The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-16
Stolen From the Eoly OF Lieutenant
LanSdale BY Samoan Murderers.
RESTORED TO HIS WIFE
MATAAFA LENDS ASSISTANCE
IN THE SEARCH.
Chief Writes Letter to President
Mckinley In Which He Expresses
Regret at the Fate of the Two
American Naval Officers = An
Englishman's Efforts.

Washington, Sept. 15.-The president
received in audience at the White
House this afternoon Mr.. John George
Leigh, who has spent several months in
Samoa as special correspondent of the
London Times, and is now ON his return
journey to England. While in one OF
the black villages of Upolu. Mr.. Leigh
learned that a watch, believed to nave
belonged to either Lieutenant Ians-
dale or Ensign Monaghan, the two Of
ficers of the United States cruiser Phi
adelphia who were killed during the
recent war against Mataafa, had been
found and was in the possession of a
native He at once communicated with
Mataafa, whom he had visited only a.
few days previously, and promptly re-
ceived a reply from the high chief as
surfing him that no effort will be spared
to recover the relic, and begging him,
should the search prove successful TO
restore the watch to the rightful owner,
with my heartfelt condolences.
He added: you know what feel
about America and the late unhappy
war" At the same time he placed at
Mr.. Leigh's command his grandson
and a, boats crew, who were Instructed
to carry in every necessary direction
Mataafa's order to his adherents.
Recovered the Watch.
While these messengers were in the
island of Savaii, a watch and cnaln,
with locket and other articles attached,
were handed to Mr.. Leigh and ldentl-
fed as the property of the late Lieu
tenant Lansdale A few days later the
correspondent left Samoa for San
Francisco, where he met the young
widow of the lamented officer ana
1,o,
Long ago. at the instigation of her fam
lily and of Lansdale's comrades in the
navy, unsuccessful efforts had been
made to trace the articles, so the hope
that they ever would be found had been
practically abandoned.
Mr.. Ugh this afternoon handed to
the president letter from Mataafa, OF
which the following is a translation:
Regrets of Mataafa.
'aTo His Excellency, William McKin-
ley, President of the United States of
America-Your Excellency: l have to-
day been informed that watch has
been found by one of my people which
is believed TO have belonged to Lieu
tenant Lansdale or Ensign Monaghan,
who were unhappily killed in battle at
Vailele on April l. / have learned that
Mr. Leigh is about to leave Samoa for
america anu nave aShSu hill " COil-
vey the watch to your excellency, in the
hope that you will cause it to be re-
stored to the bereaved mother or near
est relative of the brave and much la
mented officer.
Mr.. Leigh will tell you that ] have
sincerely deplored the sad, untimely
death of the brave officers and men
who came from America and persisted
in the late unhappy (useless) war. My
sorrow is the more because of the great
friendship which your great country
has in the past extended to Samoa. l
am especially anxious that this should
be made known to the sadly stricken
mothers and relatives. May it be the
will of God that there may never again
be strife between America and the Sa-
means and that the three powers will
recognize my submission to their Will
and desire for good government. 1 pray
God may give you long life.
TT. J. MATAAFA.'