THE WAR IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3646, 24 January 1899, Page 3

THE WAR IN SAMOA.

THE KINGSHIP 'DISPfJI.’E AND MISSIONARY INTRIGUERS. SPECIAL ACCOUNT OP THE FIGHTING. BEHEADING OF SLAUGHTERED WARRIORS. THREATS OF BRITISH INTER- , FERENC E. THE FINAL ~SETTLEMENT. To Hia Grace Archbishop Redwood we aro indebted for a very full and interesting account of the trouble in Samoa, and the cause's that led up to it. This has been prepared by a resident of Samoa whose knowledge j-aml impartially are fully vouched for; and apart from its value as. giving; a different version from that which has come from other sources, its description of the eventful week’s doings from Mist December last down to the 6th of January is particularly vivid and re- . alistic. The account, which we jgiyo exactly as received, is as follows: Shortly after the return of the great chief Mataafa, the struggle for the vacant kingship began, quite a number of candidates being in the field. But it was soon very apparent that Mataafa was far in the lead, ho having thp support ol nil-the principal high chiefs and of the bettor part of the white population. Upon his return from Jaluit to Samoa it had been doomed necessary to somewhat restrict his movements, and for this reason ho was made to give his word nf honour that ho would not remove from Mulinuu (a suburb of Apia) until such time as the Consuls ■ were willing to cancel his parole. - About the beginning of. October one of this chiefs friends, who was duly authorised, applied to the different authorities hero that Mataafa bo granted still more ■ liberty, and in replying the Chief Justice dosed .his letter with the following re-marks-.—“ln fact -1 am much, l occupied in telling people that 1 1 have nothing to do with' the Chief Mataafa#, he having the same right to aspire to the kingship as any other Samoan, and if the people elect him as .Malietoa’s successor in a rightfu, manner and according to the Jaws and customs of Samoa, why shouldn't he have the office ? As to his movements I can say nothing, that is a matter absolutely with the Consuls." Young Tamaseso came, up to Apia and engaged a prominent lawyer hero to sup port his pretensions,.and gentleman ho had engaged controlled temporarily the only newspaper published, this meant more than it would seem to a casual observer. ' . ' „ „ The family of the late Mahptoa finally brought forward the former king’s son, Tanu, who is only somo 18 years ot age, and who, according to Sampan,juis- . ."i; tom, could not aspire even to his father s ■' . tithapuntil ho was a grown man, ; Tamasese and Tanu (who had also a sort of a lawyer named Gun - ) finally com ■ eluded toJoin/forces, so that they might make, a bettor show against the crvoi growing strength of Mataofa. The scheme was to proclaim'Tanu king, and Tamasese, regent. Finding tjiemselves far away m the minority, the Tamaseso-Tanu party withdrew from Mulinuu, ■ and on, the I.4th of November Mataafa _ was duly and. properly chosen according to Samoan custom. - "" 1 . A fow days later the Tanu-Tamaseso party .filed an objection at the Supreme Court contesting this election on several grounds. A number of persons who were, well posted in- Samoan affairs, and whose characters for. truth and honesty ought to have had weight, endeavoured to point out to the Chief Justice the folly ot listening to such puerile complaints. On. the other hand, other ..persons, bent on J deceiving him,; and among those some ol the members of tho London Mission Society, worked with might and main to " complicate matters. At one time the Chief Justice suggested that both parties count their forces under supervision of his Court, tho Consuls and captains of war-. ■ ships present. To This proposition .the* Mataafa party gave their ready assent, but the lawyers for the Tanu-Taraaseae section offered so many objections that no agreement was arrived at. At this stage .in the proceedings the Chief Justice declared that both sides .must sign a formal agreement to recognise his-'decision before ho would undertake to try the ease. Believing that this gentleman was thoroughly under a missionary influence,' ’.and that the ■ lawyers would trick them, the Mataafa sfjlo declined to sign the) agreement, and asked the Chief Justice what warrant he had for demanding it. They further, declined to appear if lawyers wore to bo introduced.. Still the Chief Justice kept 'demanding;this.' agreement, and, insisting; on tho introduction ot tho lawyers. The trial was sot .for the 19th of December . and was to close, and a judgment be ron-, dered on tho 29th. On, opening the Court the Judge still, without success, insisted upon, the agreement so often refused, and when-again unable to work his purpose ho very angry. _ Notwithstanding tho continued objections ’of tho natives, lawyers were introduced, and they were Compelled to accept the services of Mi/ Von Billow, 1 , who knew very little law, but a great deal about . native . customs. . On the ouo side stood all tho'high chiefs of Samoa, on tho othor’n..fow chiefs pflesser note, mostly from thp vicinitv of Apia. Hot. • 'sides examined an equal number of wit-, nesses, but ./those on the Opo side wore men of importance, whilp those on the .other side had no standing at all in tho native community and no’ following to a speak of. . ■ Having no confidence in all tho Court. , the Mataafa party mustered near Apia 1 about 6000 troops pnd the Tauu-Tamn-soso party assiduously got together every follower of theirs that could bo d’scovered,! both parties anxiously awaiting tho result of the trial. Two days before the expected decision was rendered, somo people'under Asi (an unimportant chief who had hitherto been known as a disturber) commenced to abandon their village .and erect earthworks closer up to Apia. A To counterbalance this a number of Mataafa people ’ were sent the following day to occupy a strong position in the roar of Apia. _ Owing to several delays the : decision was not rendered until the morning of ‘tho Slat when, i>s expected, Tanu was declared king, and .ill good Samoans ordered to obey him. In rendering tho decision, the Chief Justice declared that he had no doubt but that Mataafa was the choice of the people, but that bo .was ineligible-because . in 1889 he had defeated the Germans at Vailelo, and in framing the Berlin General Act, they wished him for ever barred. Though this wish ot theirs was not embodied in tho treaty that was ultimately macle/'tho Chief Justice considered that his election would gravely complicate matters with Germany, though- tho German representative hero declared such would not be the case, and that he certainly preferred Mataafi to any other candidate in tho field. Very fow of the Mataafa chiefs were present when the decision was rendered,, »s they ■wore making ready to overthrow it and the Court which could proclaim it. On the Ist of January, before daylight, the Tanu-Tamaseso party retreated and abandoned their works in Mat’afole (one of tho suburbs), taking up a' new lino at the Mulivai river close to the Catholic Cathedral, the Mataafa party following thorn closely. At 2 p.m. the advanced guard from the west had approached tho Tanu-Tamases© works within Ixo yards, and they were allowed to build there a work of even superior strength. At 3 p.m. nows was received at this point that all the Mataafa forces were in position, and that a forward movement was in order. From the towers of the Tivoli Hotel the position of the advancing Mataafaites could readily bo determined by

the columns of smoko ascending from the houses they burnt as they came on. Near the Catholic Cathedral both parties were within hail, and each side appeared to desire the other to begin firing first. Now a stalwart Mataafaite would waltz out from behind his fort, cut some capers with his long two-hand knife and challenge tho Tanu men tip-meet him in single combat. Then a Tabu man arrayed in all his savage fin6ry, with an immense red turban, would caper m front of his' fort and demand , that the other side charge to their death. In the, meantime the few whites in the neighbourhood who generally had their families in the collars wore cautiously and curiously watching the whole from their verandahs, ready to got bams into a safe place as soon as a shot was fired. The excitement grew in intensity, out from tho Mataafa side four or five old men in flowing white garments, each carrying a stick about 6 feet lorn' of the thickness of an ordinary cane. When a talk is desired an orator advances, leans on his stick-and commands 'attention. These old vanced to the bridge over the little brook which separated the combatants , and .then declared that those who cashed to live should come' over to their srdo a nd surrender their arms, or tboy 'W« ] “ soon bo headless men. While then continued tho Mataafaitcs their fort and commenced a,How advance aSn t tho thin line of Tanuites who proposed to defend their entrenchment^ 1 Finellv one rod turbaned man, t.ien another, y was seen to run across tho bridge and surrender himself and gi his white turbaned foe, who kept advancin'* while the old men kept declaring that life was safe only for gWjJj, 0 as* “Toft «50. prid. » crookedness and receive them again as ' errin'' children. Suddenly with a rush the Tanu works were carried and several hundreds of Mataafaitcs marched up the main street, not a shot having yet been fired All tho prisoners were disarmed and ordered to proceed at once to Mulinuu. Several whose perjuries in tliq ’Court had given groat offence came very near losing their heads on this eventful >*%%£ ft red' the MM. turned inland to moot their own friends advancing from tho south and hero they captured Tuisumoa, a chief of some considerable, note, ■ who gave up his arms and surrendered., Suddenly a shot wa» fired close at hand and with a rush the main body of the Tanu party emerged from among tho bread-fruit trees and native houses just at the back or tho Tivoli Hotel, and though they were less ilt numbers than the Mataafa people they boldly commenced their attack with a rush which sent the Mataafaitcs back to-the’ first entrenchment they couiu . find. Several persons were killed and wounded in this . encounter and mi.mediately the battle became general, volley firing being heard in Matautu and M'otootua. A number of whites , who thought that a general surrender was about to take place wore mixed-up-with tho natives before tho skirrpisfi began and they were very fortunate in getting, behind the Tivoli Hotel without m 'Bv y this timo it was nearly dark, and the lino of burning dwellings was getting painfully close to the Tanu people, whose wounded were being earned into the London Mission House to he guarded by marines from the Porpoise and attended by the surgeon from that vessel. During tho retreat of the Mataafaitcs two of their number, braver perhaps than the rest, entrenched themselves behind sonic stones on the beach in front of the hotel and there gave battle to many of the red turbaned .men who were bettor sheltered. Seeing themselves, ah,out to be taken both dropped their guns and put for tho sea, swimming with all their strength with perhaps twenty men firing at them. Soon one of the poor fellows was hitheforo he pot beyond the shallows of tho inshore reefs. Tho other managed to get Out of range and back to his com-, radcs near the Cathedral. Without more ado the wounded or dead man on thp roof was beheaded * and 'tho ghastly trophy carried ashore in triumph. At dark, little firing was being done. The Tanuites wero withdrawing and. concentrating towards their boats and tho Mataafaitcs were following’ them slowly up. During tho night it rained heavily with thunder and lightning. Only a few shots wore fired. At 2 a.m. the Tanuites • launched most of their boats and fled to tho British warship for protection. Some sixto of their principal men slipped into the London . Mission ■House behind the line of British sailors', there to lie concealed during the following day. At daylight a general rush, was made hv . the- Mataafa forces and had the Tanuites remained a general massacre Would have occurred:'.' As it was,! some twenty large boat loads of people were lying alongside the Porpoise begging for protection, ior there was.no - place in . all tho' islands to which they misfit safely go, even if they could avoid tho far superior fleets of Mataafa to the oast and west : of-.them:. Tho psonle remained in their boats round tho Entrlish warship till about 2 p.m., when a gale from the ■ north arose, ■ making the harbour extremely rough. so; much so that, the boats colliding with one another and with, the’ sides of the vessel caused ; several to ;■ swamp and the occupants', some 40/or CO ' people, kept swimming about in the water for a considerable time, the man-of-war refusing them admittance on .hoard.: In /this extremity thev swam to ftie German man-of-war Falko Ivin (r . at. somo distance, -and the captain and officers, more humane than those of the English ship, kindly received thorn on board. After this, thev wore divided among the two war vessels on which thev remained till next: mornin". when they surrendered to the Mataafa party. Tanu, Tamasese and a few others. with 'Gurr, their lawyer an I a dviser, ‘all of whom were afra id of their Imads, refused to leave the English man-of-war.

. As soon, as'it was found that Apia was evacuated, pillaging began. >, Every native house was entered and its contents removed, after which if it did not adjoin tho howto of a foreigner it was burned, or otherwise destroyed with axes. Every species of property was carried way by the; victors, who spent two whole days niUaging. A great many women, and children belonging to the deferted ' party fled to the grounds- of the London Mission House and to the enclosure of Mr H, J. Moors. : At the first point they were protected by British marines and at the latter by the personal influence of Mr - Moors, who has always, been an outspoken Mataafa supporter. On tho sth, when the marines wore withdrawn^all of those who sought refmro in the Mission grounds were taken care of by Mr Moors and no harm came to any of them. On the 3rd inst. a. Provisional Government consisting of Mataafa and 13 high chiefs, with Dr Raffel ns oxocuti'c‘o, xva.£ d'dy recognised by all tho Consuls, and efforts were at. once made to bring about o-eod order. Tho Government found itself with 900 urisonevs- on its hands, against some of whom thc peoplo wero so incensed that their lives were in danger. Tam-“ ! pse and Tanu -‘wero still on board the Pornoiso, and many of the troops refused to leave Apia until they wero delivered or taken away. At a e-rcat meeting held at Mulinuu it was decided that if Tanu and Tamasese would surrender, after they had made the .usual submissions customary to defeated Samoans. Tanu should be allowed to go back to school, and Tamaseso would be kept in Mulinuu as a sort of State nrisonmr. Both; refused the offers, and have since remained on ibo warship. In tho meanwhile tho chiefs have ■ outlawed them , and now it would be dangerous for them to land at any point. After making their humble submission and signing an agreement never to fight again against their chiefs, four-fifths of the

prisoners wore dismissed. Of the balance, most of whom are natives who have resided in Apia, some wero sent to Manono, others to Tutuila and Manna, there to remain till times are more settled. Some 40 are. confined in the gaol at Mulinuu, and will be employed in removing the forts from the streets of Apia.

On the 6th inst. the Provisional Government declared the Supreme Court closed, not to be reopened till its consent was given. Early on the next day the British Consul gave notice that at noon he would reopen the Court and fire upon any one who would resist. By tms date nearly the’ whole of Mataafa’s forces had been withdrawn from Apia, and the President had no difficulty in controlling those who remained, hut who were ready on a word , to defend Umir rights. At 9 a.m. the Porpoise had her battle flag flying and her steam siren warning all Britishers to got on hoarc their warship, as sho was, likely to attack the town. The German warships, knowing better the temper of the people, had given liberty to somo of her sailors, who were strolling about tue place. Ui cou/se, a good number of white residents were frightened, and so fled to the vessel, which had boats at the wharves to receive all refugees. Just before midday Dr Roffel toe Gorman Consul and a large number of white people who had not taken fright, assembled in front of the Courthouse, and when Consuls Maxe and • Osborn appeared with the. Chief Justice and their guards of 25 marines, they.received theii, and Dr Raffcl announced that he held tho keys ot the building. These the British Consul demanded, claiming that tho Chief Justieewasstin,under tho Treaty, the highest official, and that at his request and that of the United States Consul .he.would, use force to open the building .if the kejs wore not delivered up. -

111 reply, tho President stated that by an unforeseen revolution tho people of Samoa had deposed the Chief rendering an illegal decision. 1 hat under the Treaty when that place became vacant he was tho authorised successor, and as matters stood he was Ule.real acting Chief Justice; he refused to give up the keys, and said they might use force to open the Court if they chose. The American Consul, who is a very quiet. ola gentleman, and appeared rather dazed by the whole affair an 4.. tho ,^ r^ llgt i^ t SS t Ue his surroundings, said nothing ; but the British Consul m .very loud tones said that his colleagues was acting with him, which Mr Osborn did not deny. A great show was .made of protecting American interests, which never had been endangered, after which the Jintiah Consul called for three cheers for the Clnel Justice, which were feebly given by a few of those present. After this, the German Consul protested . that,-in the name of his Government h refused to accept the decision of the Chief Justice as a legal one ; that the Samoan people, unaided had risen -and closed his Court; .that there was no utility in opening it, .tor .he_ should no longer recognise -Mr Chambers- as an officer appointed by the lowers, and. still holding office; that the position bccomin" vacant, the President had m the ordinary course assumed, temporarily the duties, and might, if he ch'ose, exercise them. He then called for three cheers for tho President, which were given with a will, many of those present- cheering both sides. After this the Court was entered and formally, opened by Mr Chambers, and then formally adjourned. The day was one of intense, .excitement, all for no purpose; both sides it appears striving for the empty honour. Ofi pmsmS a Court which could not carry on its business until such time as the Powers, themselves should settle the matter rt During the discussion on the ■ verandah.. ot/the Courthouse, the British ■ Consul' claimed, that i the Provisional Government; ‘ had grossly insulted the British flag; to? - which it would bo held answerable. . The • President replying, declared , tha-t ,toP ■ 'British flag had been withdrawn from the Courthouse and from the house-.ot the Chief Justice some days previously, lanci that when the Provisional Government had taken possession no flag was 'flying-. : Since the Bth inst., a joint prodlaraation’ has been issued by the British v ,and ; American Consuls, and another by,theChief Justice affirming their, portions. Tho town has now assumed its , usual - quiet aspect, and business proceeds., as hitherto. It is not thought that any 'further troubles' will arise, as -the I rovisional Government is striving as .hard, as possible to satisfy all Just demands upon it. Tho. Mataafa party have signified their willingness to pay .all claims for damages caused to foreigners by either side dur-, ing the late war, just as soon as they can be, filed and proved. During the whole affair, Mataafa and tho chiefs lately returned from exile, remainedl quietly: on- .Mulinuu, taking no part in the hostilities. In passing the London Mission station at Malua, some., miles west of, Apia, the returning warriors, loudly. denounced the missionary there as one of those who. caused the war; besides this, they’ burned' some of tho houses belonging to his’native friends. Before, the war, began, and since its conclusion l , many of these 'missionaries declared they had no connection with it,- bdt they were generally not believed, and .now a number of letters have been brought to light.proving conclusively that several of them, at least.’ Wore taking' a very active part. The Wesleyans and Catholics refrained from all interference. ■ No further trouble is expected, and some months must elapse before . the Powers can come to a definite decision ias to how th is affair shall finally bo, disposed of. . . , ’ - ./ ■ r

Thirty persons in all were killed about thirty-five wounded. Tanu and Tamaseso had in the field about .900 men, and the Mataafa chiefs 5900." All the Tanu-Tamasose forces were captured. The Mataafa party is about 93 per cent, of tho entire population. The Maliotoa party, which has been kept in existence by the Powers for many years past, has had no real influence' for a long timo back and most likely its star has now set'for ever.