The San Francisco call., 1899-04-14
Business Is at a. Standstill
in the Vicinity of
Apia.
ONE SEEKS SAFETY
While on the Philadelphia His
Stock Has Been Stolen and
Plantation Plundered.

The sudden outbreak of war In Samoa,
with its attendant destruction of life and
property, has caused considerable anxiety
in mercantile circles in this city There
are quite a number of firms interested in
the Samoan trade, sending regular sup
plies OF goods to the islands, or importing
copra and other native produce. Last
Friday, when the Mariposa arrived the
lamentable state of trade on Apia Beach
was made manifest by the lack of corre-
spondence. Instead of substantial orders
for large stocks of trade there were but
few letters, and those of a kind indicating
the utmost despair
John Wightman Jr., who acts as the
Pacific Coast agent for the leading Apia
storekeeper, w. Blackjack reports that
he received but few despairing lines
from his client this mail, pointing out that
! under existing conditions it would be i'm
possible to give further orders for goods.
Blackjack is the moving spirit of the
American colony in Apia and for many
years acted as Vice Consul.
The wealthiest American citizen in Apia
is ID. ). Parker, who is a familiar figure
in San Francisco. Years ago Parker had
the good fortune to invest his savings, ac-
cumulated by island trade, in San Fran
cisco real estate. These investments were
made so judiciously that now Parker is
the lucky owner of much revenue produc-
| ing property in this city and is compare
| lively independent of the fluctuations Of
native trade Yet even he despairs, as
ms last letter to Hooper, Jennings q Co.,
his agents here, shows. Parker owns a
large estate just outside Apia, on which
he has built several fine residences one
of which was occupied, until the recent
outbreak, by Judge Chambers the Ameri-
can Chief Justice of the Samoan Supreme
Court Judge Chambers has long ago
been compelled to flee to the United States
J war vessel for protection, and so has poor
Parker, as his letter, tells. He writes
ArAia hn r
| week before the lamentable conflict In
| which Lieutenants Lansdale of the Phila-
! delphia and Freeman of the Tauranga
! lost their lives and heads.
| After referring to some business mat
ters, he writes: There are terrible times
! here and business is completely stopped
! owing TO the war. The American and
| English vessels are sheling the rebels,
and nearly all the foreigners, with their
! Myself and family are on board the Phila-
! delphia We nave lived there for several
days, past, and do not know how long we
will have to remain. My farm, about two
! miles from the harbor where l have 100
/ acres of land and four houses, is at the
mercy of the rebels. My house has been
! and expect my other houses will be
! burned. Very likely my store on the
| beach will go also. At the best l will be
a great loser. American and English sail
! ors are ashore protecting the town, while
the warships are continually throwing
| shells inland. The English have lost three
killed. the Americans one, besides some
wounded.
King Malietoa was crowned to-day.
| and saluted by the Americans and En-
! glish. I hope to hear some good news by
! to-morrow's mail steamer. The Germans
| are keeping neutral. They have been the
! whole cause of the trouble. but / think
| they have seen their day. Apia is under
martial law; one cannot go ten. yards
without permit. l am not sending for
! anything this mail. Please send me pa
| pers with Samoan news.
The last sentence is indicative of poor
| Parker's state of isolation. He is unable
and actually appeals to his San Francisco
! agents for news concerning Samoan af-
! fairs.
Messrs. Healy. Tibbitts & Co. the con-
! tractors for the Pago Pago coaling sta
| tion on Tutuila, are also considerably
! concerned about the recent outbreak
| They fail to see how they can carry out
! the work of building the coaling station
and wharf peacefully and proftably if
| they are to be subject to constant at
not take the contract with the expecta-
| ton of having to wage a small war on it's
! own account and 1t is looking to
! Washington for protection. 1t was stated
came around the Horn with the Iowa,
was to be sent at once to Apia. Still it is
doubtful whether she can be made ready
for sea in less than a month, and the
! Brutus may possibly be dispatched to
! Tutuila instead. Meanwhile Healy, Tib-
bits e. Co. have commenced loading the
| Cardigan Castle, British iron ship, with
| stores and construction material. She
! should be ready to sail for Pago Pago by
| the end of the month and the firm is nat
| this valuable cargo. The Secretary of the
| Navy has had it's view of the case fully
placed before him, and a definite an
nouncement is daily expected from Wash