THE CRISIS IN SAMOA.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10262, 3 February 1899, Page 5

THE CRISIS IN SAMOA.

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE

FIGHTING.

SHOCKING SCENES IN THE STREETS.

(I-RKSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM-)

AUCKLAND, February 2.

Among the passengers by the Hatsroto yesterday was Mr Thomas J. Williams, a gentleman who has spent a good many years in Samoa, and who was in Apia during the whole of the recent troubles. A "Herald" reporter interviewed Mr Williams, and gathered from him a good deal of interesting information with reference to fighting between the Mataafa and Mnliotoa parties, and also-with reference to the position of matters in Samoa (ip.to January 25th, when the Htmroto left Samoa.

Mr Williams gave the reporter a full recount of the fight. The excitement among the natives, it stxms, started us soon as the decision .of the Supreme Court electing AlaUuvfa to be king was announced. Mataafa's followers stated they wished to tight the mutter out among themselves, and they would have nothing more to do with the Court. In the main street the Malietoa party decapitated three of Mataafa'a nrou. Two of those, unfortunates were run into the sen, and were shot while in the water, the .\ialietou men alterwaids running into the sea, seising the bodies., and decapitating them. BulletsS went through many of the

European houses, two going right through the bar of the Tivoli Hotel. Four, or five Malic t-.ia chiefs had taken refuge in the Mission House, and these Mataafa's men dotnunded should be given up. They threatened twiris , to charge the-house, but the Porpoise's men showed a bold front, and the natives after n time thought better of.it. One man tried to scale a fence., but an old chief of the Mataafa party displayed his authority by throwing a ncfuotu (lighting knife), which struck ix venturesome native on the leg; and after this incident all threats to take the Mission House ceased.

The sreenes on Monday, as described by Mr Williams, were truly horrible. Some of Mataafa.'s men we«e carrying headless bodies through the streets, and others were carrying heads on their fighting knives, and throwing them about the streets. Some of the bodies were greatly mutilated. The natives went into the houses of tlie Europeans and demanded anything belonging to Malietoa's party. They were impudent, but they made no attempt to ta!:e v anything belonging to Europeans. , On Wednesday, January 24th, an attempt was made by the German residents to get tine British subjects to sign a petition to Captain Sturdee, asking him to send the young king and Tamasese ashore. On account of the presence of the king and' Tamasese on the Porpoise, the British residents were doubtful about taking refuge on the warship,'as they did not know what the Mataafa party might attempt in order to get hold of the leaders of the opposing party. In. spite of this, however, the British residents refused to sign the petition, and it waa never presented; and in any event Captain Sturdee stated afterwards to Williams that the men came to him for protection, and he was bound' to afford it to them. The petition, therefore, could have had no effect.

Matters in Apia were comparatively quiet until January 11th, when the scene occurred with Grevsmuhl, which, was followed by a scene in which Herr yon Bulow was the prin- * cipal actor. Bulow hearing that Grevamuhl was incarcerated, bought an axe from a trader, and came rushing down the street with half-a-dozen natives at his back, declaring he intended to open the gaol and get Grevsmuhl out. He was stopped by Mr Denvers, clerk of the Court, who .took the .axe from him. He then got frightened,.and the natives who were with him ran off.

"Grevsmuhl," added Mr Williams, "before he broke the windows of the Supreme Court, went to the American Consul, and declared he knew that if another British warship oame to Samoa., tihe natives would I start to massacre the Europeans. That, of course, is .only Grevsmuhl's talk, but he is much connected wit& ifae natives." Herr yon Bulow is suppos3d to be a pensioner lieutenant in the German army, and is a planter at Savaii. He was brought , ' to Samoa by the Mataafa party to conduct . their case about a forinighft after the fight. Just before the HJauroto left tiro heade were got in a basket at the back of one of the stores, and one head behind anotber store. The source of supply of the *r«w to the* natives ie cow being inquired into. In Samoa no European is allowed to o&ny arms. They ore searched whea they -lend, and if they take revolvers ashore are liable - to a very heavy penalty. The natives, however, are well supplied with.arms. . Tfce Maliotoa mea who took refuge'on the Porpoise gave up some 700 rifles, gome, of them of the latest patterns. There are mispiatimm as to where the arms supplied to tJ*e native* came from, and the matter will in all likelihood be thoroughly investigated now. The ' matter ie a'very serious one', aa in Apia the ■ Europeans number only 700, and with' arm« at their command, the natives might iti any time of excitement 'turn on the Europeaoff. In such an event grave consequences would undoubtedly ensue. v As to the future of Samoa, Mr Williajae said he had little doubt there would be more fighting. The British Consul, Mr Mane, eadd he was almost certain there would tie more fighting, ibut that he would try. hie best to prevent anything of the kind occur- .. ring in the town. "I expect,' added Mr .Wil-,, Hams, "that the British and American Go- ' vernments will support the Chief Justice, and I would not be surprised if they demand Mataafa as a prisaner. They may not; however, install Malieto* Tanu again. •He i# very much afraid, a-nd will not leave' the warship. He has bean asked to go ashore, but replied he would rather die on board Hie ship. The feeling of EngHdi people is undoubtedly in favour of annexation. '-- Tfce Americana have not so great a desire for the annexation of -Samoa by America; the feeling leans towards annexation by Eag* land. At all eveate Samoa will never come to anything upder the three Powers, and tie idea of splitting up the, islands aauosig the Powers is very foolish. There i» no doubt I Samoa, would progress favourably if Eng- . land took it over. ■ Fiji has made marvislloM progress, aad. aUfoough some people do not care about a,Crown colony, there ie no doubt .annexation would Bβ ons htrndred time* bet* ter than the present system of Government. ,,