St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-03-15
"FLAsH HARRY" OF sAyAI1,
By Louis Becke.
cGcessssou aoeaeascsososca
NEARLY 30 years ago, when the late
IN King MalietOa If Samoa was

was
quietly arming his adherents and
conciliating his rebel chiefs in order
to combine against the persistent en-
crOachments of the Germans, / was
running a small trading cutter be-
tween Upolu and Savai'i, the two
principal islands of the group.
One day I arrived in Apia harbor
with a cargo of y;.ms which l 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, lovely
little stream which. taking it's rise
in the mountains, debouches into Apia
harbor. Here 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, par
ty Of natives, young men and boys,
emerged from among the trees on the
opposite bank. Casting off their scan
" garments, they boisterously en-
tered the water and began disporting
themselves, when, to my surprise, /
saw that their leader was white
man, tattooed in every respect like q
Samoan. He appeared to be about 30
years of age, was clean shaver, and
had ight-red hair.
''Who is that fellow?" inquired.
Zone Of the biggest scoundrels in
the Pacific" replied my companion
= .Flash Harry from Savai'i. He de-
serted from either the Brisk or the
Zes.ous 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
Eavai'i, and laughs at all attempts to
catch him. To my knowledge he has
committed four atrocious murders,
and, in addition to that, he is drunk
en-, foul-mouthed BLACKBOARD. He only
comes to Apia occasionally
there is no British man-of-war about
and paints the town red, for, ale
though he is merely loafng 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 bull
let through him?'
.Ah, now you're asking 'Why?' Por-
ter, 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
vord on his foul tongue; but then.
Won see. Porter and | are Americans.
II either or both of us shot the man,
~ commander of an American man
of-war would do more than publicly
renrimapd us for taking the law into
our own hands; but if you or any 9th
- Enplishman killed the vermin, you
would be taken to Fiji by the first
,nar.nf-war that called here put on
vonr trial for murder, and, if you es-
gained hanging, you would get a pref
- turn of penal servitude in the flJl
jail" -
80 mt for Hamilton's house on
Iatautu Point, for he had asked me
70 have supper with him. On our way
4h;ther we met the master OF Ger
nan baroue then in port, and were
chatting with him when Mr.. fiash
Harry and his retinue OF manala
Ivoune, bucks) overlook us. The path
being narrow, we drew aside q Few
,,.oes to let them pass; but at sign
from their leader they stopped. he
.,odded to Hamilton and the German
cantain, but neither took any notice
- him; then he fixed his eyes inso-
lentlv on me, and held out his hand.
aHow do yer do, mister? You're a
nice sort of cove not to come and
80 me when you passed my place IN
-c,,r cutter" Then, with sudden fury,
= put my hands in my pockets,
- you, you young cock-a-hoopy
Do You mean to say you don't
,,ean to shake hands with white
man7"
swered. ,,,,
.srhen the next time see you III
-, vour arm outof the socket"
e said, with an oath; and, turning
=. h;a heel. he went of with his fol-
, Ia Of bucks. All of them were
..,,ed with rifles and the long be
h..d;nr-knives called nifa oti death
,-.,fel. md as We three had nothing