The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-09
SAMOAN ISLAND DIFFICULTY
FULL DETAILS OF THE RECENT
OUTBREAK 4T APIA,

American and British Flags Raised Sid,
bv Side-German Consul Was Arbi.
Withdrew from Agreemen,
With Other Consuls-British Sailors
Landed and Held Ready for an Attack
San Francisco, Feb. S.-The steamer
Moana, which arrived from Samoa to-
day, brought full details of the recent
outbreak at Apia to the Associated
Press from its correspondent. EIe writes
that while Chief Justice Chambers was
considering the claim of the rival can
dldates for the kingship, the Mataafa
stronger, were openly supported by the
German officials. 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 pro-
| lection of the treaty powers. For some
reason the German consul declined to
carry out the agreement. The German
and American consuls thereupon issued
proclamation and hoi0ted their ma
tional flags over the residence of the
chief justice.
With 5000 men under arms, Mataafa
surrounded the loyal troops, 1900 in
number, who occupied the central por-
ton of the town. The enemy lacked
arms and ammunition. In few hours
the rebels had surrounded the residence
of the chief justice, who was guarded
by 200 loyal natives and Captain Sturdy
of the Fl. M. S. Porpoise landed twenty
five sailors under Lieutenant Kent. The
residence was barricaded and the men
stood to arms until the next morning,
when the chief justice and family were
taken to the beach. The consuls did all
they could to prevent hostilities. Dur
ing the night Malietea's people sought
refuge in boats and were huddled to-
gether under the guns of the Porpoise
After the retreat from the Tivoli to the
mission it was found that King Tanus
had been left at Tivoli. Captain Sturdy
and Consul Maze went to the hotel and
brought the king back. 1t was brave
fired upon repeatedly they escaped un-
injured.
The British sailors under Lieutenant
Kent behaved splendidly. They held
theirfire for direct attack, which never
came. The American consul, Osborn,
and family took refuge in the British
consulate, which was closely guarded
by British soldiers. BY the flight of the
Malieteo men to the interior the rebels
were left in possession of the town. All
houses were looted and burned. White
mems houses were invaded and search
ed for Samoan property. The trees
were cut down, crops were spoiled, dogs
and horses taken away and boats stolen
or destroyed. In this extremity the
consuls, the leading Mataafan chiefs,
came to an agreement to preserve life
and property and to keep order. A pro-
visional government, with the president |
as the executive head was arrived at
by the consuls.
The British and American consuls
agreed to this arrangement with the |
understanding that it was not to affect
the Berlin treaty or any official of the |
powers or any officer under it, and that |
the Malieteo people who had been taken
on board the Porpoise should be allow |
ed to go to their homes, their arms be-
ing retained on the Porpoise. The first |
act of the provisional government, how
ever, showed the fixed determination of |
the German officials to assume an as
cendancy in Samoan affairs. BY public
notice the government abolished the su-
preme court and decided that the pres
ident was the acting chief justice They
seized the supreme court and placed
new locks on all the doors. Chief JUS
tice Chambers and the British and
American consuls issued proclamation
that court would be opened by Chief
Justice Chambers as usual in the morn
ing. Captain Sturdy gave notice that
If any resistance to the opening of the
court by Justice Chambers was offered
the Porpoise would fire on the town.
Captain Sturdy also appealed to the
German captain for assistance, without
avail. Mataafa, upon receiving Stur-
dy's proclamation, withdrew his army
and on January the chief justice, with
4 guard of twenty-five men, landed The
chief justice and the two consuls walked
to the court house and after an exciting
oolloquy with the German officials or
lered a session of the court. All is
now quiet so far as fighting is concern
ed. The chief Justice has sent his fam
ly to Auckland. The Germans still in
;ist that DR.. Rafael is chief justice.
On January Is the wealthiest German
merchant in Samoa smashed all win
lows in the supreme court building
he was fined $l00 and sentenced to 100
lays Imprisonment. In the court he in
ulted the judge and gloried in his deed.
lie was sent 10 Jail and late that night
Or. Radael ordered the jailkeeper, a ,
swiss, with German sympathies, to
axe the prisoner to the German consul. II
This was done and the next day the :
merchant was fined $50 by the German $
onsul. Everybody in Apia is anxious {
y awaiting news of the fighting in the
Interior. Sixty chiefs were sent to
Iauua, but owing to bad weather, could
lot reach that island. They were taken ,