The San Francisco call., 1899-05-06

force was shot dead, a ball passing di
rectly through his heart.
The natives, recovering courage when
they saw that the machine gun was out
of order. rushed section OF the BRUSH
line, chopping one chap very badly with
their long knives and getting away with
his ear. During this portion of the game
the remaining British officer ran away as
hard as he could, though his men sang
out after him, calling TO him to stand IKE
a soldier and not to run. like coward.
All the ammunition and the breech piece
were taken from the machine gun and an
attempt a. a retreat was made, LanSdale
was helped quite distance but as the
men began to run he implored his assist
ant TO save his own life and leave him to
his fate. Noticing that Lansdale had been
left, Ensign Monaghan rushed back TO
him, defending his friend with his reNoI-
Yer. As a British sailor, who was the
last to get out of this fight, passed on the
run, he tells me, he saw Monaghan Shot
through the chest and Lansdale hit again
several times.
The whole force was driven to the beach.
where they sought what shelter they
could find, while the Royalist, which had
been wig -wagged to, sent shells into the
advancing Mataafa lines.
Two British and two American officers
thus lost their lives and three sailors were
killed outright and a number wounded. or
course the Samoan allies fled at the nrst
fire, anu although a number of them were
wounded it IS not so far known that any
were killed. Monaghan might have easily
escaped with the rest, but he gallantly
SdCllnCeO MS lie 10 save ms IIleIU.
BY shelling the beach behind and ahead
of them the Royalist was enabled to
cOrt the party back TO Apia, but the Ma
taafa men could be seen lodging from
rock IN rock and from tree to tree follow
ing up very closely, and the last shells
which the Warship threw were sent ashore
within half mile OF Apia During the
whole night following this vessel laid off
just to windWard of Apia throwing shells
to keep the Mataafa forces from attack
ing the cOnsulates. 1t is not known how
ma lot 20 NOV cd =
seen to fall out of CocOanut tree, where
he had esconsced himself and three dead
were found on the ground by the teach
eTS, who We're permitted to so out after
the bodies of the slain 1t is not very
likely. however, that these people lost
very many men, as they generally kept
well under shelter
On Sunday the ID of April. the collins
containing the remains of the gallant sea-
men were landed at Mulinuu, large de-
tachments from all ships being present.
This now makes twelve whites who have
perished in this quarrel and have been
laid to rest close alongside the German
victims of the Vailele fight, which oc-
CURED ten years ago.
On April 8 it was decided to again treat
the Mataafa forces to q general bonn
bardment. Accordingly the Royaust and
Tauranga went TO sea and lay off Mataite
and Nailele, the ROyalst lay off Naitele,
and the Philadelphia from her anchorage
commenced in good earnest senu.ng hun
dreds of heavy shells in all directions.
Within few hours news was at hand in
town that not q single Mataafa man had
been hit During the firing il was no.
ticed that a number of American shells
burst prematurely, and since that date
1t has been the rule to give all nom
cOmbatants time to remove from the line
Of fire before operations are commenced.
The Royalist and Porpoise have been
kept very busy steaming up and down
the coast of Upolu bOmbarding wherever
they saw signs of life. Lieutenant Gaunt
Of the Porpoise had been employed
ashore drilling company of 100 natives,
who have been provided with Martini
rifles of the latest patent and abundant
ammunition. This company has been
used a number of times in conjunction
with the warships and their armed
leave here during the night and their
boats would be toWed behind the man-of
war until in the morning when they were
opposite some undefended village. Then
after a bombardment by the big ship
the steam launches would get in close
and speed the place with their machine
guns, after which Lieutenant Gaunt and
his rangers would land and fire the
houses. getting off safely in most in
stances. However, of late the natives
are leaving a few picked men at home
and the Gaunt force has been reduced in
numbers in several warm fights. On the
18th inst. il was undertaken to treat the
town of Tuanai in that fashion, but
Gaunts men found themselves in very
bad scrape. Within few moments after
/ landing they were compelled to take shell
ter behind some rocks along the beach.
Gaunt himself frantically blew his re
cali whistle, dropped his revolver and
swan to the boats. When the fire slack
ened a bit his men were able to run for
| il too They were brought back TO Apia
by the Porpoise, and it is not likely they
! will undertake any more burnings close
/ to the main line of the Mataafa forces.
! on the 24th of March the Auckland
/ steamer brought to Apia copies of The
! Samoan Question" alittle pamphlet issued
! by William Cooper, formerly Municipal
! MAGISTRATE an able lawyer and fair
/ minded man. His argument entirely sup
! ports the Mataafa side of the question.
! on the 2Sth of March raid was made
! from Apia on Maniani. This was headed
! by Tamasese, supported by a considerable
/ body of sailors and a machine gun. These
! people returned with one head In bas-
! ket shouting as they went along the main
! street of Apia that they had three heads.
! Later in the day the captain of the Tau
| ranga went to Mulinuu, where Tanu
! resides and told him that if the practice
! of head-cutting was again INDUCED in
/ he would order his men to kill the first
/ one caught doing it.
! Most of the houses of white residents
! who lived in the suburbs and who have
! supported the Tanu side of the question
| have been pillaged and their furniture de
| stroyed. So far none of the houses have
! been fired, although they have for weeks
! been within the lines of the Mataafa war
! riorS.
The mail steamer which arrived from
! San Francisco two weeks ago brought
news that Admiral Kautz was to investi-
! gate matters here and only TO use force
! in case of emergency. 1t is not thought
/ that the admiral has made any partic-
ular investigation. He was only here a
few days when the lighting commenced,
and during that time he did not appear to
seek any information outside of that all
ready furnished by the British and
American Consuls.
On tho 18th of April the Haurote ar
rived from Auckland bringing late cable
grams which stated that the Samoan
kingship question was to be settled by
an international commission; that Presi-
dent Mckinley had expressed his sorrow
that fighting had commenced here, and
! that he had stated he had ordered Admi-
raj Kautz to act in a conciliatory man
ner and to bring the war to a close with
out further fighting, if possible. The day
upon which this news was received the
! admiral left for Pago-Pago in company
with a collier to take in fuel. The Tau
ranga, Porpose and Royalist remained
behind at Apia. After the admirals de-
parture the Porpoise and Roy,alist have
been bombarding native villages and
| landing sailors to devastate the coun-
try. On April It Captain Sturdee person