Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-09
THE FIGHT IN SAMOA.
Some Facts About the Recent Trouble
There Hitherto Unpublished.

FROM GOLFERS W eekly.
The main facts in the recent lighting be-
tween the English and American forces and
the natives under Mataafa have been given
in the full cable reports from Auckland,
but there are some details which are inter-
esting. The great hurricane OF over ten
years ago brought out the courage and self
sacrifice of American seamen, and the re-
cent events have proved again the bravery
and devotion to duty of American and En-
glish marines. Those who Witnessed the
ambuscade at Vaitele which proved SO
fatal to the American and English marines,
all unite in declaring that the German
plantation owner. Herr Hufnagel, deceived
the officers who asked him whether there
were any natives near his house. Not 200
yards from his door the combined force ran
into large party OF natives, and In pur-
suing them they were led into ambush
cunningly planned to compass their de-
struction. While the marines were making
their way through heavy tropical Jungle
they were fired upon from three sides by
invisible enemies. The native allies fed
through the only avenue OF safety, but the
others stood their ground until the fire be-
came SO deadly that retreat was sounded to
escape humiliation. Lieutenant Lansdale
of the Philadelphia tried to work a Colts
machine gun. which would quickly have
swept the sayages away, but the gun jam
med and had to be abandoned. As they
were preparing to retire Lausdale was shot
in the leg, but he had the wound bound up
and continued In command. Lieutenant
Freeman OF the Porpoise had his English
marines we'll IN hand, and the whole party
was falling back when Lansdale becs ne
disabled and could not continue. He babe
his men lave him. but Ensign Monaghan
bravely remained, though he knew that
death faerated him. The last seen Of him
he vas defending the lieutenant villa his
revolver. Harry Hunt, marine from the
Porpoise, was knocked down, and when he
recovered he saw Monaghan fighting
against overwhelming odds. He saw Lans-
dale receive the fatal bullet through the
heart and Monaghan go down under the
i rebel fire. Hunt saw the savages chop of
the heads of Lansdale and Monaghan.
Then huge native with an AK chopped OFF
one of his own ears, and had raised the AK
TO cut of the other ear, when shell from
the Philadelphia exploded near at hand.
and all fled into the bush. Hunts story
is clear and minute and there Is no doubt
Of its truth. 1t establishes the bravery and
self-sacclice OF Monaghan, whose conduct
should be rewarded by the government.
Young Lieutenant Freeman Of the Porpoise,
who was killed in the retreat. was fine
fellow, who showed in this trying time
great GOODNESS and skill in handling his
men.
The next bitter fight occurred at Vailima,
the old home of Robert Louis Stevenson.
The house which the novelist built and
adorned with so much pride and care was
made his headquarters by Mataafa, and the
pretty garden was ruined by digging a
trench for defense The place was natural
ly strong, and would have resisted any at
tack except by overwhelming numbers.
Lieutenant Gaunt OF the PorpoiSe attacked
1t with 100 men, and after several hours
hard fighting was forced to withdraw, after
INJECTING heavy loss on the enemy. He had
too small force to rush the place. as he
desired to do. Mataafa suffered severely
because Of shells dropped from the war
ships. Stevenson's house was riddled by
four shells, and his men wished G1sUnt to
set it on fire, but he refused because OF the
associations that still cling to the place.
Two days later Gaunt marched up to TsIil-
ma and occupied the place without oppose
ton. His plucky fight at Vailima made
Gaunt the hero Of the hour in Apia-