The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-12
THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
An Effective Defence, with the Help of m
Axe, to a Charge of Trenson in SamoR.

An Effective Defence, with the Help OF nm
Axe, to n Charge of Treason in Samoa.
There were stormy times in Samoa when
President Grants special Commissioner, Col
Steiuberger. became Premier of the native
kingdom. Steinberger encountered bitter
oppos Jtion, but most OF the Americans stood
by him as n matter OF national principle. Two
leaders of the Steinbercer party were Coe,
who haI been United States Consul. and a
Yankee merchant. Coe has long been dead
the merchant still remains. prosperous in a
South SeN way and filed with reminiscences
Of the fierce chickering's which are the sum of
all the history that Samoa has ever had.
The outcome of the Steinberger usurpation
Of authority was that the American Consul.
Mr.. Foster. combined with the Captain of a
British man-of-war. seized the Premier with
out warrant and after a farcical trial sem
fenced him to deportation. Included in the
judgment was the former Consul Coe. who
was charged with having been privy to Stein
touched. although he had VIGOROUSLY been as
active as Coe,, Steinberger and Coe were car
Rod awav in irons, but the merchant was left
behind without molestation.
Ihis melrhant is nov the wealthiest indi-
yidual in Slmoa--so well off that-it is surpris-
Ing that he continues to live in so remote and
comfortless part Of the world, He is credited
on the ground that there amt no place I've
found yNt in the world where a man can drink
gin so comfortable as he can in these S, south
Sea islanis..n sometimes no has been kn own
to undergo the natural result of comfort able
potations. ard then IL is his custom to march
through his house from room to room with an
axe and 10, reduce the furniture to march
wood. AS tive furniture and pianos on WI ich
he vents his rlge are his own property, ind
as he is amply able TO replace the furnishing
OF his house as Elany times a year as he mtay
choose. these little outbreaks are looked III on
us among the eccentri2ities Of the truly gre ut.
lie, was asked u explain why It was that he
was left untouched at the time when Foster
was doing his best to clear out every vesti va
of Steinberger's influence in the islands.
There. was speciel circumstances, ma'arL"
he replied. as If that was 4 full and lucid expln-
nation. But at the same time he was detect ed
in chuckling over the collection oil these sp,lr-
ial circumstances. 1t was clearly a historical
duty, TO pursue the investigation.
why should you be left free? We're Won
as closely associated with the Premier as
Closer. ma,am. Steinberger and me was
What you might, call the brains Of the thing.
do and he done it. Old Foster nabbed them
cial circumstances"
What could rave you from being arrested
VII the others? The charge was high
We'll. ma'am. 1 was sick just then. That's
what made them circumstances speci al ones
That's what made old Foster leave rle alone
when he shipped the other two away rom the
country"
1T must have been a serious Hines 6. then.
20 prevent Foster from carrying out h is plans
n your case as he did with the Prem Ter and
Co sIf MAS II ANYTHING ,c~ontagious?"
Wei; not exactly, but old Foster md his
marshal did seem sort of afraid they might
eaten II. Don't YOU understand. ma'am. what
them special circumstances was? was sick,
Inaam. was almighty sick Just then and /