My blood has been split for Sāmoa

Invincible Strangers 51 Chapter 22.2

A woman from Fiji, known only as ‘Mrs A Cross’, described how a man lying on the road was picked up and placed in a car, with Mau police standing on the running board, exhorting the driver to go faster: ‘Another car drew up where I was standing, with blood trickling from under the door. In it was one of the men supported by wailing women, who begged for water to try and revive him with, as they thought he had fainted. Willing hands brought the water, but he was quite dead, and they drove madly on.’

Cross went to the intersection: ‘Approaching the scene of carnage it was hardly possible to avoid stepping in pools of blood, even though keeping to the side of the road. When we came abreast of the Court House where the High Chief Tamasese and his men had been shot, the asphalt was like a shambles, police with hoses were attempting to wash away the stains, but no hose will ever wash away the stain of the blood of unarmed men from the memory of all who happened to be there and saw and heard for themselves.’

Hall Skelton, ashore from Lady Roberts, walked with the Mau to Vaimoso: ‘The first person I met was Tamasese who was being conveyed in a vehicle to the hospital. We exchanged greetings. I asked where he had been shot. He told me and added that he desired the festivities to continue. They continued for a time, but owing to the arrival of the wounded and the lamentations of the women the festivities then stopped.’

Kronfeld, who estimated there were 40 wounded, said Deihl persuaded the wounded they should go to hospital, and by around 9am they were receiving medical attention.

Hall Skelton examined the bodies of the dead in Vaimoso, reporting  bodies had up to seven bullet wounds. Some had been hit by revolvers, others by the 303 bullets of rifles and machine gun: ‘Some of the wounded had big hole wounds, some had small hole wounds. One had three holes; they were vertical as if caused by a machine-gun. He also had a bullet hole in the head.’

Tuimaleali’ifano, with right arm bandaged. Behind him is lawyer Isi Kronfeld. Manawatu Standard, Paperspast