Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-01-09
SAMOA CONSULS
EASILY FOOLEL
PIoUs sUPERcARGo ALLOWED Tt
LAND RIFLES DURING WAR.
THE ARTFUL MALIET0t
Provisions Sold at Moderate Price,
Prove Effective Argument-Burs
larry Committed on British Ware
house by Order of the King

When the late King Malietoa
Samoa was experiencing his first troL
bic with Germany and the agents O
that power were stirring his subject
t0 rebellion, he was extremely anxiou
to arm his forces thoroughly and cop
with the rebels, who, it was WEI
known, were being secretly SUPPLE
with arms and ammunition by Ham
burg house, whose headquarters wert
in Apia.
This was in direct violation OF the
agreement entered into by the consu
lar representatives of England, Ger
many, the United States and France
that no subjects of those nationalities
residing in Samoa should sell arms or
ammunition to MaEetoa and his fol-
lowers or to the rebels.
The latter were daily increasing in
strength and boosted that before Ions
they would capture and loot Apia ano
kill all Europeans who favored Male
toa Matters were in a critical state
when there one day sailed into Apia
ed the Venus, and in less than an
hour the news spread like wildfire that
she had on board some thousands OF
Snider rifles and some hundreds Of
Winchesters, together with an ample
supply of ammunition. Ere long the
vessel was surrounded by canoes lit
orally packed together, and her decks
filed with many hundreds of excited
natives, all eager to buy fana tatala
panava (breach-lOading rifles).
Warned by the ConsuIs.
But the consuls had been before
them and had warned the master and
supercargo of the Venus that if sim
gle rifle was sold they would sieze the
vessel and detain her-she being a
British ship-until the arrival of an
English ship Of war.
The supercargO, who was nice,
pleasant-spoken young man, frankly
admitted that it was great and unex-
pected disappointment to him not to
he able to dispose of the arms, as he
would now have to carry them about
4
four mouth, as the ship was bound on
long trading voyage throughout the
Bilbert, Marshall and Caroline groups
and finally take them back ito Sidney.
"And, then l shall get into hot water
with the owners he said, ruefully,
las | don't suppose l shall be able to
sell more than hundred or so of the
gums of the Gilberts and Marshalls."
Then he asked the cOnSuls 1t they
would be so good as to clear the ship
of the natives. IF you won't let me
sell my guns, gentlemen, you can at
least save me the annoyance OF having
the vessels deck filed with natives.
Besides that, it is Sunday, and I'm
going ashore to church"
The consuls stared, for the young
gentleman had formerly resided for
years in Samoa, and had by no means
achieved distinction for his religious
tendencies, which were absolutely nil.
81 think" said the German consul,
who was a. willy and astute parsonage,
chat the best thing would he for a
guard of the municipal police to re
main on board until you SAIL
German Is Satisfied.
Just the very thing, Herr Weber, .
said Mr.. Supercargo, effusively, and or
ders were sent on shore for the police
boat to come off and the German con-
sui felt Observation-Disclosures would get
no arms from the Venus at any rate.
1t should be said that the English and
American resident merchants were
strongly in favor of King Malietoa,
and, had they dared, would have sup
piled him with all the arms he wanted.
This matter arranged the cOnsu1s
inquired what other cargo the Venus
had under matches, and were all de-
lighted to learn that the bulk of it
was provisions, for the town was very
short of European food, and the white
men and their families had been with
out such articles as flour, sugar, beer
and whiskey for two months. This
was owing to a large German ship
named the Anna, which was loaded
with stores, having been lost on the
voyage from Sydney to Apia. They
all at once begged the supercargo to
quote his prices. He shook his head
and smiled-almost sadly.
mo, gentlemen. You must give me
a chance with my provisions if you
won't with the guns. I must first
find out tomorrow how the prices are
going on shore, and then we can talk
business. But not today. I've made
a rule not to do business of any kind
on Sundays.
The consuls retired, feeling some
what annoyed still, they could not
blame the pleasant-mannered young
gentleman for looking after his own
interests.
Arrange to See the King.
However, he was thoughtful enough
to give them couple of cases of beer
a case of whiskey and some delica.
cies from the cabin stores to take
FTlI. II.