Iron County register., 1899-05-18
THE Massacre NEAR APIA.
admiral Ixautx Throws LiEht ep
the Fatal Battle In when
Brave Men Died.


Washington, May 16.-Secretary
Long Yesterday made public SO inucn
of n recent report from Admiral hau'A
upon Samoan affairs as touches
killing of number of Americah s',i
ors bv Mataafa adherents near Apla
on the first of April.
The report is an elaboration oi 'ne
DESCRIPTION of the affair when was y"
bled at the time by the press Iroin
Auckland. No mention is made az any
point of the reported participation -
the affray of the German, Huffnagelih',
the manager of the plantation Wnere
the fight occurred. 1t is shown thaI
the failure of the Colt gun TO WoIh
properly was in large measure the
cause of the American and British de-
feat.
Protected by Capt. Sturdee.
Admiral Kautz says that the eNpedl.
ton was projected by Capt. Sturdee Oh
the Porpoise. For several nights pre-
ceding the sentries had been fred upon
by the natives, and it became necessary
to drive the aggressors away. Aaiilir"n
Kautz says that it was the OPINION oA
all the officers who had the matter III
charge that the force was ample 10 40
the work without risk, especially as ~
was to move out along the beach ana
return the same way, under the pro
lection of the guns of H. NJ
S. Royalist. 1t is safe 10
saw. adds the admiral, that
after Lieutenants Freeman and TINS
what they deemed best under the err
cumstances, and the disaster that fol-
lowed could not be foreseen.
Reports of Surviving officers.
Admiral Kautz appends the report oil
surviving officers of the expedition
which were transmitted by Capt. White
of the Philadelphia.
In his letter of transmi ;tal the cap
tain commends in the strongest terms
the work of Passed Assistant Surgeon
G. 4. Lung, He says:
Set An Excellent Example.
AT times when the fire from the
natives was thickest end at all times
by his example, he encouraged the
young and inexperienced men to the
proper performance of their duty. On
the completion of the work of his pro-
fession he assumed command of our
blue jackets and marched them to the
United States consulate.
The Happenings of April L.
Capt. White describes at some length
the happenings of April 1, as gathered
from a. close examination of the petty
officers and men engaged in the fight
lie says that several excursions had
been made into the beach back of Apia
in the first two days of marching,
Very few natives had been observed.
and when seen they always fled when
fired upon by the Colt automatic gun.
Lieut.. Lansdale set great store by the
gun, and frequently operated it him
self. Says Capt. White:
The Colt Automatic Failed Them.
HE appears to have depended great
ly on the gun when the party was am
bushed on April 1. Twice it did not
work and some time was lost in over
hauling it, and great delay was con-
sumed in trying to get it through the
wire fence. Lieut.. Lansdale was loath
to abandon it, but the fire was so GALL
ing that before he was wounded he
was compelled to scatter the important
parts and leave it behind. Prudence
led him to deploy his men in open or
der The thicket was SO dense that
when the order for retreat was sound
ed it was not possible for the groups
to render each other mutual support.
Fate of Lieut.. LnnsdaIe.
Lieut.. Lansdale was wounded below
the knee after the Colt was abandoned,
and rendered incapable of marching.
lie was assisted by his men, one of
them, N. f. Edsall (ordinary seamen),
was mortally wounded while so doing.
1t is not clear when Lansdale received
the wound in his chest.
Brave Ensign Monaghan.
1t is in evidence most clear that
when Ensign Monaghan discovered
that Lieut.. Lansdale was wounded he,
used his best efforts to convey him to
the rear, and Selling rifle from dis
abled man, made brave defense, but
he fell very shortly after
joining him, and the hostiles, flushed.
with success, bore down on our men in
the vicinity. The men were not in suf-
fieient numbers to hold ont any longer
and were forced along by fire which
it was impossible to withstand. Ensign
Monaghan did so. He stood by his.
wounded superior and friend; one rife
against many; one brave man against
q score of savages. He knew he was
He could not yield. He died
in heroic performance of duty.
Admiral Krautz' report, which is
quite lengthy, names several other
brave men who did well their duty.
A Protest that Should Have weight.
Washington, May 16.-Many naval
officers are sending in respectful pro-
tests against the proposed change of
uniform in the navy. 1t is urged that
the change would entail an expense of
800 each on about 1000 officers. and
that it is the result of caprice or, the
part of a few persons, and not a move
ment approved by the navy at large
Secretary Long has deferred the exc.
cution of the order.