The record-union., 1899-02-09
LATE TROUBLES IN
SAMOAN ISLANDS.
Details Of the Outbreak Over the
Election Of a King
Bear Out the First Reports Of ReheIIious
Actions Of 6erman Agents.

Provisional Government Than
| the Kaiser's Representatives
Showed Their Fixed Determina-
ton to Assume Ascendency in
Controlling Affairs.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. S.-The
steamer Moana arrived from Samoa
to-day, bringing full details of the re-
cent outbreak at Apia to the Assocl-
atec Press from it's correspondent at
that place He writes that while Chief
Justice Chambers was hearing the
claims of the rival candidates for the
Kingship the Mataafa natives who
were numerically stronger, were open
ly supported by the German offlclals'
and the entire German population pc
gan to talk of immediate war in case
| the decision went against him, and
the life of the Chief Justice was open
ly threatened by one of the Chiefs.
| The three Consuls agreed to issue
a proclamation putting the Chief JUS
tice and his residence under the protec-
ton of the treaty Powers For some
reason the German Consul broke his
word. and declined to do so. The Brit
1ish and American Consuls thereupon is
sued the proclamation and hoisted their
national flags over the residence of the
Chief Justice.
| On December 31st the Chief Justice
decided that Mataafa was ineligible for
election. and that Malietoa Tanu was
King. The decision was received with
ominous silence by the natives. With
in an hour the Consuls, the President
and the German and British Captains
| held a meeting. The German Consul
and President declined to recognize
Tanu. and went over to Mataafa, who
was waiting at Mulinuu, the western
portion of Apia, with 5000 men under
arms until he had surrounded the loyal
troops. / 200 in number, who occupied
the central portion Of the town. The
Malietoa men lacked arms and ammu-
milton.
/ In a few hours the rebel forces had
surrounded the residence of the Chief
Justice, which was guarded by 200 loyal
natives. and Captain Sturdy of H NJ S.
Porpoise landed twenty-five sailors
under Lieutenant Gaunt. The resi-
dence was barricaded, and the men
! >--~N-
Justice and family were taken down
to the beach. Fighting was expected
to commence at any moment, and the
British and American Consuls did all
they could to prevent hostilities.
Bv midday on Sunday the rebel
troops had completely hemmed in the
Royalists. Their plans had been care
fully laid, and the rebels were headed
off
who is at the present time in receipt
of pension from the German Govern
ment. Under his direction barricades
were thrown up in the main streets of
the town. Won Rulow and the Presi-
dent and the German Consul were in
constant consultation and German
merchants supplied cartridges to the
rebels.
| King Tanu and a large number or
white people sought refuge in the IT.
voli Hotel. At about 4:30 on Sun
day afternoon 800 rebels made rush
from the western side of the town
| toward the hotel, and the fighting had
commenced. The German Consul rode
at their head, and Won Bulow was in
actual command. The fighting was
severe in the man street.
| hearing the IlTIIS Ou tllt DcdCH, d
party of rebels 900 strong, advanced,
driving before them party of loyal
lists. Thousands of shots were fired,
and for two hours there was a stub
born defense The Loyal party by
nightfall had been driven to within
about a quarter of 3. mile of the mis-
sion station, around which the balance
of the Royalists had been compelled to
retire. If the two rebel parties had
affected a junction the Loyalists would
have been slaughtered but darkness
came and the fighting ceased.
During the night the Malietoa people
sought refuge in boats and were hud-
died together under the guns of the
Porpoise After the retreat from the
Tivoli to the mission, it was found that
King Tanu had been left at the Tivoli.
Captain Sturdee and Consul Maxse
went to the hotel and brought the King
safely back. 1t was a brave deed,
and although the rescuers were fired
upon repeatedly, they escaped with
out damage.
The British sailors, under Lieutenant
Gaunt, behaved splendidly. They held
their fire for a direct attack, which
never came. The American Consul,
Osborne, and family took refuge in the
british Consulate. which was heavily
guarded by British sailors.
By The flight of the Malietoa men to
the porpoise the rebels We're left in abb
solute possession of the town. All Sa-
moan houses We're looted and burned.
| White mems houses We're 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 Consul and the
President and the leading Mataafa
chief came to an agreement, in order to
preserve life and property and TO keep
order A provisional Government, with
the President as executive head was
approved by the Consuls, pending the
settlement of the whole question by
their respective Governments. The
British and American Consuls agreed to
this provisional arrangement, with the
understanding that it was in no wise
to affect the Berlin treaty, or any Off
/ cial, or the powers of any officer under
| it, and that the Malietoa people, who
had been taken on board the PorpOise,
should be allowed to go to their homes,
their arms being retained on the Por-
poise.
/ The first act of the provisional Gov
lernment however. showed the fixed de-
termination of the German officials 70