New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-14
SAMOAN WOMEN.
THE FACTS SEEM NOT TO BEAR OUT MRS
sTEvENsoN'S REFERENCE TO THEM

40 DtSlCAIE
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: The pathetic picture Of the bombardment
of Samoan villages by British and American war
ships. drawn by Robert Louis Stevenson's widow
and commented upon In late press cable dispatches
from London, proves to be AIRY phantom"
Mrs. Stevenson's letter 10 the London West
minister Gazette" was written at Funchal. Madeira
further away than we from the of the
commandment the horrors Of which she described
1t Is an imaginary picture" depicting deeds that
disgrace both England and America" and In 1t the
artist suggests that President Mckinley is keep
Ing his humanity for civilized countries alone"
The delicate women who given prominent
places In the picture" seem to have no real exist
ence. In bloody conflicts between the natives
Samoan women have been among the most blood
thirsty belligerents. They fought with fiendish
love of conflict.
The battle last month In which the treacherous
Samoan warriors murdered and beheaded twelve
officers and sailors from United States and British
warships. was fought at the same place-Vailele
near Apia-where. several years ago, a force of
German soldiers was massacred by Mataafans. and
1t was on this same CORY field that was fought in
1893 the bloody battle of vailee. between hostile
Samoan tribes, an interesting account Of which,
from the pen Of Robert Louis Stevenson. pub
iished in an Apla newspaper is among the historic
papers in the files OF the American Department Of
State at Washington.
count Of the battle of vaiele are published clear
succinct and absolutely reliable" details of shock
ing barbarities committed during that Savage and
bloody conflict between the natives, in which
than thirty native warriors were slain four Of
whom were women two of the latter having been
beheaded In this reliable narrative particular
mention is made Of the extreme enthusiasm" OF
the women Malietoa's side; they kept calling
out Fight fight. and used every means they
could think OF TO urge their champions on to VIC
tory" Foremost among these female belllger-
ents were two Apa girls Pelu and Mao, one of
their achievements being to shame some young
men into fighting by selling their guns and start
Ing to advance themselves"
As to the women who were beheaded It is stated
that
Both women. we understand were fighting with
arms In their hands As regards the beheading
her face. and, having short hair. was. in the ex-
cltement and hurry OF the moment, mistaken for a
the head up. much to the horror OF the executoner
Whlle the other was endeavoring TO prevent her
husband being deGapitated, and was killed in so
"A A CHASTITY sght-The first news of the skrmsh
who stated that he had seen six heads in the hands
OF the Vaimauga: Very soon this report was
scented to the King at NIulinuu Five were in kit,
three others carried by the neck and again three
OF the Kings residence and old chief Fatuma-
nava; came out and received them with the usual
other heads were brought In later on, making I'm
all thirteen of these grewsome objects
Prior to these occurrences the natives had been
known to have INDUCED in the barbarous practice
OF beheadng thoir victims to such an extreme de-
gree that Robert Louis Stevenson. then residing at
Apia shocked by the excuses of the natives be-
came the author OF the Anti Decap itation law the
law "forbidding the cutting off of heads" which
as the German Ambassador at Washington after
ward informed Department Of State. was
| wholly dlsregarded by both parties. to be
| expected"
Baron Saurma, the German Ambassador al
Washington transmitted to the Department OF
| State reports received from his Government de-
scrIbing the contests that had taken place between
hostile natives in Samoa. and in his letter to the
| Secretary OF State Baron Saurma remarked that
| The battles OF the natives appear to be carried
| on In a manner which, owing to their cruelty, does
violence to every sentiment of humanity and civil
| iZation.
The official reports submitted by the German Am
| bassador stated that the "uprisings were planned
| and carried out without any reason; simply from a
love of revolution and from desire TO lead a
| pleasant, warke life"
How many dead and wounded there after
| this uprising is not certainly known. TWenty-one
wounded men were sent by the Government party
! to Apa for medical treatment, from which II may
be inferred that the total number was pretty large
| And the German report added. suggestvely:
A law. drafted by the Chief Justice and approved
| by Malietoa. forbdding the cutting off OF heads
was wholly dlsregarded by both parties during the
| prevalence of hostties, as was to be expected
| CLIFFORD WARDEN.
Washington. May 10, 1899.