The San Francisco call., 1904-03-13
KING OF TONGA
RESENTS INSULT
South Sea Monarch Makes
Objection to Unlawful Act
of a British Naval Officer
LAMP IS CAUSE OF ROW
Unauthorized Taking of Beacon
to Furnish Illumination at a
Dance Leads to Rupture


No European monarch stands more
on his dignity than does his Majesty
King George of Tonga. Surrounded by
all the formal etiquette and ceremonial
of royal court, with military and Of
ficial uniforms and a superabundance
of gold lace and nodding plumes, he
naturally considers himself a parsonage
of some Importance and as such en-
/ titled to Difference on the part OF the
representatives OF other powers, fact
unintentionally overlooked by Captain
Choates and the officers Of H NJ S-
Sparrow during some festivities at Nu-
kualofa, the Tongan capital and prin-
cipal seaport. The Tongan people are
exceedingly hospitable, as is the Ton
gan monarch, and when Hamilton
Hume, the British Consul, gave a Sc
rteS of evening dances and entertain
ments in celebration Of the vessels ar
rival the invitations were eagerly ac-
cepted by those to whom they were
addressed, and followed by numerous
presents and invitations to both the
officers and crew of the Sparrow, who
for several days had a somewhat lively
time Of 1t. OF course, the compliment
had to be returned, and accordingly
the captain and officers Of the Spar
row arranged for a dance on board
their vessel, which was brought along
side the landing wharf for that pur-
pose. The deck was tastefully decor
ated with bunting and foliage and bril-
liantly lighted by means of dynamo.
The guests were punctual to time, but
Just as the dancing was about to begin
something went wrong with the dy-
namo and the place became plunged
in darkness. There was plenty OF oil
light in the fore part Of the vessel, but
it was cut of by the decorations and
the screens put up for cOaling on the
following day.
There was great CONSERVATION among
the guests, which was relieved by
Thomas Roberts, Assistant Collector OF
Customs under the Tongan Govern
ment, and who was one of the guests,
suggesting that the light from the
lighthouse protecting the approach to-
the wharf should be obtained for a
short time.
Captain Coates, it is asserted,
thought this a good idea and as the
Tongan official. who had charge OF the
key, could not be found one OF the
staples in the door was drawn, the
door opened and the hanging kerosene
lantern taken out for a short time to
replace the light that failed. The dy-
namo was speedily put in working or
der and when this was accomplished
the lantern was taken back to the
lighthouse, the remainder Of the even
ing passing off in a most pleasant
manner. The Tongan authorities did
not appear to have taken any notice
of the incident, but their silence was
merely the calm before the storm, for
a week later the unlucky Assistant
Collector of Customs received an Of
ficial letter to the effect that his ser
vices under the TOngan Government
were no longer required and instruct
ing him to deliver up his keys to his
successor. This was an unexpected
bolt from the blue. Captain Coates
and his officers expressed great indig-
nation at the arbitrary action OF the
TOngan Government and forwarded to
the King letter, in which the cap
tain. after stating the facts of the case,
manfully took all the responsibility on
his own shoulders and asked that the
matter. might be recOnSidered. The
King lost no time in replying, but the
tone of his letter was anything but
favorable. He justified the action OF
mis- Government and stated that ha
gathered from the contents Of the cap
tain's letter that it was Mr.. Roberts
who had removed the lantern from
the lighthouse, which was an illegal
act Captain Coates, in reply, said
that he regarded the Kings attitude
as unsatisfactory and thus the matter
ends for the present.
Accounts or the affair have been
forwarded by Captain Coates to his
senior officer. the captain Of H. M. 8.
PyladeS, to his Excellency the High
Commissioner at Fiji. and Hamilton
Hume, G. NJ. c., the British Consul in
Tonga. Mr.. Macauley, harbor-rnaster
and receiving officer at the port, has
succeeded Mr.. Roberts. his own place
being taken by Mr.. Denny. formerly
purser on board one OF the large Aus
tralasian interstate vessels. According
to several leading Tongans, the whole
trouble might have been avoided had
an apology for removing the light
been forwarded to the authorities on
the morning following the dance. It
was neglect in this respect which
moved the ire Of the TOngan King.
who regarded the action OF Captain
Coates as insulting, but at the same
time did not care to become involved
in a dispute with him. The Tongans
furthermore assert that in disnissiny
Mr.. Roberts the Kings officers merely
did what those of any European power
would have done in similar circum-
stances and that the British Govern
ment has no right to interfere In the
matter.-LondOn Globe.
-S-o-e