The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-01
WILL GOVERN GUAM
Capt. Leary of the Navy Sent
to That Coral Speck.
GAME TO HIS FINGERTlPS
How He BIuHed Germany Once
in Samoa.
GAME TO HIS FINGERTlPS

the Iadrone group, is about TO start for
his Pacific island post in the auxiliary
cruiser Yosemite, now al the Norfolk
Navy Yard.
Guam is the principal island of the La
| drones, which was formerly under the gen.
eral government of the Philippines. There
is but one town in all the Ladrones, San
Ignacio de- Agaua, and that is situated N
Guam. The population of the Ladrones
only amounts TO about ten thousand souls.
1t consists of descendants from the origin
al inhabitants, called by the Spaniards
Chammorros; OF TagalseJtlers from the
Philippines; and of mixed race formed
by the union of Spaniards and Chammor-
ros.
Captain Leary is well known in navy
circles as a brave and efficient officer and
a man of remarkable executive ability.
He halls from Maryland, and entered the
naval academy in 1860. In 1883 Captain
Leary was in command of the Adams at
Samoa, and performed deed there that
deserves to live in song and story.
History repeats itself even in Samoa,
and the same cause was behind the trou-
bles in 1Ss7-SS as is behind them today
the desire of Germany 10 bring about Ger
man control.
Melietoa Laupepa, who had been recog-
nized as king of all Samoa by an agree
ment Germany, Great Britain and the
United States in 1881, was deported from
Samoa by German warship, in 1887, on
1imsy pretext of having, insulted the Ger
man government. Tamasese, a rebel, was
set up in his stead A civil war then
broke out between Tamasese and Mataafa,
the chief of the Loyalist party and a re-
lative of the exiled king.
While this war was raging, in 1855. there
were but two fOrAgn warships in Samoan
waters-the Adler, German vessel, and
the Adams a small obsolete man-of-war,
commanded by Captain Leare, then baar-
ing the rank of commander. The Adler
was by far the more powerful snip, but
the strength Of the United States navy
has never been in The superiority of her
ships, only in the superiority of her on
GERS and of the men behind the guns.
The two captains had several inter
changes of courtesy. On one occasion
the Adler steamed past-the American ship,
and at her formast was a native chief,
bound with a stout cord TO the mast. The
German saluted as he passed, but no ans
wear came back from the American ship.
Soon the German came to standstill
and a baot was dispatched to ascertain
why the American had not answered the
salute. Upon this. Captain Leary sent
back to the Teuton this characteristic re-
ply: 1.-The United States does not salute
vessels engaged in the slave-carrying
trade"
had occasion to pay his respects to the
captain of the Adler. While the war was
raging between Tamasese and Mataafa
the German captain made his vessel a sort
of tow boat for Tamasese's war canoes,
and trained his guns, upon villages oc-
cupied only by women and children. Many
villages were entirely destroyed. Captain
Leary sent this justuif incisiye remon-
STRANGE to the Adler's captain: 'iSuch ac-
ton, especially after the Tamasese party
had been represented as a strong govern
ment not needing the armed support Of
a foreign power, appears to be a violation
of the principles of international, law az
well as a violation of the generally recog-
nized laws of humanity"
Still another vigorous protest was sent
a canoe filed with unarmed natives.
But Captain Leary did more than pro-
test; he performed a gallent action. which
has been but little commented upon, and
which has never received the recognition
that it deserves.
On the evening of November Il, 1858,
messenger came to Captain Leary from
Mataafa with the information that the
German warship was, in the dawn OF the
following day. going to lombard a strong
hold which Mataafa had established on
land under American protection.
That night Captain Leary quietly got
steam up without attracting the Germans
attention, and had his anchor chains muf-
fed. All hand were called TO quarters
before dawn. At daybreak the Adlers
anchors came dp, and she made for the
threatened fort. Silently the anchore OF
the Adams came up also, and 70 the amaze
ment Of the German the Yankee craft
put after nm with a full head OF steam
and darted inbetween him and the shore.
Captain Leary cleared his ship for &C
ton and the German followed suit. A
shot from either ship would now have
precip.,ated war between the two ma
tons.
When opposite the threatened fort the
German dropped his anchors and the Yam
kee did likewise taking care 10 get to
get between the Adler and the shore. Cap
tain Leary then sen; his note 10 the Ger
man captain:
Il have the honor to inform you that,
having received information that Ameri-
can property n the Latogo vicinity ot
Laulii, Lotoanun. and Solo Solos liable
to be invaded his day, am here FOR the
purpose q protecting the same"
The crews or the two ships stood a.
their guns for hours. but the German cap
tain mad no attempt 20 FIRE upon the fort
Finally he started On a cruise down ,ae
coast, but Captain Lea-y followed b n and
would not be shaken on. The two ships
came AZ length into haroor again, and the
American had gained MS point % prevsnt-
ing the German from firing upon III f9rt.
Captain Leary upheld The honor ~ his
country flag al a tine when our gov
eminent seemed 20 AXE but q half-hesrr-
81 interest in Samoan affairs lie vas
Ear from cable communications and On
ais own responsibility thus bravery de-
fed ard held IN check a Earship Ear 81
perior u his oEn- For his brave ana
determined stand. Captain Lsary received
the thanks q the LLegisisture q Mar
land, his native state. bar the gorerznen
took no ac,ioa in the matter
CA ASTORIA.