The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-01
SAMOA'S SIX HOURS CRISIS.
QUICK WORK WOULD HAVE SAVED
THE BLOoDSHED THBRR

Chief Justice Chambers Advised Him
to DO so-Mataafa Game Back and War
Foliowed-The Exciting Scene when
chief Justice Was Escorted to His Court
Under Arms-Mr. Osborn's Painting
Spell and Other Critical Incidents.
APiA. Samoa, Aug. 2-Tho solution Of tho
recent Samoan difficulty, the traditional ounce
of prevention which 10 80 often omitted for the
inevitable pound Of cure In the grasp Of officials
in Apia for tho space OF six houra Tho pre-
cautionary method, although suggested, was not
followed Affairs progressed to sum Of rebellion
and war and TO the slaughter OF Americans worthy
OF a moro dignifod fate than butchery al the
hands OF eavages In tropical jungle
For fye years Mataafa and his fellow chiefs
had been paying tho penalty Of their former TO
bellion In exile on the lonely sands Of Jaluit.
Laupepa in tho goodness Of simple nature. had
urged that his enemies DO forgiven and restored
to their own The United States was the fore
most of the treaty powers In supporting the wish
Of the puppet king Of Samoa Tho Government
was consistent In this action II had always
noted its protest against considering the sentence
of Punishment as indeterminate II had paid
every year It's quota toward tho support Of this
petty king In exile but with every payment II
had served notice that II expected Mataafa to DO
returned when tho political situation was such
as to admit For reasons Of - own. which were
probably explained In the reports Of On Sorma.
German Commissioner for the Marshall Islands,
Berlin was ready 10 second the motion Of tho United
States Great Britain alone objected II took
year and half Of diplomatic correspondence
30 bring about that unanimity which the Berlin
Act provides In theory for tho administration Of
Samoan affairs AT last II was settled The wish
of Laupcpa was ordered gratifed and identical in
.structions wero sent TO the three consular rep
resentatives to take the needful stops 10 bring
Mataafa back 70 Samoa There was large ele-
Encnt Of pathos In tho dtustion. Mataafa was
growing old and extlo was 70 him. az 70 any So
moan. worse than death For himself ho entered
into solemn undertaking; his whole family.
the Aines Paia or Holy Family Of Samoan his
tory. solsmnly swore to IL He had but ono desire,
80 como homo and die among his own. The
few remaining years were 10 be spent as Q village
chief at Amailo on the clid at whose base pushes
forth tho Legendary Val 10 Tamn, tho Chiefs
Spring. or at Falefa within sound Of tho cataract
Of the Muliva, 10 where his great ancestress Sala
masina grasped the rule Of all Samoa and became
the leader Of all tho archipelago in tho backward
mist Of legend The Consuls and Consuls- General
received their instructions on the Same steamer,
the monthly mail boat from San Francisco
Conditions had suddenly changed since II
seemed good to the authorities In Washington and
London to order tho return Of Mataafa From that
moment Berlin took solitary course, and una
nimity at an end. Tho steamer came into the
harbor there at Apia early In tho forenoon and
disembarked It's load Of tourists, who were keen
10 see the native dancing girls and TO buy all the
hmal and savage wares that the islanders are won't
10 force on the tourists with their monotonous
whine OF "Faamoemole faakau." or please buy"
The pursers tell their cabin passengers, Give
The beggars a shilling" but even at that II Is a
NJ tha Tkn -
In to conduct themselves tourists always do
the Consuls had their mail to open. But the
situation had changed and tho tourists had they
been president, might have iotted down in their
diaries that thoy were present at the opening act
OF a tragedy.
The night before, death had visited the Samoan
throne. In the smallest hours Of tho morning tho
death wall had arisen and II was known that
Malietoa Laupepa, tho twenty ninth Of his lino
and the last King that Samoa Ii TO know, had died
Apia knew this but IL would not DO known for q
week in the capitals Of the world which do not
have to watch the northern sky for the monthly
smoke that brings news Tho death Of Laupepa
had put different complexion on Samoan Affairs
While he lived with tho promise Of yet many simple
to come the return OF his great rival stood as
generous act Of clemency. To bring Mataafa
back 70 the grave Of tho King who had pardoned
him was TO create candidate for the throne and
to breed trouble. And the steamer oame In a few
hours later with tho orders to bring Mataafa back,
for Washington and London would not know of
the altered conditions for yet o week. and no mat
tr what action they might take they could not
communicate Il to their representatives in Apia
short Of thirty-four dayA
Five white men the beach at Apia 70 face q
crisis. The time was short The steamer would
remain but six hours, and then resume her voyage
nd xuha ~.
would then be lost The Ave men who faced the
crisis which might mean exposing the white peo-
pie to the wars Of savages were two Germans. two
Americans, one Englishman, tho three consular
officers and the Chief Justice Of Samoa and the
President OF the Municipality Of Apia The posi-
ton of the German Consul General and the Ger
man President was only 70 DO inferred, but II was
ac"rtainty that they would act In concert accord
ing to tho will Of the Berlin authorities. The
American and the British Consuls were both new
men Il was not their fault that they did not at
once foresee the trouble. Tho one man Of tho Ave
who both appreciated tho gravity Of the situation
and sought to prevent the coming trouble, was the
American Chief Justice. Judge Chambers fore
saw the trouble, but he had power to act He
was absolutely helpless Time was speeding
the steamer would sail early In the afternoon so
that 1t might be clear OF tho Tutula Strait before
dark. and the ono man who saw what should DO
zone TO save Samoa could not move hand, for
the Berlin Act bound him.
Judge Chambers found in his mail memo
fandum Of the agreement OF the Powers on the sub.
lcr' OF the return OF Mataafa Steamer day Is o
BUSY time for the officials in Apia under ordinary
circumstances and the Chief Justice made II a
practice to adjourn court and deal with the news
which came to him. While he was In his ONCE en-
erosse'with the mail the American Consul eneral
LuIherW Osborn OF Nebraska, called to commun-
oH'" Informally his instructions TO act with his col
leagues in providing for the return OF Mataafa
ohrally Judge Chambers could do nothing,
could suggest nothing for the Berlin Act provides
mat h" shall act only on the concert Of the Pow
r'' hut as ono American TO another American,
n''h recognizing that tho German President and
.h' herman Consul-General would act In perfect
'.n''nc accord, he pointed out tho difficulties
winch the death OF Laupepa had thrown about
IN" situation, and that the conditions were no
i'hE'r the same as when the Powers had agreed
IT, me return Of the exiled rehel Ind0e mha