The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-17
THE SAMOAN TROUBLES.
Chief Justice Tells In Detail Of the Over.
throw Of Government.
REBELLION INSTICATFD BY THE GERMANS
Gross Insults onered the british and
American TIngs--Anncxations ns-
Gested ms the Solution.

New York, February 16,--Dr. Porters +.
Chambers OF this city has received a let
ter from his brother. William l.. Cham
bers, chief Justice of Samoa. under the
Berlin treaty, dated Apia, January 20. Mr.
Chambers speaks of the contest for the
klngship between tho two rival factions,
| and says: After eleven days of patient
Investigation. two sessions each day. and
a hard study every night o. Samoan
geneaioges and practices, I came to the
conclusion, from legal and conscien-
tious point Of view. based upon the treaty
and the laws and customs of Samoa not
OF the late King Malictoa, and who by
the gift of the people had been endowed
with the name of Malietoa. was the duly
elected king. Tho natives during the de-
livery of my opinion exercised dlscre
ton which was the better part Of valor.
Things were exceedingly quiet and re-
spectful on the surface and the crowd dis
persed peacefully The United States con-
sui general, j. b. Osborne OF Nebraska.
man of fine character aud legal abil-
ity, and the British consul, Mr.. Make,
nephew of Lord Salsburys wife, man
of fifteen years experience in diplomatic
service in England's foreign service, both
Immediately accepted the decision for
their respective governments.
1.-THE German consul general Rose, who
had also attended the trial. refused to
accept the decision for his government, al
though his government hal already agreed
,,tfth hat
accept and abide by the decision what
ever IL might be.
"A meeting OF the consuls and captains
of the English and German men war
was held within an hour.
THE American and English cousuls and
Captain Sturdee proposed the king tin
whose favor had deoidcdr be imme liately
recognized by the consuls calling upon
him and the warsllips giving him royal
salute. This the German consul and the
captain of the German warship refused
to do II 1t had been done there is no
doubt whatever that he would have been
firmly upon his throne that very day.
within two hours the German consul,
for the defeated side, and another Ger
man sympathizer were leading the armed
troops of the Mataafa factions into the
streets OF the municipality. The rresi-
dent, who is a German, threw ell his
influence on that side and the Mltaafa
people realizing that they had the support
of the German consul of German war
ship and of the entire German p7puia-
ton got ready with amazing quickness
for the violent attack which followed.
"The Malietoa people, when it became
known that the Mataafas were going to
make war, got together all the men that
they could in short time and surrounded
the villages. They had no time TO gather
their supporters from the different parts
of the islands, They succeeded in muster
ing about 1000 indifferentlv armed and
provided with miserable ammunition. The
rebels, who had been preparing Tor the
situation for several weeks perhaps mus
tered about $500 mep and, as was after
ward shown. had much better arms and
We're better supplied With ammunition.
In fact, there seemed to be no doubt that
the. German traders and one American,
sympathi2ing with the HsataagS side, bad
provided many new guns and great guam.
titles OF fresh ammunitto1. for them.
Justice Chambers declares that Germans
led the Mataafa troops, the German con-
sui riding al the head of several rebels.
Justice Chambers continues:
THE English man war could not In
terfere beyond the protection CT Ameri-
can and British interests in Apia.
"one Of the first things the vctors
did was to forcibly close up the supreme
court. station around II an armed force
and publish a proclamation saying that
the court SHOULD not be reopcned except
upon their order A provisional govern
ment was organized, consented 10 by the
consuls upon the expressed condition that
It was simply to preserve peace and order
and In no way TO Interfere with the treaty
or the rights of any of the treaty ofhclais'
president Rafeel. the German was
placed Mt the head of the provisional gov
ernmant and We thought That he would
have sense enough to at lettst try to ex-
ecute peaceful measures. But the oppor-
anil fAr hA
OF his ambition to DO resisted. | had re-
Gently decided very important case ad-
yersely To him. lie grasped this oppor-
tunity to proclaim himself chief Justice.
u promptly called en- the consuls oil the
three governments. not anticipating that
the German consul would refuse-whch he
did--for protection in reopening the court,
THE United States and British consuls
laid the matter before tho captain of the
British ship who promptly rendered me all
the force required, issued notice that
tho court would he opened at II o'clock the
next day. The British consul gave notice
to all American aud British subjects to
como on board tho man-of-war before II
o'clock and the captain gave notice to the
CAPTAIN OF the German ship advising Ger
man subjects TO 20 TO places Of safety.
as he was determined TO open fire at any
time after II so o'clock II my purpose of
reopening the court should be resisted
'By II o'clock tho ship was we'll filled
with women md chldren-only few men
coming on bnard. be II said to the credit
Of their courage for when landed at la
o'clock practically all tho Americans aud
British were on the spot ready To oper.
ate With their governments. A little before
10 o'clock the two consular boats started,
the one In front flying the Stars and
Stripes. with Consul General Osborne on
board, and the other flying the English
Jack. with Consul Maxse AZ the tiller
"a few yards "a the rear embarked 10
an armed cutter under command of Lieut.
tenant Parker. with twenty eight blue
Jackets. each With his Lee Metford rife
and forty rounds OF ammunition. stood
on the poop OF the little cutter and IN the
bow was auck-nre machine gun.
Before landing we observed that the
street side OF the court houses was crowd
ed by German officers and subjects. The
marines were left on the pier, while the
two consuls and myself advanced about a
hundred Yards To the court house, the Brit
ishers aud Americans backing us uD. We
walked straight TO the German linen and |
pushing the gate aside stepped on the |
supported by the two consuls aud |
Lieutenant Parker.
"The German officials wished TO discuss |
the situation. hut We indignantly refused, |
and demanded The KEYS ~ the court house |
from President Rafael, deneunclng him as
. traitor 10 the treaty and an usurper He |