Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-31
MEMORIAL STONE At APIA
A TRIBUTE TO AMERICAN AND
BRITISH SAILORS.
Simple and Impressive Ceremonies
New Island Government Progress
ing Satisfactorily.

The Navy Department has received a let
ter dated Page Page. August 4, from Com
mander B. f. Tillcy, commanding the naval
station at Tutuila. Samoa, to the assistant
secretary of the navy.
Commander Tilley reports that on the 10Th
of July a ceremony took place, consisting
of the unwilling of the memorial stone
erected to the memory of the British and
American officers and men who were killed
in Samoa last year. The ceremony took
place at Apia.
The Memorial stone.
The officers and men OF the Philadelphia
contributed literally for the expense of pur-
chasing this memorial stone, and officers
and men of several British ships likewise
contributed. The stone, which is large and
imposing. weighing twenty-five tons, was
obtained at sidney 1t was brought to
Apia by II. NJ 9. Pylades, Commander Tup-
per. and put in place by the officers and
men of that ship. The monument is sit
uated in lot not far from the ocean, COM
handing a beautiful view The land has
been given in fee to the British and United
States governments. A handsome iron fence
with stone foundations surrounds the plot.
1t Is part of the conditions of the deed that
the German government shall cause the
prospect to be kept open to the sea: no
building of any kind shall be erected be.
tween the lot and the ocean. This land 10
given in lieu of the ground where the bodies
of the men were originally inferred.
Commander T1lley has sanctioned the dis
interment of the bodies of our men. and
similar action was taken by Commander
Upper. The lot Is situated not far from
the dwelling house of the governor.
Simple and Imperative Ceremony.
The ceremony was simple and impressive.
The monument was covered by two flags.
H. p~l& {-h
all Of the officers and men OF the two ships,
the Abarenda and the Pylades. were IN at
tendance. A firing party OF twenty-five men
from each ship was present under arms
and fired three volleys. The bugle calls for
the burial service of both nations were
sounded The Rev. w. Huckett Of the Lon
don Missionary Society read the burial
service Of the English Church. All the peo-
pie present then Joined In singing the hymn
Thy VIII Be Done" Commanders T1lley
and Upper had requested Governor Solf,
representing the German government, to
unveil the American and English flags, dis
closing the memorial stone to view. The
governor and others had brought numerous
wreaths of flowers and placed them on the
monument. Among these wreaths was one
with short note from Mataafa. the for
mer king.
Commander Tlley says: 81 feel confident
that it will be gratifying to the department
and to all the friends OF the officers and
know that everything possible has been
done to show respect to their memory. The
ceremonies were attended by all the Ger
man officers in uniform and by nearly every
resident of Apia. In his address before the
unwilling Governor Solf gave assurances
for his government that the memorial
would be guarded and cared for perpetual
ly.''
This interesting report is accompanied by
photographs of the monument and Of the
scenes at the unwilling. The names of
Lansdale and Monaghan head the list Of
the American dead: those Of Freeman and
of Long of the British, and the simple in
scription Killed in action April 1899"
tells the story OF their patriotic devotion to
duty.
New Government Satisfactory.
Commander Tilley says in a letter dated
August 10:
everything connected with the new govern
ment is progressing in a most satisfactory
manner in all the islands. The natives show
much interest in the new methods Of gov
eminent and they are striving to learn and
comply with my wishes. The general condi-
ton Of the people could not be more satis-
factory: they are quiet everywhere and are
improving their roads, cleaning up their
villages and their surroundings and plant
ing their gardens and plantations. Pros
perity for the islands seems fully assured
THE enrolment of a force Of Samoans
for service in the islands has done away
with the necessity of having an armed
force of our own on shore and will win the
government Of the United States.
During the past month have visited all
parts of the station and have found every
thing in very satisfactory state"