The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-09
SAMoANS WE'RE AWED
DETAILS OF THE DISTURBANCES
AT SAMOA SHOW SITUA-
TION WAS SERIOUS
NERVE PREVENTED MASSACRE

Ou DASSatISneu ana AnKrY Sa.
means at Bay-German Officials
Encouraged Natives to Oppose
the Ruling of Chief Justice Cham
bers-City of Apia Was Looted.
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. s. = The
steamer Moana arrived from Samoa
today bringing full details Of the re-
cert outbreak at Apia. While Chief
Justice Chambers was considering the
claims of the rival candidates for the
kingship the Mataafa natives, who
were numerically stronger and were
openly supported by the German off,
Gals and the entire German popula-
ton, began to talk of immediate war
In case the decision went against him.
The life of the chief justice was openly
threatened by one of the chiefs. The
three consuls agreed to issue a procla-
nation putting the chief justice and
his residence under the protection of
the treaty powers. For some reason the
German consul broke his word and de-
cIlned to do so. The British and Amer
lean consuls thereupon issued procla-
nation and hoisted their national flags
over the residence of the chief Justice.
Dec IL the chief justice decided
Mataafa was ineligible for election, and
that Malietoa Tanus was king. The
American and British consuls imme-
diately recognized the new king.
Inc decision was received with
ominous silence by the natives. Within
an hour the German and British con-
suls held meeting. The German con-
sui and president declined to recognize
Ianus and went over to Mataafa, who
was waiting at Mulinu. the western
portion Of Apia. with 5000 men under
arms. until ne had surrounded the loyal
troops, LOO In number. who occupied
the central portion of the town. The
MalletoaS lacked arms and ammunt-
ton.
In few hours the rebel forces had
surrounded the residence of the chief
justice, who was guarded by 200 loyal
natives, and Capt. Sturdy, of H M. S.
PoTpo1se, landed twenty-five sailors
under Gen. Gaunt. The residence was
barricaded, and the men stood to arms
all night, when the chief justice and
family were taken to the beach,
Fighting was expected to commence at
any moment. and the British and
American consuls did all they could
10 prevent hostilities. A renewal of
the hghtlng Is expected soon, as both
factions of the natives are dissatis-
fed.
1t the two rebel parties had effected
a junction the loyalistss might have
| been slaughtered, but darkness came
and the fighting ceased. During the
night Malfetoa people sought refuge in
| boats and were huddled together under
the guns of the Porpoise. After the
| retreat from the Tivoli to the mission
it was found that King Talu had been
| left at the Tivoli. Capt. Stury and
| Consul Maxse went to the hotel and
brought the king safely back. It was
a brave deed and although the rescu-
ers were fired upon repeatedly they
escaped without damage.
BRFTONs BEHAVED WE'LL.
| The British sailors under Lieut..
| Gaunt behaved splendidly. They held
| their fire for a direct attack, which
| never came. The American consul, 4Os-
borne, and family took refuge In
the British consulate, which was close
| ly guarded by British sailors.
By the flight of Malietoa's men to
the Porpoise the rebels were left in alb
solute possession Of the town. ALI
Samoan houses were looted and burned
White mems houses were invaded and
searched for Samoan property Trees
were cut down, crops were spoiled. dogs
and horses taken away and boats either
| stolen or destroyed In this extremity
| the consuls, the president and the lead
/ Ing chiefs came to an agreement to
| preserve life and property and to keep
order. A provisional government, with
| the president as the executive head,
| was approved by all .consuls pending
| the settlement Of the-Whole question
| by their respective governments. The
British and American consuls agreed
| to this provisional ARRANGEMENTS with
| the understanding that it was in no.
wise to affect the Berlin treaty or any
| official OF the powers or any office un-
| der it, and that the Malietoa people
who had been taken on board the Por-
poise should be allowed to go to their
| homes, their arms being retained on
| the PorpOise The first act of the pro-
| V1S1onal government, however. showed
| the fixed determination of the German
officials to assume an ascendancy in
Samoan affairs. BY public notice the
| provisional government abolished the
supreme court, and then decided that
the president was the acting chief JUS
tfce and that Chief Justice Chambers
no longer held office. They seized the
| supreme court and placed new locks
on all the doors.
SUPREME COURT REOPENED.
Chief Justice Chambers and the Brit.
| ish and American consuls issued q
proclamation that the court would be
reopened by him as usual in the morn.
Ing. Capt. Sturdy, Of the Porpoise
gave notice that. If any resistance to
the opening of the court by Justice
| Chambers was offered, the Porpoise
would open fire on the town. Capt
Sturdy also appealed to the German
captain for assistance, without avail
Mataafa, upon receiving Sturdy's ul.
| timatum, withdrew his armed guard
from the court house, and on Jan.
the chief justice, with guard o,
| twenty fve men, landed. The CHIEF
justice and the two consuls walked tt
the court house, and, after an exciting
colloquy with the German officials
Chambers ordered the door broken ir
with large sledge hammer The ses.
sion Of the court was then held. Thre.
cheers for the justice and the British
end American consuls were given by
the British and Americans, and the
crowd dispersed.
All is now quiet. and, so far as fight.
Ing is concerned, is SO up to date. TIL,
chief justice has sent his family tc
Auckland, and he himself Is on the
Porpoise. The Germans still insis
that DR.. Rafael is chief justice.
GERMANS WORK TOGETHER.
On Jan. 10 the wealthiest German
merchant in Samoa smashed all the
windows in the supreme court building
He was fined 500 and sentenced to 1Ot
days imprisonment In the court hi
insulted the judge and gloried in his
deed. He was sent to Jail, and late
that night Dr. Rafael, claiming to be
chief justice, ordered the Jail keeper. E
Swiss with German sympathies, to tax.
the prisoner to the German consul
This was done, and the next day tn.
merchant was fined ESQ by the German