The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-10-27
THE u ~ u
or NJ ATE q

ago.
AIateo's father had made the mistake
OF numbering the crew OF q trading
vessel, and when word had been pass
ed around the white men would trade
with him no more The son sent word
far and wide that all traders should be
safe with him. and in time many YES
sells called at Ills Islands. He Ind
coprn and oil md other things to sell.
but he wanted guns and ammunition
in exchange.
He hired white men to drill his war
riors and build forts for him. He even
got hold of a number of cannon and
had them mounted. lie had the largest
feet OF war cunoes on the big island.
II his men could have been made sail
ors or the old chap could have gone
into the pirate business in first class
shape
For hvc years King NIateo encour-
aged traders and whalers and got
ready for - grand coup. and then he
struck Il blow that made his name in
lannon's in every eastern sea. In his
principal harDor were lying two Eng
fish whulers and five trading vessels
when he gave a grand feast. IT was
his wish that the crews of all the yes
sells be present. aud only two or three
men were left aboard when the feast
began. BY druGginG the liquor and
food Mateo made about hundred men
helpless, and when they had their
senses again it was to find all their
vessels captured and every person
prisoner when the various craft had
been robbed and stripped they were
towed to sea and scuttled. By this
stroke the king secured many more
firearms and barrels more of powder.
as well as other things to increase his
wealth aud arrogance
Three months after the attack Cap
tain Williams OF am Australian trader
managed to escape to sea in canoe.
but had neither food nor water lie
was picked mp by Il vessel a hundred
miles away. 1t was four months later
before Il British war vessel started
from Singapore 10 convince King Ma
leo that there were other mOnarcIS on
The face of this earth. During these
seven months NIateo had grown 80 ar
rogant that he Clefied the world Twen-
ty-one of the white slaves had sue
.umbed to the climate and the hard
work and stanty food.
No more traders had called in. and,
being angry AT this. the king had deter
mined ON "A grand feast at which the
last of his white prisoners should be
slain for the amusement OF his people |
This feast would have been held two |
weeks before her majesty's man-Of-war |
Revenge reached the islands lad not |
he ruler had Il spell of sickness. He !
lad issued his royal prnclama ton when |
he armed craft came sailing into his |
larbor She was an auxiliary. hut was |
not using steam. For once the British |
rcsor;ed 10 Il trick. He made
he Revenge look as much as possible
ike. a whaler after Il long voyage. and
he few mr.i of her crew allowed on |
leck were ri gesed out any old way. She
iad six guns. but these w"r" :" we'll
covered that the spies VIII" were n"nt
board did not notice them. They re-
urned to the king to report an ordi-
nary whaler. and he invited tn" crew
o II feast. Fills invitation was refused.
lie thereupon ordered the craft ont of
lis harbor she refused To go.
The British captain had been in
,tructed to move carefully and let Ma
go take the lead in overt acts. He did
rot have TO wait long. In broad lay
light on the third day. and after send
ng or word of what lie WAS going
o do. NIateo attacked the iritish"r
with seventy war canoes. each one
iOIdmg ten mcl. They padded ont
rom shore singing. their war songs AMI
ndulgng in many boasts. The Re-
-euse had furIcd her sails aud got
steam mp. and She steamed down to Ia"
Mouth of the harhnr and waited. When
he first muskct WIS fired at her. her
rev leapcd on deck and began TO
work. the big guns She was provided
With round shot. shell and grape and
.anIster. and the sea fight lasted only
IF |
.auocs were destroyed and most of
heir crews killed.
This was the first licking King Mateo
.ver received. AMI ii set him frantic.
lie was game however. lie was lick
NJ but lie wouldn't give up vet. He
allied his hntiu!ions ana challenged
lie BritiSher 10 come ashore and nave
t ont fair ana square. This was ex-
city what the captain Of the Revenge
wanted to do. lie had come after
hose white prisoners, ANA lie must 90
shore to get them. He had Il crew OF
80 men. and he landed 200 Of them.
IivftIel them iut9 three bodies. and
when the Intiye~ advanced still five
% one, they We're hawled over 10y The
core. fiankcd right and lrft and licked
mt OF their boots ia half am hour
Kin: Matcu's reign w;rs at an end
orever OF the white prisoners only
bout thirty were left. or The natlvcs
90 had been killed ana as many as
90 wounded. Two trading vessels
anne in ON tie day IF the battle. They
rere allowed 10 load with the plumber.
everaI villages were burned many
pconnut groves destroyed aud the king ,
nj eleven OF his principal men taken
board the Revenge. y new king was
Installed ON the throne ana hidden to
-, ~. 80 ,vI - and then fhp