The Portland daily press., 1899-07-21
A MARROW ESCAPE.
How Near the United states and Ger
many Once Came TO War.

III. @. Walsh in Ainslee's Msgazine)
1t was at the outbreak Of this owl
strife that Capt Leary arrived at Apia,
In the American war ship Adams DR..
Knsppe was then the German consul at
pia, and he and Comdr. Fritza of the
German war ship Adler carried on affairs
with an imperious hand. Feeling ran
high between the Germans on one hand,
and the Americans and English ON the
other. The Germans bombardsd villages
ON various pretexts, fired upon unarmed
natives, and gave open aid to Tamasese.
Capt. Leary at that time was command
er and. 1t was not long before he and
Capt. Fritze had some likely interchanges
Of compliments. On one occasion, the
Adler steamed rast the American ship
with native chief bound to her fore.
mast. The Germ an came to standstill.
A boat was dispatched to ascertain why
the American had not answered the
salute. Comdr. Leary sent the Teuton
this characteristic reply. "The United
States docs not salute vessels engaged In
the slave carrying trade" But an Incl.
dent which best illustrates Uomdr. Leary q
grit and determination, and which de-
serves to live in song and story. occurred
In the waters near Apia on Novemb er Is,
1888 Strained relations came to a crisis
then, and war between the United S tates
and Germany seemed inevitable.
On the day previous a message cam
from Mataafa to inform Comdr. LeaIy
that the Germans had threatened to at
tack Mataafa In his stronghold on tn
morrow. Both Mataafa and Iamasese
had intrenched themselves in fortified
placed, about seven miles from Apia, upon
land under American protection. Mat
aafa asked for advice and Comdr. Leary
told him through the messenger to stand
his ground. that he would not allow the
Germans to make an attack upon proper
ty under his protection.
According to the German programme,
Leary quietly prepared to foil the plan,
ut the Same time keeping his counsel.
By using some hard coal he had aboard,
he was able to get up steam without tell
tale smoke that would have warned the
Germans of his actions. Then he muf1lad
his anchor chains with native mats, and
at In the morning all hands were quiet
ly called to quarters. AT daybreak the
anchors OF the Adler were hauled up, and
With full steam on, the 30 sol inaoe for
the open sea. Noiselsssly came up the
Yankees anchors, and to the amazemeut
of the Adler. the Adams was close upon
her heels. The German had to turn TO
get out of the harbor, and by the time
she reachedsthe entrance the two ships
were close together. Again the German
turned. and then headed toward the fort
that waste be bombardsd. Comdr. Leary
ran his ship between the German and the
shore, and when about 800 yards from
the Adler gave the order:
"Clear for action ~
At once the decks were cleared, and
the guns were trained. The German
followed suit, and the two ships steamed
along the coast ready for the fray. A
shot from either vessel meant war bo-
tween the two countries. When opposite
the native forts, the Adler came 60 an
Choir, and the Adams anchored between
the vessels that no guns could be fired
from the Adler without passing over or
through the Adams. Then Comdr. Leary
sent this note to the German commander
II have the honor to inform you that,
having received information that Ameri-
can property in the Latoga Vicinity OF
Laulii, Lotoanuu and Solo-Solo Is liable
to be invaded this day. am here for
the purpose of protecting the same"
For hours the men stood at their gums,
but no shot came from the German. He
was ready to war upon the Samoaps, but
war with the United States was another
mattsE At length the German started
ON q cruise along the coast, but he could
not shake off the Yankee. Finally he
renouced his designs and returned to bis
anchorage In Apia bay. To her anchor
age Game also the Adams. and Comdr.'
Leary had won the game.