy and Consul Maxce went to the
hotel and brought he king safely back.
1t was "a brave deed and although the
rescuers were fired upon repeatedly they
escaped uninjured
The British sailors under Lieut.. Gaunt,
behaved splendidly. They held their ire
for n direct attack which never came.
The A merican consul Osburne and fami-
ly, took refuge in the British oonsulste.
which was closely guarded by british
sailors. ny the flight of ths Nalietoa
men to the Porpoise. the rebels we're left
IN absolute possession of the town. All
Samoan houses were looted and burned
White mems houses were invaded and
searched for Samoan pIoperti. The { ees
were cut down, crops we're spoiled, dogs
and horses taken away and boats stolen
or destroyed. In this extremity the con-
snls. the president and the leading Ma
taatan chiefs came ID an agreement to
preserve life and property and to keep
order.
A provisional government, with the
approved by all the oonsuls pending set
Element of the whole question by their
respective governments,
The British and American consuls
agreed to this arrangement with the
understanding that it WAS not 10 affect
the Berlin treaty or any official OF the
powers or any office. under IL and that
the Aalietoa people who had been taken
on board the Porpoise should be allowed
to go to their homes their arms being
retained on the Porpoise The first act
OF the provisional government, however,
showed the liked determination of the
German official to assume AN ascspdancy
in Samoan affairs. by public notice
the provisional government abolished the
supreme court and then decided that the
President was the acting chief justice
and that Chief Justice Cham bers no
longer held Office. They seized the su-
preme court and placed new locks on all
the doors Chief Justice Chambers and
the british and American consuls issuoa
u proclamation that the court would be
opened by Chief Justica Chambers Ms
usual in the morning Capt sturdy of the
Porposis gave notice that II any resistance
TO the opening Of the court by Justice
Cham beers was offered the Porpoise would
tire on the town. Capt. Sturdy al 30
appealed TO the German ptaln
for assistance, without avail. Mataafa,
upon receiving Saturdays uitimatum
Withdrew his armed guard from the court
house and on January Z, the chief justice
with IA guard OF 25 men landed. The chief
justice and the two oonsuis walked TO the
court house and, after an exciting col
loquy with the German officials Cham beers
ordered the door broken in with "a siedge
hammar. The session OF the court was
then held. Three cheers for the justice
and the British and American oonsnls
We're given by the British anu Americans
and the crowd dispersed All is now
quiet so far as lighting is concerned. The
chief justice has sent his family TO Auck
land, ne himself is on the Porpoise The