The San Francisco call., 1899-03-09
HERR RAFFEL
RECALLED FROM
SAMOAN ISLES
Chief Source of Eric
ton Removed.
PROSPECTS ARE PEACEFUL
NATIVES ARE INCLINED TO
SUPPORT MALIEToA.
PROSPECTS ARE PEACEFUL
NATIVES ARE INCLINED TO
SUPPORT MALIETOA.
The Decisions of Chief Justice Cham
bers Meet With General Ap-
proval-outrages Committed
by Mataafa's Followers.

The chief source of all the trouble in
Samoa has been removed from the group
and hereafter it may be hoped that peace
and quiet will prevail in this much-vexed
island paradise. The arrival of Herr ].
Raffel, the ex-president of tne Apia Mu-
nicipal Council, on the Alameda yesterday
marked the close of the brief but trou-
blesome Samoan rebellion. Herr Raffel
left Samoa in a state of partial collapse.
due to the prolonged strain cast upon
him by his trying position as supporter
of Mataafa. He came into direct con-
fiict with the Supreme Court, at the head
of which was ain American citizen, Chief
Justice Chambers, and not unnaturally
he got the worst of the encounter.
Herr Raffel does not care to talk about
the matter himself, but the latest ad-
vices from Apia indicate that Judge
Chambers has won all along the line.
His decision, awarding the throne to Ma
lietoa Tanu rather than to Mataafa, has
met with general approval among the ma
tiYes, most of whom are only waiting un-
til definite settlement is arrived at in
order to declare their loyalty. The peo-
pie of Tutuila, where the new United
States coaling station is placed, have al
ready shown their preference in a very
marked manner. When the eXiled Ma
lietoa chiefs reached Paga-Pago they
were received with every demonstration
of hospitality. Pigs and fowls lnnumer-
able were killed in their honor. On the
other hand the Mataafa men, nom1nally
guarding the prisoners, were regaled on
nothing but taro, the commonest or veg
etableS
According to Herr Raffel, Judge Cham
bers' decision ran contrary to the eX-
pressed wish of the Samoan people. How
ever it has now been ascertatned that the
majority of the natives are in favor of
Malietoa, though they have hitherto been
deferred by threats from declaring their
true feelings. Herr Raffel, who was the
Royal Treasurer as well as President OF
the Municipal Council, endeaVored to or
ganize at the public expense a regiment
of 1000 Mataafa warriors. They were to
be supplied with modern arms and abun-
might have gone off well had not the Su-
preme Court again interfered. The Brit
ish Consul appealed to the court, and a
leading Savaii trader, E. j. Allen, applied
for mandatory Injunction against DR..
Kafrel and all his officers concerned in
the collection of taxes and customs, re-
straining them from expending Govern
ment moneys on this so-called army. The
injunction was promptly granted, and
with it the scheme for the formation of a
Mataafa regiment came to an end.
The fact is that the provisional Govern
ment established by Mataafa and tempo
rarily recognized for. police purposes by
the foreign consuls, has not come up to
expectations Mataafa' S people, not being
under proper control, have done great
deal of looting in and around Apia, and
further, the provisional Government has
upon Maletoas supporters Fortunately
owing to the presence of two British men,
of-war, the PorpoiSe and the Royalist,
any active outbreak was avoided. Ma
taafas people were compelled to apollo
gize for indignities inflicted on British
and American subjects, and peace was re-
stored. H. ]. Moore, an American citi-
zen, who has all along taken the German
side of the quarrel, was summoned by
Chief Justice Chambers to answer a
charge of contempt Of court, because of
a letter which he had published in the
Samoan Herald disputing the authority
of the Supreme Court. However, Mr..
Moore came down in time, and having
amply apologized was let off with a fine.
Vaflima, the historic home of Robert
Louis Stevenson, together with it's fine
plantation, has been sold to German
merchant, Herr Kunst, for the nominal
APfA Samoa, Feb. 22.-Dr. Joannes
Apia. departed for San Francisco on the
Alameda this afternoon Until the yes
sci was we'll under way it was not a GER
tainty that he should be allowed to leave
Samoan waters, and his saiiing was not
unattended by exciting incidents.
Herr Raffel was ad1udged guilty OF con-
tempt of court some time ago and Chief
Justice Chambers determined upon hold
ing him upon Samoan territory. When
the Moana sailed he was among her listed
passengers, but was seized before he had
an opportunity to become settled IN his
stateroom The Alameda was his next
chance and he made every preparation
for departure. When his intention be
came known 1t was announced that his
way would be blocked and all available
influence was brought to bear upon chief
Justice Chambers to permit Ra1el TO de-
A body composed of the heads of the
leading German firms called upon the
faF TfIcf fno in hnhQlf and nlAadld