The age-herald., 1899-02-09
HISTORY OF THE
 SAMOAN TROUBLE American and English COnSulS Acted To-
 Seth0r in the Matter. USURPERS OF THE THRONE Were Openly Supported by the German Representative and Population.
USURPERS OF THE THRONE
CHAMBERS LIFE WAS THREATENED
Chief Justice Decided in Favor of Ma lieto Tonus, But Mataafa and His Followers Immediately Seized
 the Reins of Government.

San Francisco, February S.-The steamer Moana arrived from Samoa today bringing full details of the recent outbreak at Apia to the Associated Press from its correspond- ent at that place.
 He writes that while Chief Justice Cham- bers was holding the claims of the rival candidates of the kingshp that Mataafa natives who were numerically stronger were openly supported by the German officials, and the entire German population began to talk of immediate war in case the decision went against him, and the life of the chief justice was openly threatened by one of the chiefs.
 The three consuls agreed to issue procla- nation putting the chief justice and his residence under the protection of the treaty powers. For some reason the German con- suls thereupon issued a proclamation and noisted their national flags over the resi- dence of the chief justice December 31. The chief justice decided Mataafa was ineligl- ble for election and that Malietoa Tanus was king. The American and British con- suls Immediately recognized the new king.
 Received With Silence
 The decision was received with ominous silence by the natives. Within the hour the consuls, the presidents and the German and the British captains he'd a meeting. The German consul and president declined to recognize Tanus and went over to Mataafa, who was waiting at Mulim, the western portion of Apia, with 5000 men under arms, until he had surrounded the opposing troops, 1,2OO in number, who occupied the central portion of the town. The Malicious lacked arms and ammunition. In few hours the rebel forces had surrounded the residence of the chief justice, which was guarded by 1200 native troops and H. M S. Porpoise landed fifty sailors under a lieu tenant The residence was barrcaded and the men stood to arms all night, when the chief justice and family were taken to the beach. Fighting was expected to commence at any moment, and the British and Ameri- can consuls did all they could to prevent Aostilities. A renewal of the fighting is expected soon, as both factions of the tives are dissatisfied.
 If the two rebel parties had effected junction the loyalists might have been slaughtered, but darkness came and the fighting ceased
 Under Guns of the Porpoise
 During the night the Malietoans sought refuge in boats and were huddled together in boats under the guns of the Porpoise.
 After the retreat from the Tivoli to the mission it was found that King Talu had been left at the Tivoli. Captain Sturdy and Consul Maxse went to the hotel and brought the king safely back. It was a brave deed, and although the rescuers were fired upon repeatedly, they escaped without damage
 The British sailors under Lieutenant Gaunt, behaved splendidly. They held their fire for direct attack, which never came. The American consul MT. Osburne, and family, took refuge in the British consulate, which was closely guarded by British sail ors. By the flight of the Matietoa men to the Porpoise the rebels were left in absolute possession of the town. All the Samoan houses were footed and burned White mems houses were invaded and searched for Samoan property. Trees were cut down, crops were spoiled, dogs and horses taken away, and boats either stolen or de- stroyed. In this extremity the consuls, the president and the leading Mataafan chiefs came to an agreement to preserve life and property and to keep order.
 Provisional Government Formed
 A provisional government with the presi- dent as executive head, was approved by