The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-09
THE SITUATION AT SAMOA.
The Steamer Moana- Arrives, Bringing
Fnll Details.


Full Details.
San Francisco. Cal. Feb. S.-The
steamer Moana arrived from Samoa to-
day, bringing full details of the recent
outbreak at Apia. While Chief Justice
Chambers was considering the claims
of the rival candidates for the kingship,
the Mataafa natives, who were numeri-
cally the stronger, We're openly support
ed by the German officials, and the en-
tire German population began to talk of
immediate war in case the decision went
against him. The life of the Chief JUS
tice was openly threatened by one OF
the chiefs.
The three consuls agreed to issue n
proclamation putting the Chief Justice
and his residence under the protection
of the treaty powers The German Con-
sui broke his word and declined to
carry out the agreement. The British
and American COnsuls thereupOn issued
Il proclamation and hOisted their nation
al flags over the residence oft he Chief
Justice
On December 31st the Chief Justice
decided that Mataafa was ineligible for
election. and that Malietoa Tanus was
king. The American and British Con-
suls Immediately recognized the new
king. The decision was received with
ominous silence by the natives. Within
an hour the COnsuls, the President and
the German and British captains held
a meeting The German consul and
President declined to recognize Tanus
and went over to Mataafa, who was
waiting at Mulnu. the western portion
of Apia, with 5000 men under arms.
Mataafa surrounded the local troops,
1900 in number, who occupied the CEN
tral portion of the towns.
The Malietoans lacked~arms and am
munition. In few hours the rebel
forces had surrounded the residence of
the Chief Justice, who was guarded by
200 loyal natives, and Captain Sturdy,
the II. NJ S. Porpoise, landed % sailors
under Lieutenant Gaunt.
The residence was barricaded, and the
men stood to arms until the next morn
ing, when the Chief Justice and family
were taken to the beach. Fighting was
expected to commence at any moment,
though the British and American Con-
suls did all they could to prevent hos
tilities. A renewal of the fighting is ex-
pected as soon as both factions of the
natives are dissatisfied.
If the two rebel parties had effected
a junction these loyaltists might have
been slaughtered, but darkness came
Rsft4@the fighting ceased. After he re-
treat from the Tivoli to. the Mission
it was found that King Tanus had been
left at the Tivcl. Captain Sturdy and
Consul Maxse went to the hotel and
brought the King safely back.
The American Consul, Osborne, and
family. took refuge in the British Con-
sulate which was closely guarded by
British sailors. The rebels werH left
in absolute possession of the town. All
Samoan houses were looted and burn
ed. White mems houses were invaded
and searched for Samoan property. III
this extremity the Consuls, the Presi-
dent and the leading Mataafan chiefs
came to an agreement to preserve life
and property and to keep order.
provisional government with the
President with the executive head was
approved by all Consuls pending the
settlement of the whole question Gy
their respective Governments.
The British and American Consuls
agreed to this provisional arrangement
with the understanding that it was in
no wise to affect the Berlin treaty or
any oHLCldl VI llle powers or any oHlcc
under it,
BY public notice, however. the pro-
yisional Government abolished the Su-
preme court and then decid - thai the
President was the acting Chief Justice
and that Chief Justice Chambers no
longer held office. They seized the Su-
preme court and placed new locks on all
the doors. Chief Justice Chambers and
the British aud American ConSuls is
sued a proclamation tnat the court would
he opened by him as usual in the morn.
ing. Captain Sturdy, Of the Iorp0iSe
gave notice that if any resistance
to the opening of the court by Justice
Chambers was offered the Porpoise
would open fire on the town. Captain
Sturdy also appealed to the German
captain for assistance without avail.
Mataafa upon receiving Sturdy's ulti-
matum. withdrew his armed guard from
the court house. and on January 9TH The
Cnief Justice with a guard of twenty
FIVE men landed The Chief Justice
and the two C0nsuls walked to the
court house, and after an exciting col
loquy with the German officers Cham
hers ordered the door broken in with
a Sledge hammer. The session of the