The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-22

whatever to Mataafa.
Ready for the Decision.
On the morning of the 18th the chief Ash,
| man generally known as a disturber,
| removed from his village of Matafagatele
| closer up to Apia, to a point where he
thought he had an advantage; and here
! his people commenced a line of fortifica-
tons. On the following day large force of
Mataafa people occupied strong posi-
ton on the hills back of Apia. No col
lision took place
The decision was not rendered until the
morning of the Slst. No Mataafa chiefs
of Importance were there to listen to 1t.
The decision was to the effect that the
chief justice was satisfied that Mataafa
had with him the largest following, but
that certain discussions had taken place
in Berlin during the conference and it was
/ there shown that Germany was not friend
| ly disposed towards this chief. IL there
were a cable from Samoa to Berlin he
would have made inquiries direct from that
government as to its present feelings to-
ward Mataafa, but unfortunately there
was no cable, and the chief justice, not-
withstanding his letters to Mr. Moors and
the assurances the German consul gen
eral .had given him, decided that 1t was in
compatible with the honor of Germany
that Mataafa should be King of Samoa;
therefore he was ineligible, and Tanu be-
ing the only other candidate in the field
was declared King Of Samoa
The missionaries and the attorneys were
full of glee but almost the whole body
of the Samoan people were greatly cast
| down.
Preparations for War.
But this situation did not endure long.
| On the afternoon OF this very day, the 31st
| of December, the Tanu-Tamasese party
commenced the erection of breastworks in
the west end of Apia across the road,
while about three hundred yards distant
a detachment of Mataafaites took up
position threatening these works.
AT p. m twenty-eight very large boats,
| being a part of the Mataafa navy, crossed
the harbor and landed just beyond Ma
| taute point. Being expostulated with by
| the British consul and captain of the Por-
| poise they proceeded about mile further
| away and landed at Asi, a deserted village.
| This party was about 1900 strong and
many of their boats were over eighty feet
In length. One probably the largest boat
| Of its kind in the world, was 152 feet long
| and 16 feet beam. This strong party seri-
| ously threatened the Tanu-T amasese left
wing; 1t was indeed considerably stronger
| than their entire army which was under
| taking to defend about one and one quar-
| ter miles of sea coast.
The night passed without firing, and I'M
I'll 3 p. m. the next day, Jan. l, both sides
| Unanswered for the advantage. The Tanu-
| Tamaseses forces abandoned their works
| across the road and erected an earthwork
| on the left bank Of the Mulivai near the
| Catholic Cathedral, Mataafas party fol-
| lowing them closely. The extreme weak
ness of Tanu'S party was becoming ap-
parent to every one. At 8 a. M the right
wing of Mataafa's army moved out of
Aatafagatele burning it before leaving and
driving the Tanu forces out of Motaa up
to Naiala, close to the United States con
sulate. So far there had been no shoot
ing. At 3 p m. Mataafa's forces had an
preached within 100 yards of the works
OF Tanus army and calmly commenced
building fort of very considerable
strength. AT $3.50 p m the petty chief
Tangalea of the Tanu-Tamaseses party.
stationed at Mateuto, applied to the Amer
Ican consul for help, saying that he had
only 100 men to oppose a very large force
approaching against him. 1t was his idea
that the American and British consuls
could get him assistance from the war
ships in the harbor, this idea, II is said,
having been put into the heads of these
deluded people by one of the attorneys.
Consul Osborn inquired where were the
1900 men that they had sworn in court
they had ready at a moments notice
Tangaloa confessed that they had never
had them. Osborn informed him that he
was not In the bushes of fighting other
peoples battles; that they had described
themselves a few days earlier as being
very strong and able to take care of
themselves; If they were true all was we'll:
if not, then they had better surrender or
fight just as they chose to do.
Fight of the Rival Kings.
AZ p. m. news was received that all of
the Mataafa forces were In position. COM
nletelv st1Trouu ding rho Team ,,aov1o
that forward movement was to be made.
From the tower of the Tivoh Hotel, which
occupied about the center OF the field of
operation, the position of the advancing
Mataafa forces could readily be determined
by the columns of smoke which rose from
the different houses which were burned
as they came on, the Tanu forces slowly
retreating before them. Near the Cathe-
dral both parties were within hail, and
each side appeared anxious that the other
should commence the firing Now a stall
wart Mataafaite would waltz out from
behind his fort and run some distance to-
ward the foe, caper about with his long
two-handed knife, and challenge them TO
send a champion to meet him in single
combat Then Tanu man, arrsyed In
all his savage finery, with an immense red
turban, would caper i'm front of his fort
and make some offensive gestures not
peculiar 10 saVages alone, and dare the
other side 10 charge to their sure death.
In the meanwhile the few whites in the
neighborhood had placed their families in
their cellars, and the men of the family
were cautiously and curiously watching
the whole proceedings from their veran-
das, ready TO get back into a place of
safety as soon as the first shot was fired.
The excitement grew in intensity, when
out from the Mataafa side stepped four
old men clad in white flowing garments,
each carrying a stick about six feet long
and about the thickness OF an ordinary
cane. With these they advanced. When
a talk is desired an orator advances.
leans on his stick and commands atten-
ton. These old fellows boldly came up
to the little bridge which alone separated
them from their foes and declared that
those who wished to live should come
over to their side and surrender their
arms or they would soon all be headless
dead men. While they were talking the
Mataafaites came out of their fort and
slowly. almost imperceptibly, adj
yanced against the thin iipa