Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-09
SAMOA'S TROUBLE.
Exciting Times During Scram-
Bile for the kingship.
German Consul Openly De6es Amer
lean and British Authorities
But Prompt and Energetic Action by Them
Controls the Situation.

San Francisco Feb. S-The steamer
Moana which arrived from Samoa. to-
day, brought fun details of the recent
outbreak AT Apia to The Associated
Press from it's correspondent there. He
writes that while chief justice Cham
bers was considering the claims Of the
rival candidates for the kingship. tho
Mataafa natives. who vera numeri-
cally the stronger, were openly support
ed ny the German officials and the en-
tire German population began to tall.
of immediate war in ease the decision
went against him. The life of the
chief justice was Openly threatened by
one of the chiefs
The three consuis agreed to issue q
proclamation putting the chief justice
and his residence under the protection
Of the treaty powers. For some reason
the German consul declined to carry
out the agreement. The British and
American consuls thererpon issued a
proclamation and hoisted their ma
tional flags over the residence of the
chief justice
The chief justice decided. Dee. q.
that Mataafa was ineligible for cleo
ton and that Maliatoa Tanus was
king. The American and British con-
suls Immediately recognized the new
king. The decision was received in
ominous silence by the natives. With
in an hour, the consulS. the President
and the German and British captains
held meeting. The German consul
and the President declined to recog-
nize Tanus and went over to Mataafa.
who was waiting at Mulina, the west
err portion of Apia.
With 5000 men under arms Mattaafa
surrounded the loyal troops 1900 in
number. who occupied the central por-
ton of the towns. The Maliesonas
lacked arms and ammunition. In few
hours the rebel forces had surrounded
the residence of the chief Justice. who
was guarded by aO00 loyal natives and
Capt. Sturdy of H. NJ S. Porpoise.
landed % sailors under Lieut. Gaunt.
The residence was barricaded and the
men stood to arms until the next morn
ing when the chief justice and family
were taken TO the beach. The British
and American consuls did all they
could to prevent hostiities.
1t the two rebel parties had effected
4 junction the Loyalists might have
been slaughtered but the darkness
came and the fighting ceased. During
the night. Malietoa's people sought re-
fuge in boats and were huddled to-
gether under the guns of the Porpoise.
After the retreat from the Tivoli to the
mission it was found that King Tanus
had been left at the Tivoli. Capt.
Sturdy and Consul Maxse went to the
nOthI t,o
back. 1t was a brave deed and al
though the rescuers were fired upon re-
peat ly they escaped uninjured The
British sailors under Lieut.. Gaunt ba-
haved splendidly. They held their fire
for direct attack which never came.
The American consul Osborne and fam
lily took refuge in the British consul |
ate which was closely guarded by Brit |
ish sailors
by the flight Of the Malietoa nan 10 |
the Porpoise. the rebels were ,aft in alb.
solute possession of the town. All |,
houses We're looted and burn |
ed. White mems houses were invaded |
N searched for Samoan property. The |
irees were cut down, crops were spoil
I'd. dogs and horses were taken away
ana boats stolen or destroyed In his
extremity the oonsuls. the President
ma the leading Mataafan chiefs came
% an agreement to preserve life and
)rorl:ty and Ito keep order A .,r>yis-
onai government, with the President
Is the executive head was approved by
I'll the consuls pending settlement Of
he whole question by their respective
governments.
The British and american consuls
agreed to this Arrangement with the
that it was not to affec.
he Berlin treaty or any official of she
lowers or any Office under it. ana that
he Malietoat people who had been tax
n on board the POrpoise should be al
owed to go to their homes, tha.r arms
'eing retained on, the Porpoise. The
rst act Of the provisional government.
'oweyer. showed the fixed determine
ion of the German official to aasuIae
n ascendancy in Samoan affairs.
by public notice the provisional CIV
rnment abolished the supreme court
nd then decided that the President
vas the acting chief justice and that
'hief Justice Chambers no lonye' held
nice. They seized the supreme couri !
nd placed new locks on all the doors. !.
hief Justice Chambers and the Brit /,
III and American consuls issued ,