Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-01-30
FLASH HARRY" OF SAVATT.
By Louis Becke.
NEARLY 80 years ago, when the late
Kinu MaIiatoa If Caroo wa
Geoec9s3oepeopeoo6eo0oa.

NEARLY 80 years ago, when the late
IN King Malietoa of Samoa was
quietly arming his adherents and
conciliating his rebel chiefs in order
to combine against the persistent en-
c~roachments of the Germans, I was
running a small trading cutter be-
tween Upolu and Savai'i, the two
principal islands of the group.
One day 1 arrived in Apia harbor
with a cargo of yams which I in
tended to sell to an American man
of-war, the Resacca. I went along
side at once, had the yams weighed,
and received my money from the pay
master. Then I went ashore for a
battle in the Vaisigago river, a lovely
little stream which, taking it's rise
in the mountains, debouches into Apia
harbor. Here I was joined by an old
friend, Capt. Hamilton, the local pilot,
who, stripping off his clothes,
plunged into the water beside me.
As we were laughing and chatting,
thoroughly enjoying ourselves, a par
ty of natives, young men and boys,
emerged from among the trees on the
opposite bank. Casting off their scan
ty garments, they b~oisterously en-
tered the water and began disporting
themselves, when, to my surprise, !
saw that their leader was a white
man, tattooed in every respect like a
Samoan. He appeared to be about &c
years of age, was clean shaven, and
had light-red hair.
"Who is that fellow?" I inquired.
Zone of the biggest scoundrels in
the Pacific" replied my companion
"sFlash Harry from Savai'i. He de-
serted from either the. Brisk or the
Jealous British man-of-war about
seven years ago, and although the
commanders of several other British
warships have tried to get him, they
have failed. He is the pet protege OF
one of the most powerful chiefs in
savaii, and laughs at all attempts to
catch him. To my knowledge he has
committed four atrocious murders,
and. in addition to that, he is q drunk
en-, foul-mouthed blackguard. He only
comes to Apia occasionally-when
there is no British man-of-war about
and paints the town red, for, al
though he is merely a loafing beach
comber, he is literally supplied with
money by his chief, and possesses an
extensive harem as well. He simply
terrorizes the town when he breaks
out, and insults every timid European
he meets, male and female"
"Why doesn't some one put a bull
let through him?"
"Ah, now you're asking why" Por-
ter, a respectable local trader, told
him that he would be riddled if he
came inside his fence; and the scoun-
drel knows me well enough not to
come into my place except with a civil
word on his foul tongue; but then,
you see, Porter and l are Americans.
II either or both of us shot the man,
no commander of an American man
of-war would do more than publicly
reprimand us for taking the law into
u W hands; but If you or any 9TH
er Englishman killed the vermin, you
would be taken to Fiji by the frs
m%an-of-war that called here, put on
your trial for murder, and, if you es-
capped hanging, you would get a pref
ty turn of penal servitude in the Fiji
Jail"
We finished u bath, dressed, and
set out for Hamilton's house on
Matautu Point, for he had asked me
to have supper with him. On our way
thither we met the master of a Ger
man barque hen in port, and we're
chatting with him when Mr.. "Flash
Harry" and his retinue of manaia
(young bucks) overlook us. The path
being narrow, we drew aside q few
PAGES to let them pass; but ct a sign
from their leader they stopped. He
nodded to Hamilton and the German
captain, but neither took any notice
Of him; then he fixed his eyes inso-
lently on me, and held out his hand.
slow do yer do, mister? You're a
nice sort Of a cove not to come and
see me when you passed my place in
your cutter" Then, with sudden fury,
as I put my hands in my pockets,
9" you, you young cock-a-hoopy
--! Do you mean to say you don't
mean to shake hands with o white
MANI"
Not with you, anyway" I an
swered.
Then the next time I see you I'll
pull your - arm outof the socket"
he said, with an oath; and, turning
on his heel, he went off with his fol-
lowing Of bucks. All Of them were
armed with rifles and the long be-
heading-knives called nifa oti death
knifel. and as we three mad nothing