Cruel Treatment

U.S.A. Yacht Deserters In Samoa

Europeans’ Indignation

From Our Own Correspondent.

APIA, October 6.

A COURT case in Apia has excited considerable interest and com ment lately.

The American yacht, Alva, owned by Mr. W. K. Vanderbilt, called into Apia harbour for a short visit. Two members of the crew wanted to leave the vessel, complaining about bad treatment on board. When the vessel left, the two men did not report on board and, according to the regula tions, Mr. Vanderbilt had to deposit their fares to the amount of £200 with the Customs authorities.

The two men came before the court and were convicted and sentenced to the maximum penalty of £100, or in default six months’ imprisonment.

As the men were unable to pay the fines, they were sent to gaol.

This sentence was commented upon as extremely severe. Only a few days afterwards, a number of Chinese coolies, who had violated the same regulation by deliberately escaping re patriation to Hongkong, received only three months’ imprisonment for the same offence, while in New Zealand offenders are generally repatriated by the first steamer available.

Another unpleasant sequence of the case was that the men were sent to do hard labour at the new post office, now in course of erection, alongside of Samoan and Chinese criminals.

Their food, it is stated, was thrown to them on the floor.

On their protests, and due to the general indignation of the European citizens of Apia, who pointed out that this treatment of white prisoners was liable to lower the prestige of the white man in the eyes of the natives — which feelings were transmitted to the Administrator—the latter ordered the prisoners to be removed to Tapen gata prison.