The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-02-01
THE WAR SCARE IN SAMOA
BELLIGERENTs ARE RESTING ON
THEIR ARMS.
Serious Rupture Between the Consuls
and an International Quarrel May
Ensue.

The situation in Samoa may be de-
scribed as "smouldering." On the 25th
when the Moana was there, the chief
justice held the court and Mataafa,
the insurgent king, was holding his
position on the outskirts of Apia.
There was no fighting and both sides
seemed satisfied to await the action of
the powers in the matter. At Apia'
passengers by the Moana were ap-
preached by many natives and asked
in whispers if American and British
warships were on their way to the Is
lands. The natives feel sure that the
harbor will soon be filled with war
ships.
In the fight which took place about
20 were killed, 20 chiefs dragged from
their homes and eXiled, hundreds of
native houses burned, plantations de-
vastated and about 1000 followers of
Malietoa Tanumafili captured and ta-
ken prisoners to the headquarters of
Mataafa.
1t will be remembered the Chief Jus
tice declared Malietoa elected king of
Samoa. This decision was given on
December 31st. A meeting of the con-
suls of Great Britain, the United States
and Germany was held at which the
latter refused to abide by the deci-
sion. 1t was known that he was in
sympathy with the cause of Mataafa.
When it became known that the
German consul had refused to endorse
the decision of the chief justice, Ma
taafa's followers began to assemble
and marched to Apia. Malietoa assem-
bles about 1000 men and went out
to meet them. By a ruse 500
of these were captured, and in the
fight which ensued the remainder were
badly defeated. Malietoa first took
refuge in the Tivoli hotel, but this place
i
came necessary for him to move, under
the protection of the British consul.
He went aboard the British warship
Porpoise, as did also the chief justice
and a number of British and American
residents. That night 1,200 Samoans
also went out to the warship and took
refuge there.
Next day the three consuls recogniz-
ed Mataafa as provisional ruler until
the powers could be heard from. In
the meanwhile. however, the German
consul had declared court closed and
had appointed Dr. Raffel head of the
provisional council, chief justice.
BRITISH CAPTAIN ACTS.
When this became known there was
consultation between the British and
American consuls and the captain of
the Porpoise. Following that Com
mander Sturdee of the warship, issued
public notice in which he declared
that the supreme court would be re-
opened with Chief Justice Chambers
on the bench at ~ o'clock noon of the
following Saturday, and if there was
any resistance from any quarter, fire
would be opened to support the rights
of the two great powers, Great Britain
and the United States.
Upon receipt of this notice the Ger
man consul issued another as follows:
According to official notice received
| fFT L ID M
be expected that Apia will be shelIed
by II. b. M. ship Porpoise at 11:3O to-
day.
ROSE,
Imperial German Consul"
At the appointed hour the consuls
and chief justice landed from the Por-
poise and proceeded to the court build
ing. They were stopped at the door
| by the German consul and DIR. Raffel:
There a heated argument ensued in
which rather undiplomatic threats
| were uttered. An immense crowd had
| gathered and the sentiments express
| ed by the officials on the door steps
were taken up and re-echoed by the
| faction 1t most pleased.
| Finally the chief justice ordered the
town marshal to break open the court
room door, which had been locked by
| DR.. Raffel. A squad of English ma
rines were drawn up with bayonets fix
ed, and the command was obeyed.
AS the door was being smashed in
! the German consul protested in the
name of his government to the course
pursued, and DR.. Raffel who had been
appointed by Consul Rose to succeed
| Chambers, shouted loudly to the crowd
that the supreme court of Samoa was
himself and that the court then being
reopened had no legal power.
That ended the fracas, so far as the
! belligerents were concerned. Mataa-
ia refused to take any part in the su-
preme court incident and drew his for
ces off to Mulinuu, where they are still.
Feeling between the German and Eng
lish elements at Apia is intense. The
| The Americans are, of course, on the
side of the latter. These people have
| concluded, however, to leave the mat
ter to their governments, and the eff
fort now is to prevent further friction
until the case has been determined.
The natives are taking the same view
partly because they have been advis-
ed so to do and partly because there is
nothing in sight to fight about. Ma
taafa having been declared provision
al king and MalietOa not being able
by any process at his hands to cope
with him i'm the fold