The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-22

enemies. Several others followed, giving up
their guns as they reached the lines of the
MataafaiteS. Meanwhile the old men kept
advancing to the center of the bridge, de-
claring that life was safe only for those who
surrendered to their rightful king, the great
chief, Mataafa, the pride of their race, who
would forgive their detection and receive
them again as eFring children. Suddenly
with 4 rush the Tanu works were carried
and several hundred Mataafaites marched
up the street, after d1Sarmlng their prison.
ers and sending them to Mulimni Several
whose believed perjuries during the trial
gave great offense came very near losing
their heads during this eventful journey.
Behind the Mataafa forces and in the
shelter of the houses a number of whites
had congregated to see such of the opera
lions as they could with safety. Amongst
these was the German consul general, whose
Veranda was very favOrably located for this
purpose. When the first rush was made and
the first line of intrenchments taken without
a shot a number of these whites followed
up the advancing warriors. Mr.. Rose, the
German consul general, seeing this, mounted
his horse and rode up among the crowd to
see what was going on. He inquired what
it all meant, and was told that it looked
very much like a surrender. Chief Justice
Chambers was at this time in the Tivoli
Hotel, but whether the natives knew this or
not none of them made an attack upon the
building or even went upon it's Veranda. A
few passed it and commenced to get ready
for launching some of the boats of the
Tanu party which lay in a bunch a few
yards beyond the hotel. The story that the
German consul general attacked the TTvoli
Hotel at the head Of two thousand armed
natives is absolutely false and without the
smallest atom of truth. He was merely an
onlooker like many others and was not seen
or heard to address q single word to any
natives. Neither was the hotel at any time
threatened.
inland to meet their friends advancing from
the south. and here in Seumamitafa's house
they captured TUT Samoa, a chief of some
note belonging to Falealili. 1t appeared for
the moment as if the Tanu people were to
give up without firing a ShotA when sud-
denly the roar of musketry close at hand
told a different tale. The Mataafa people,
who were much scattered at this time, were
taken by surprise. With a rush the main
body of the Tanu army emerged from the
trees and native houses and sent the
Mataafa men back on the run. Though the
Tanu people at this point We're inferior IN
numbers, they boldly commenced the DdILle,
driving the Mataafaites before them as far
as the Tanu fort which had first been cap
tured. There a stand was MADE The Tanu-
ties advanced as far as the Supreme Court
building. Several were wounded in this
encounter and Immediately the battle
became general, volley firing being heard
across the Vaisgano and in the neighbour
hood of Mootua-tua, and also at other
points. A number of whites VINO thought
that a general surrender was about to take
place were mixed up with the Mataafa party
before this skirmish commenced, and after
the first alarm they were very fortunate
in getting behind the Tfvoli Hotel, which
was pierced by several shots.
IElAG - NIL III
Bv this time it was nearly dark, and the
line Of burning houses was getting painfully
close to the Tanu people, whose wounded
were being carried into the mission house
close to the Tivoli. TO be guarded by the
marines of the Porpoise and attended by
her surgeons. During the retreat of the
Mataafaites two of their number, Drawer,
perhaps. than some of their friends, in
trenched themselves behind some stones on
the beach near the hotel, and there gave
battle to many of their red-turbaned OPP
ponents. who were much better sheltered.
Believing they were about to be killed or
taken. both dropped their guns and ran into
the sea, swimming with all their strength,
while being pelted with shots from more
than twenty rifles. One of the poor fellows
was hit before he had got beyond the shall
haps younger and stronger, managed to get
beyond easy range, and finally reached
shore in the midst of his friends near the
cathedral. Without any ado the sounded
or dead man on the reef was beheaded and
the CHASTITY trophy carried ashore in tri-
umph.
After dark little firing was done by either
side, both doubtless saving their diminished
supply of ammunition. The Tanuites were
Withdrawing and concentrating in the neigh
borhood of their boats and the Mataafa peo-
ple following them foot by foot. During
the night il rained heavily, with an accom-
paniment Of thunder and lightning of an APP
palling character. Only a scattering shot
Ras heard. About 2 a. m. word was silently
passed along the Tanu lines. and a part Of
the warriors returned to the beach and