THE SAMOAN DIFFICULTY.

Evening Star, Issue 4101, 19 April 1876, Page 4

THE SAMOAN DIFFICULTY.

Captain Stevens, of the Barracouta, reports that the behaviour of the seamen in the •Samoan skirmish was admirable. They obeyed with alacrity the orders given. In addition to Captain Stevens, the following officers were present at the engagement:— Lieut. M‘Leod, Sub.-Lieuts. W. B. Charters and R, Colmys, Assistant Paymaster H. Rudge. After the Chiefs had succeeded in stopping the firing, three of the principal insurgents were taken as hostages, and the sailors were marched back to the Consulate ■—several Native Chiefs being inarched with them to . ensure agaiust any act of treachery en route. The names of tie British who have died arc—Win. Morrison, A.8., died half-an-hour after action from a wound in chest; W. Watson, private light infantry, died on the following day from a wound in the abdomen ; ami Ben. J. Kelsey, private light infantry, died on the 20th, having been shot through the spine. After the fight, it was deemed necessary for some days for a party of seamen to protect the Consulates. On 22nd and 23rd March, meetings were held, and the Chiefs and the Consul came to an agreement that, if the armed natives returned home, the guns and men of the Barracouta should be withdrawn. These stipulations were observed on both sides—the natives going, and the sailors returning to then* ship. Colonel Steinberger . was kept prisoner on board at the request of the King and Consuls. On the 29th, the Sapphire relieved the Barracouta, and the hostages being transferred to the former vessel, the latter’ left for Auckland, via Levuka. Here two of the wounded—namely, Shepherd and Smallbridge, were left in the hospital, and Steinberger also remained there, preferring that course to being brought on to Auckland. Latesi advices from Samoa represent the natives as in a great state o' dissatisfaction, and appear on the eve of breaking out into revolution.