The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-01-13
MATAaFA nAusEs TROUBLE
Natives Of Samoa Threaten TO
Masacree the Whites.

San Francisco. Jan. i2-The following
letter has been received sy the Assoclat-
cd Press from ita Samoan correspondent
and shows how alarming was the situ-
alton when the steamer Mariposa left
Apla for this chg. The letter IS dated
Apia, December 2s:
Special correspondence OF the Associat-
ed Press
Apia, Dec 2s-Events have moved very
rapidly since the last mail left here.
Civil war has been narrowly avertcd and
for the FIRST time I'M the Samoan history
the lives Of white residents have been
threatned by tn natives. Even now blood
sSed Is not far from improbable. Armed
guards protect the residence OF Chief JUS
tice chambers, an American citizen, and
that Of Mr. Guss, the leading English law
yer II the town, who has taken a promi-
nent part an supporting Malietoa Tanus
claim to the throne II fighting once be-
gins the result viii be serious. for each
side mas thousands of men in the hefa
ana it win require energetic action on the
part OF the English ana German warshpa
TO keep the conflict within bounds.
MATAAFA CAUSES TRoUm-E.
The whole trouble has arisen through
the injudcious action or the three treaty
powers I'm bringing the departed Moafa
back TO Samoa. BY doing SO they have
thrown down "a bone OF contention and
converted what otherwise might have
been n peaceful election into an angry
combat or course at this time, America,
England and Germany. agreed to the
Mataafns return For many years ever
since the unfortunate affair az Vailele.
when so many brave German soldiers
lost their lives. the Germans have shown
a feeling of uncompromising hostility to-
wards Mataafa under whose leadership
the Teutonic defeat was accomplished
Laterly. for some unexplained reason, the
German officials have changed their
views. and have tried 70 secure Mataafas
return. This courage has brought the
German consul into disagreement with
the British consul the natives nave been
encouraged TO turbulence and the lives
Of white residents have been ndang,el
The trouble began Immediately upon
Mataafas return from Jaluit Though he
was nominaly held as a prisoner, the
consuls. actuated by kindly motives. gave
him permission to reside on the Royal
Demense at Mulinsu and to take such Of
his adherents as he chose W.. him.
This permission "Faa Samoa" was Inter-
preted literally. and Mataafas people be-
gan crowding by thousands into the lin
tied space Of the Mullnsu peninsula. Al
first the followers OF Malietao, chiefs who
had followed the fortunes Of the late
king for years, gave way courte0usly, but
eventually they found themselves driven
entirely from their thatched houses and
were forced to take refuge In another
quarter Of the town.
A PROCLAMATION OBEYED
Fortunately Maletoas people preserved
friendly attitude ana obeyed the proc-
lamation of the consuls demanding that
peace should be made at all hazards.
But still the usurpers of Mulinsu were
aggressive and isuod proclamation
proclaiming Maiietoa king Of Samoa. The
climax was reached when Mataafa ard
his chiefs actually discharged the chic
OF Justice who IS appointed under the Her
lin treaty by the three powers. OF
course such action was purely fafcical
and the chief Justice speedily notified
Mataafa that he must wait for the decis-
sion of the court before he could legally
decuare himself king