The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-13


\ On April 1 while a force of \
4 British and Americans were =
= entering Apia, Samoa, they =
\ were ambushed on a German y
= plantation by natives under =
= Mataafa- The killed were: \
= Lieutenant Philip B. Lans- \
4 dale, U. S. N.
4 Lieutenant Angel Il. Free =
\ man, British Navy. =
= Ensign John R. Monaghan, \
4 U. S. N. =
= Coxswain James Butler, u. +
= S. N. \
= Seaman Norman Edsal, U. 4
4 S. N. \
= The Mataafans beheaded Z
4 their victims and mutilated 4
\ the dead bodies in shocking +
= manner. =
$&%%+&*%&%+%%&&t***
Auckland, N H., April 12-Advices
received from Apia, Samoa, say that on
April / force Of PA British and Amer
leans and $50 friendlies were surprised
in ambush at the German plantation of
Vaslao. The rebel force opened fire on
the rear, left flank and front of the An
glo-American force. The friendlies
bolted, but the marines and bluejackets
stod their ground splendidly, Americans
and British firing shoulder to shoulder.
The Colt automatic gun with the land
ing party became jammed, and the Am
orleans and British were practically at
the mercy of the rebels. But retreat"
was sounded three times before the ma
rines and bluejackets retired.
Lieutenant Angel II. Freeman, first
lieutenant of the Tauranga, who was in
command of the allied forces, was shot
through the heart.
Lieutenant Philip Lanshorn Bansdale.
United States navy had his leg shatter-
ed while endeavoring to fix the jammed
gun, and was killed. Seaman Hunt of
the British ship PoTpoise. had an extra
cap. He remained With Lieutenant
Iansdaie until dubbed over the head
and knocked senseless.
The bluejacket revived as the natives
We're cutting OFF his right ear, and were
turning him over in order to cut off his
left ear.
At this juncture a shell from the Brit
ish cruiser Royalist burst on the battle
field soaring the rebels and Hunt es-
caped to the beach, although severely
stabbed in one foot.
Ensign John f. Monaghan of the
Philadelphia was killed, as were Cox
swain John Butler and Ordinary Sea-
man Norman Edsal of the same ship.
BEHEADED THE VICTIMS.
The same night the friendlies found
the bodies of all the officers headless.
The bodies We're buried with all honors
at Mulinuu on Easter Sunday.
Their heads We're subsequently
brought in by some French priests and
the graves were reopened and the heads
buried with the bodies.
I5eutenants Freeman and Lansdale
were capable and popular officers. The
former was single, and the latter was
married in June.
The officers who returned are Lieu
tenant George Z. Cave of the Porpolse
and Lieutenant c. NJ. Perkins OF the
Philadelphia All behaved splendidly
Lieutenant Cave took command OF the
retreat
CAPTAIN Sturdee of the Porpoise was
away on an expedition with his cruiser,
and Gaunt's brigade was also absent on
duty.
The loss Of the enemy is not known,
hut probably fifty of the rebels were
killed and many were wounded.
The bodies Of three rebels We're 1ouno
near where Lieutenant Lansdale and
Ensign Monaghan of the Philadelphia
were killed. The priests buried thirty
eight rebels. and much blood was seen
on the road over which the Mataarans
had been dragging away their dead anc
wounded There were also pools OF
blood behind the cocoanut trees, the
bullets from the American and BRUSH
rifles going right through thick trees
and killing men hiding behlnd them
So,,:e Of the rebels fired from the tops
OF cocoanut palms.
The rebels opened fire near the town
last evening. II is proposed to summon
another warshiu to distribute moTt
arnss among the friendlies and to I'M
BORT additional friendlies from Tutleu
II is also suggested that troops mlghl
be obtained from New Zealand or sgd
ney. y. 5. W.
If a sufficient quantity of arms could
be obtained. about 1900 friendlies coulc
be used against the Mataafans. Bu
they. are not brave. and have not shoWl
fighting qualities, excepting those WIZ
Gaunt's brigade. and that force may
not accomplish much
Admiral Kautz, Captain e. White O
the Philadelphia and the American Of
1lftIS EGlAti elAS nav - 49,
opinions. as have Captains Stuart an'
Sturdee of the British navy. They ar
doing everything possible, and eVerl
one recognizes that better men coul'
not be handling the situation.
The Samoans say Mataafa, on thre'
occasions. had resolved to surrender
hut the German consul, Herr Rose, al
yised him not 20 do so, and he nov
SAYS he VIII never give in, but will figh
TO the death.
BARBARITY OF NATIVES.
Further advices from Apia say tha
on the arrival of the British cruise
Tauranga at ADia- the British an
American consuls issued a proclama
lion TO give Mataafa a last chance, an,
that the French priests also used thel
influence. but all efforts failed. an
The rebels continued their depredatlens
Propertv was destroyed and bridge
and roads were barricaded.
on March % the enemy was slghte
at Mag1ligi. and machine guns and
eeven-nounder were used. The frlendlle
also attacked the enemy during tn
Iatter's retreat. and several rebels Wef
killed or wounded. The friendlies car
Tied one head through ADia, whic
made Captain Stuart so furious ina
he went TO the king and threatened I
shoot any man found taking heads. IN
king then issued a proclamation 1orpid
ding the practice.