The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-09-27
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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 81. 1899.
ONE SHOT MEANT WAR
BUT THE GERMANS WISELY REFRAIN
ED FROM FIRING 1T.

The Yankee Commander Lenry Was
Ready For the Fray and Proved
Too PIucky and TnctfuI For His
OpponeDt--A Story of snmoa.
The pluck and grit OF American ma
yal.oflicers are aptly illustrated In an
article by Henry Collins Welsh in
Alnslee's Magazine. In which the writ
or tells how Commander Lcary
brought the German naval force In Sa
moa to terms some years ago. He
says:
1t was ut the outbreak OF civil strife
that Captain Leary arrived mt Apla In
the American warshlp Adams. DR..
Knappc was then the German consul
Mt Apla, and lie and Commander
Fritzc of the German warship Adler
carried on affairs with an imperious
hand. Feeling ran high between the
Germans on one hand and the Ameri-
cans and English on the other. The
Germans bombarded villages on yafi-
Gus pretexts, fired upon unarmed ma
tiyes and gave open aid to Tamasesc.
Captain Leary at that time was a
commander, and 1t was not long be
fore he and Captain Fritze had some
lively interchangcs Of compliments.
On one occasion the Adler steamed
past the American ship with n native
chief bound to her foremost. The Ger
man saluted when he passed, but no
answer came back from the American.
Soon the German came to II standstill.
A boat was dispatched to ascertain
why the American had not answered
the salute. Commander Leary sent
the Teuton this characteristic reply,
"The United States does not salute
vessels engaged In the slave carrying
trade"
But an incident which best Illus
tratcs Commander Leary's grit and de-
termination and which deserves to live
In song and story occurred In the wa
tiers near Apla on Nov. 10, 1883.
Strained relations came to a crisis
then, and war between the United
States and Germany seemed lnevita-
bic.
On the day previous II message came
from Mataafa to inform Commander
Lcary that the Germans had threaten
ed to attack Mataafa In his strong
hold on the morrow. Both Mataafa
and Tamasese had intrcnched them
selves In fortified places about seven
miles from Apla upon land under
American protection. Mataafa asked
for advice, and Commander Lcary told
him through the messenger to stand
his ground, that he would not allow
the German to make nm attack upon
property under his protection.
According to the German pro
gramme, the Adler was to bornbard mt
dawn. Captain Lcary quietly prcpar-
cd to foil the plan, mt the same time
keeping his counsel. by using some
hard coal he had aboard he was able
to get up steam without the telltale
smoke that would have warned the
Germans of his action, Then he NUT
fled his anchor chains with native
mats and at 1 In the morning all
hands We're quietly called to quarters,
At daybreak the anchors Of the Adler
We're hauled up and with full steam
ON the vessel made for the open sea.
Nolselessly came up the Yankees nm
chors, and to the amazement of the
Adler the Adams was close upon her
heels. The German had TO turn to
get out of the harbor, ana by the time
she reached the entrance the two ships
We're close together. Again the Ger
man turned and then headed toward
the fort that was to be bombarded.
Commander Lcary ran his ship be-
tween the German and the shore and
when about 300 yards from the Ad-
Ter gave the order:
"Clear for actionr
At once the decks were cleared, and
the guns were trained. The German
followed suit, and the two ships
steamed along the coast ready for tho
fray.
A shot from either vessel meant war
between the two countries. When OPP
postc the native forts, the Adler came
to anchor, and the Adams anchored
between the German and the shore.
So close We're the vessels that no guns
could be fired from the Adler without
passing over or through the Adams.
Then Commander Leary sent this note
to the German commander:
Il have the honor to inform you
that, having received Information that
American property In the Latoga VI
entity of Laulli, Lotoanuu and Solo
Solo Is liable to be invaded this day,
ann here for the purpose of protecting
the same"
For hours the men stood ut their
guns. but no shot came from the Ger
mans. lie was ready to war upon the
Samoans, but war with the United
States was another matter.
At length the German started on a
cruise along the coast but he could not
shake off the persistent Yankee. Final
ly he renowned his designs and re-
turned to his anchorage In Apia bay.
70 her anchorage came also the Ad-
ANS, and Commander Leary had won
fba mo