The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-05-04
MISSIONARIES IN DANGER
HURRICANE IN THE
CAROLINES.
At Kusaie Many Flee for Their Lives
Tribal War in Ruk-German Intri-
que at Ponape,

SAN FRANCISCO, April 24.-The
barkentine Ruth arrived from the
southern seas yesterday after an ex-
citing cruise. She brings the news of
a hurricane at Kusaie, fighting at Po-
nape, the probable death of f. D..
O'Keefe, the copper king of zap; the
release of j. V. Melander, an Ameri-
can citizen, by the Spaniards; and the
wreck of the Horatio. In Ruk there is
a tribal war and the missionaries have
taken sides. AT Ponape the Germans
are trying to gain foothold, and the
natives are prepared to fight the mo-
ment any concession is granted them.
THE biggest STORM ever known rag
ed in the Carolines last February"
says Captain Challeston of the Ruth.
AT Kusaie it carried away two miles
of the coral reef and turned the la
goon harbor into a boiling cauldron.
Houses were blown down, cocoanut
and breadfruit trees were torn up by
the roots and the waters were back
ed up until the town was flooded. Drs.
Channon and Rife, the missionaries,
with their wives and families were
compelled to flee to the hills, and Mrs.
Oleane and another woman mission
airy nearly lost their lives.
you have had the news that j. V.
Melander, an American trader, had
been made prisoner by the Spaniards
at Ponape on July last. They not
only made him a prisoner but also
confiscated his schooner. Well, short
ly before we reached Ponape, Mean-
der was given his schooner and was
told he could 90 as soon as he pleased.
80
Melander that he never had been TAX
en- away and he could have left in his
vessel whenever he pleased. Melander
said nothing, but seized the opportu-
nifty and sailed at once for Kusaie.
"Ponape is practically in state of
siege and the soldiers are afraid to
leave their barracks. Two of the
tribes have risen against the Span
iards and nothing saves the Dons from
determination but hostage whom
they hold. They captured native
named Henry Nanapi, whom the tribes
in revolt hold in the greatest esteem
and veneration. AS long as the Span
iards can keep Nanapi and keep him
alive Ponape is safe. but should he es-
cape or die the natives will sweep all
before them"
"A trlDal war is raging du huh, Sdl'
Mr.. EXtrom yesterday. Il am sorry
to say the missionaries are egging the
natives on. This is particularly true
in the case of the Rev. a. G. Smelling.
| incurred this mans ill-will because
sheltered fugitive chief aud would
not give him up when Snelling's war
riors demanded him. Instigated by
the missionary, the natives stole my
boat and tried to burn my house
down. The house is riddled with bull
let's fired into it by the natives. The
rival missions are the cause of all the
trouble, and until some one puts a
stopper on the missionaries the fight
ing will go on.
"The Germans are trying very hard
to get foothold on the islands. They
keep the Governor of Ponape not only
! in their debt, but half the time drunk
and are constantly trying to get him
to make over land to them. The Gov
ernor cannot make over an acre to
them, as he does not own it. The ma
tives hold the land, and refuse to pay
taxes or recognize the Spaniards in
any way. If the Germans attempt tC
seize any of the islands there will be
| fighting right away"