The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-04-21
WILD TALE FROM SAMOA
Commander Of German Warship
Said to Have Been Arrested.
IS DIsoREDITED IN WASHINGTON.

Admiral Kautz's Dispatches Late
Enough to Have Covered Any Such
Occurrence = Quarantining of the
Fake Probable Basis of the story.
Seattle Wash, April 21.-The steamer
Aorangi has arrived in Royal roads
from Suve, Fiji islands, with story,
purporting to have come from Apia on
April 4, to the effect that the COM
mander of the German cruiser Fake
was a prisoner on board the British
cruiser Porpoise, having been captured
distributing arms to Mataafa's men on
shore. The Porpoise and the American
flagship Philadelphia are said to have
taken their station on either side of the
Fake and to hold all on board prison
ers.
Some of the passengers of the Aorangi
say they received this information from
the officers of the interisland steamer
Upolu, which had just arrived at Suve
from Apia. No official communication
came on the Aorangi, so far as can be
learned. The story as told by passen-
ger is as follows:
1.-THE German commander was cap
tured on shore by detachment of sail
ors from the Porpoise. He was in the
act of distributing arms and. ammuni-
ton to group of Mataafa's men. The
munitions had been brought ashore
from the cruiser under cover of dark
ness The German commander and the
men with him were taken Greet to the
Porpoise and turned over to Captain
Sturdee. The natives captured were
kept on shore under guard. The capture
was effected without firing a shot, ow-
ing to the British being in superior
numbers.
Captain Sturdee Immediately sent
for Captain Stuart of the Tauranga and
Admiral Kautz and Captain White of
the Philadelphia. The consultation re-
suited, it is said, in deciding to hold the
Fakes commander prisoner and to
place a guard over that vessel. Accord
ingly the Porpoise and Philadelphia
took up positions on either side of the
Fake. The crews of both vessels were
at the guns, and everything was ready
for immediate firing. The Germans were
taken by surprise and made no attempt
at hostilities.
Threatened to Fire on Falkes
1.-THE officers of the Fake were in
formed of the capture of their COM
mander and told that any movement on
their part would draw the fire of both
the Porpoise and the Philadelphia They
were notified that no one would be al
lowed to leave the vessel or to visit her
without a written permit signed by
Captain Sturdee or Admiral Kautz. The
Tauranga in the meantime kept up a
patrol about the harbor. Some of her
men were sent ashore to relieve men
from the Porpoise.
Such was the condition of affairs
when the Upolu left, according to their
statement to the passengers of the Aor-
angi. They reported that conditions on
shore were but slightly changed since
the last advices. Bush fights continued
daily. There was a slight loss of native
life in each engagement. The Mataafa
faction seemed to be losing heart, and
the men of Malietoa Tanu's faction were
correspondingly elated.
much sickness is reported among the
crews of the Porpoise and Philadelphia.
Three sailors of the former had died of
fever They were buried on shore with
full honors. Lieutenant Garnet of the
Porpoise was the only officer reported
sick. He had distinguished himself in
the work done on shore in March and
early in April. Business at Apia is still
at a standStill."