The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-01
MEMORIAL MONUMENT.
For the American and British Dead
In the Samoan Islands.


WASHINGTON. Aug. S1.-The navy
department has received an interesting
letter from Commander B. F. Tilley,
commanding the United States naval
station at Tutuila, describing the prom
Using conditions in the American section
Of the Samoan islands recounting the
impressive ceremonies attending the
unwilling of a monument to the Ameri-
can and English dead who felSin the
shore engagement there in July 1899.
OF the conditions Commander Tilley
says:
Il am glad TO report that everything
connected with the new government
is progressing In a most satisfactory
manner in all the islands. The natives
show much interest in the new methods
OF government and they are striving to
learn and comply with my wishes. The
general condition OF the people could
not be more satisfactory. They are
quiet everywhere and are improving
their roads, cleaning up their villages
and surroundings and planting their
gardens and plantations. Prosperity
for the islands seems fully assured.
The enrolment Of a force of Samo-
ans for service In the islands has done
armed force Of our own on shore, and
win win the natives to loyalty and al
legisnce TO the government of the
United States During the past month
have visited all parts Of the islands and
have found everything In a very sat
isfactory state"
Regarding the monument in question
Commander Tilley SAYS the unveiling
AL rr1r ~ In In Aezta I'll
20. The officers and men contributed
liberally for the expense Of purchasing
the 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 Sydney. 1t was
brought to Apia by H. s. Pyilades.
Commander Tupper, and put in place
by the officers and men OF that ship.
The monument Is situated in a lot not
far from the ocean. commanding a
beautiful view. The land has been Civ
en- iE fee TO the British and United
States governments. A handsome iron
fence with stone foundation surrounds
the plot.
1t is a part of the conditions Of the
deed that the German government shall
cause the prospect TO be kept open 10
the sea. No building Of any kind shall
be erected between the lot and the
ocean. The land is given in lieu Of
ground where the bodies OF the men
were originally inferred Commander
Tilley has sanctioned the disinterment
Of the bodies OF our men and similar
action was taken by Commander Tup-
per. The lot Is situated not far from
the dwelling house OF the governor.
Commanders Tllley and Tupper had
requested Governor Solf, representing
the German government. to unveil the
monument. The governor made short
addresses. then drew aside the Ameri-
can and English iags, disclosing 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 from Mataafa with a short
note.
Commander Tilley says:
II feel confident that II Will be grati-
flying to the department and to all the
friends Of the officers and men to whom
this memorial ls erected to know that
everything possible has been done to
show respect to their memory. The
ceremony was attended by all the Ger
man officers and by nearly every resi-
dent Of Apia."
In his address before the unveiling
Governor Solf gave assurances for his
government that the memorial should,
be guarded and cared for perpetually.
The names Of Landsdale and Monag-
han head the list Of the American dead;
those Of Freeman and Long Of the Brit
ish, and the simple inscription, "KiIled
In Action. April, 1899" tells the story of
their patriotic devotion to duty.