Samoa

Fatal Accident In American Samoa

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Dec. 4

AT the recent jubilee celebrations in American Samoa in honour of Rev.

Father Goupellaud, who had completed 25 years’ residence as a Catholic priest in Western and Eastern Samoa, the arrival of His Lordship Bishop Darnand from Apia was signalled by a salute fired from an old ship’s cannon at Leone, Tutuila Island. The native catechists had ob tained the necessary powder from the Governor, who personally attended the ceremony with the officers of the naval station. When firing the charge the muzzle of the gun was blown off and its fragments hit some children playing a hundred yards away.

One child was killed instantly. Two others were wounded, of whom one died in Pago Pago hospital the following day.

An inquiry into the cause of the accident is being conducted by the authorities.