AN ISLAND TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1921, Page 3

AN ISLAND TRAGEDY

SUICIDE OF GOVERNOR

EXTRAORDINARY POSITION IN AMERICAN SAMOA. -

Mr Tasma.iPGnrr, of Napier has received from a friend resident in Ameri-, can Samoa a further account of the unrest which has been prevalent there, owing to the actions of high officials of the administration.

The position, as explained in a previous letter, was tlmt the Governor of American Samoa was Commander W. J. Terhune U.S.N., whose second in command was Lieut. Com. C. H. Boucher, U.S.N., Captain of the Yard of the Naval Station. The latter was at log-ger-heads with his superior, and front his arrival made allegations against the administration .making the natives distrustful h v telling them that funds were being misappropriated. This officer was detached from the station and sent back to America on July 28th last. “Upon his arrival there he wired to the Secretary of the Navy preferring counter charges against the Governor, and all naval and civilian officers under him. •

“During his absence, A. A. Greere, a 'good American as be called •himself kept the agitation astir. Then there arrived Commander A. C. Kail, who had been appointed Captain of the Yard. Governor Terhune gave him all information and assistance to clear up the trouble but it was soon -found that lie was' trying to undermine Governor Torhune’s authority. “He tried to get the doctors to declare the Governor insane, but they refused, as the Governor, although physically weak was perfectly right in his mind.” Meanwhile the arrival of the battleship Kansas, with a Court, of Inquiry hboard was expected dailv. ’A- CRITICAL STAGE.

‘‘Affairs were reaching a critical state and we did not know what moment it would he neoesary to defend ourselves against an attack. Lives had been threatened. Word was sent to me to remain on the plantation, and not appear at Pago Pago. The stories ot those who openly discountenanced the discontents were boycotted, and even to-day the boj|g)tt is not lifted. “Kail became more and more active ns the arrival of the Kansas drew near. Governor Terhune became anxious, although lie had nothing to fear. Then we were all startled with the astounding news that Governor Terhune had committed suicide forty hours before the arrival of the battleship. “Kail immedately assumed control and lost no time. His first acts was to close the courts and declare a state of martial law. He imprisoned the chief of police, who had incurred his displeasure. He recalled two governors who had been dismissed by Governor Terhune for disloyalty and reappointed them dismissing the governors who had ’•pen appointed, and taking away their hereditary titles.

INTRIGUE AND SCANDAL. “The Kansas arrived on November sth., and'the Ventura, with Boucher on board, on November Bth. On the same day the Court of Inquiry opened. It lasted twelve whole days, and was ver v searching. The whole story of intrigue and scandal was unravelled. “Commissioner Tvail gave himself away, and was shown to be disloyal. Boucher’s position became pitiable. He refused to answer question after question, on the ground his answer might incriminate him. “As the result of the inquiry, Commissioner Boucher was eourt-mnrtialled, found guilty, and placed under arrest. His accomplice A. A- Greere, was deported. Kail was detached from tho station, and placed aboard the Kansas. “The work of recoftcilition then commenced. Tt is proving very difficult; the chiefs are very stubborn. It was a dsep-laid plot to bring into disrepute the United States Nav y Department through the Island Government. The Samoans have been made tools of, and they cannot yet realise it. , Notwithstanding their frame of mind I feel positive we can bring them all round before very long.”