COLONEL STEINBERGER AT SAMOA.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 542, 14 March 1876, Page 3

COLONEL STEINBERGER AT SAMOA.

A telegram from Auckland, published in this day’s issue, states that Colonel Stcinberger has been arrested, and incarcerated on board the Barracouta. The Auckland Herald of a recent date gives the following particulars of his career at Samoa ; By the arrival of the brigantine Helena, from Samoa, we are in receipt of further particulars respecting the curious episode of Colonel Steinberger at Samoa, and as many conjectures have been made as to the manner in which the handsome little yacht now lying quietly at anchor in the Waitemata harbor came into the possession of Captain M. McKenzie, her presmt owner, it may not be out of place to give them. The facts of the case may be briefly described by giving a few particulars concerning the notorious Colonel Steinberger and the part played by the Peerless in the Colonel’s bold endeavour to create “ reform” in the Samoan group of the Navigator Islands. A few years ago this Colonel Steinberger, armed with credentials from the United States Government, was despatched to the Navigator Islands by that Government to perform a certain mission, the purport of which at the time was not made known to the world, but which proved to be for the purpose of inducing the natives to sign a petition asking the assistance of the United States in their efforts to organise a Government of their own, with the special request that he himself be sent out in the capacity of General Superintendent. The United States man-of-war Tuscarorawas for the time being placed at the disposal of this plenipotentiary extraordinary. Having fulfilled his mission, it became the colonel’s duty to take his departure and return to peaceful citizenship in the United States, but Colonel Steinberger’s cupidity appears to have been aroused at what had come before his notice whilst sojourning in the fair islands of the Pacific, and ho at once expressed his determination to effect reform amongst these guileless children of the southern seas. How he has succeeded in this has been described by a San Francisco journal, who asserts that be has made out of them a cross between a full grown American citizen and an angel of light, precedence being given to the wiser of the two. In the first place, he organised something like a Parliament, and obtained for himself the election of “ Premier,’’ taking the precaution to make the position a life office, whilst the King’s term of office is limited to four years, and he cannot be re-elected. The constitution proposed by him was, at his persuasion, accepted by the people, who were led to the imagination that he was backed by the power of the United States. Thus began the reign of “ Steinberger the First,” grantis gratia Rex Samoaruvt. A code of laws was drawn up by this potentate, who, having secured his position, began to levy taxation on his “subjects” and ou foreign residents alike. The latter objected to this system of “black mail,” and resisted his authority. Unless his schemes were to be thus thrust aside, his orders annulled, and his authority set at defiance, it became necessary for the Colonel to use armed persuasion in enforcing his system of taxation for his own aggrandizement. With this object in view, he caused to be built, in San Francisco, the schooner Peerless, wh : ch was fitted up at great cost ; and being built on an improved model attained great speed as a sailer. She was taken across from San Francisco by Captain Harrison in tbe brief space of eighteen days. Arrived at the scene of her future buccaneering expeditions, the Peerless was manned by a crew of twenty-six men, armed with a couple of “Gatling” guns, and supplied with stacks of rifles, revolvers, cutlasses, boaiding-pikes, and other aims and warlike stores. Thus emboldened, our American filibuster proceeded not only to enforce his system of taxation, but also to levy a toll on all vessels passing, and blackmail on all and sundry persons landing in the vicinity of his stronghold ; for, in addition to his armed schooner, the bold buccaneer had erected a fort on shore, capable of standing, as he imagined, a siege. When not engaged in his “reforming occupation,” the colonel appears to have “ indulged ” a little, for we are assured, by the same journal to which wo have alluded, that he had discovered that a “little wine for his stomach's sake ” was recommended by St Paul. Wine being scarce, or rather none of the taxes coming in, his Majesty and his staff drank brandy instead. Not wishing to do anything secretly, they showed lo the “reformed” natives how a white man acta when feeling in good spirits, and the natives being of an imitative turn of mind, followed their example with great rapidity. They, having imitated the Court, the Court felt bound to return the compliment, and accordingly did so in the matter of “ Heaven’s last, best gift lo man,” to tl e old maxim, “Every dog has his day,’ and the power of “Steinberger the First ” was doomed to wane and his reign be of short duration. Emboldened by his own success, the colonel followed up his tolllevying propensity to an obnox ous extent

It chanced, however, that one morning he espied from his fortress a horseman who had ventured on his preserves. Swaggering out, he demanded, in a blustering manner, a cer tain sum of the English gentleman on horseback, or, in default thereof, the pains and penalties of confiscation and imprisonment were threatened. The English gentleman, being no other than Captain Charles E. Stevens, of Her Britannic Majesty’s ship of war, Barracouta, which had called at Samoa during her cruise, considered it beneath hh dignity as commander in her Majesty’s navy to be thus accosted by one whose authority he doubted and denied, and, thereforce, declined to pay the toll demanded. Having stated his determination to enquire into the doings of the “ filibuster,” Captain Stevens rode away. He lost no time in placing himself in communication with Mr J. S. Foster, the United States Consul at Samoa, the result of which was that Colonel Steinberger was politely requested to produce the authority of the United States Government, under which flag he carried on his practices. This the Colonel refused to do, and after a consultation with the German Consul (Mr A, E. Poppe), and with the sanction of the United States Consul, the captain of the Barracouta, without any further fuss, seized upon the Peerless for a breach of the neutrality laws, in carrying arms, and the pretty little pirate was taken alongside the man of-war. Having been disarmed, her foremast and gear were taken out of her, and otherwise rendered hors de combat. With the consent of the representatives of the British, United States, and German powers, the schooner was afterwards sold as a lawful prize. Captain Murdock McKenzie, then at the island with the schooner Mary Melville, becoming the purchaser, and the once dangerous little craft was brought to Auckland, where she has sinceexcited the admiration of many, and the envy of a few. She will shortly pass into the hands of some gentleman, who will employ her in the peaceful pursuit of yachting, in place of the occupation given her by the American adventurer, who _ has caused his name to become so notorious. Following upon the seizure of the armed schooner, the authorities named held a further consultation, in conjunction with the commanders of H.M.S. Barracouta, and H.I.M. German ship of war Gazelle, on board the latter vessel, to discuss and decide what course should be taken for the safety, freedom, and protection of property of subjects of the respective countries. This was rendered necessary as the Samoan Government had endorsed the actions of Colonel Steinberger in the committal and adoption of his numerous malpractices in direct opposition to civilised laws, customs, and usages. The decision arrived at on this occasion has already been set forth in the proclamation issued by the powers named, and which was published in extenso in the New Zealand Herald on the 12th instant. What further action will be taken with the Colonel, who claims American citizenship, but whose extraordinary conduct is far from being endorsed by that nation, remains to be seen.