The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-21
AFFAIRS AT SAMOA.
The Herald'S Special Correspond
ent on the Situation.
THE BELLIGERENT GERMANS.
There is Great Excitement OH All the Islands
The Natives Dissatisfied with
Americas Attitude.

LEONE, TUTUILA, January II, 1852
Especial Correspondence of THE HERALD. ]
And still the war continues without but
little aid from either the United States or
England, which is the cause Of much dis
satisfaction and unpleasant feelings in the
hearts of all Americans, Europeans and
hundreds of natives who fear the Germans
and their government; for they say, that
if Germany is again in power, no foreigner,
other than Germans, will be able to live
hero.
The latest news from Apia, which got
from the Samoan Times of December 22d,
published in Apia, the seat Of war, states
that it is about time that the American and
English governments should do something
in Samoa for the protection of their sub
jects here. It also states that Maleatoa is
getting tired of fighting and constantly
losing many men on both sides, without any
prospect Of help from those who, at first,
seemed to back him up, while on the other
hand, Germany seems more and more In
terested than ever in Samoan affairs.
At different times it hasn't been safe for
an American or Englishman to appear on
the street in Apia and
MANY DARING THINGS
have been done in and around Apia by Ger
man sailors which endangered the lives Of
all they met; and still no one interfered
with these malicious Germans. At one
time, when the German captain of one of
the men-of-war learned where MaleatOa or
Mataafa was located with his forces, he
sent about two hundred of his men to help
Tamasese make charge on Mataafa; but
Mataafa, hearing of their intentions, am
pushed, or rather fired upon the German
sailors killing twenty and wounding thirty
two. 1t is said that two officers were killed.
They were driven down to the sea.
This will, no doubt, raise the ire Of the
Germans, and it is already stated that more
help is expected from Germany. 1t is gen
orally believed that more help will soon
arrive from the United States, so that
MaleatOa's forces will be protected from the
German forces. Very little is known here
at Tutuila about the war at present, but the
schooner from Apia is expected soon.
There is great excitement at this little
native town of Leone. The people living
here are Tamasese men. Last Saturday, a
chief who lives on the east end of this
island, and is a MaleatOa man, had been
over to Upolu, and was persuaded to land
hero and walk to his village, but no sooner
had he landed than he was seized and put
in prison, where he is still safely guarded.
The latest from Apia is that unknown
parties have set fire to and burned down a
number of stores; also the German consul
late's house and the German postofice,
making
VERY GREAT Loss To FOREIGNERS
in business here. 1t is estimated that the
loss will exceed $3.50, 900. The natives, it is
said, at the seat of war, are fast approach
ing q famine, they having neglected to
plant food as usual, and have eaten all their
pigs and chickens during the long war, and
already it is difficult for the foreigners to
buy bread, fruit and kalO, which are as
necessary here as are bread and potatoes to
Americans.
The natives have, in many cases, sold
their houses and lands and every saleable
thing they had for guns and ammunition,
which, after the war, will render them
homeless and without their usual native
food until after they can plant more. The
natives here say that it will take at least
eighteen months for them to catch up in
their stock of food.
Even here on Tutuila, where there is no
war, there are strong party feelings be
tween the two parties (Tamasese and Male
atoa). This island is inhabited by about
$500 natives, the entire east end being
Maleatoa people and the west end Tauasese
men. There is a bitter feeling between
them. Each side is constantly holding
fonos Council meetings., when feasts of
pork and chicken with native food are pre-
pared Each faction is afraid of the other.
The old resident foreigners say they will be
all excitement until their food is gone,
then they will declare peace. They are
very
sIMPLH AND EASILY EXCITED.
The east and west part of this island is
divided on the south by a small bay one
mile across the mouth. Either party dare
not venture to cross to the other side, where
Areat numbers Of natives are constantly ON
guard
We were on our road to Leone to get our
mail on the night of the 18th inst. We live
among the Maleatoa party, and We knew
that when we reached the west side OF the
bay. among the Tanasese crowd, they
would be greatly excited until they could
ind out who we were. Wehave nothing to
d. or say in their affairs, and are perfectly
friendly all over the island, and they are
always p) - I'd to see us. It was a lovely
moonlight, hit when we entered the bay,
and could not have had nicer rowing. We
had crossed, launched our boat and all Of US,
Messrs Dean, Beesley and myself, were
enioyinR a sea bath, when in the near dis
tance we could hear the beat Of their print
tive drum, and soon saw the forms OF quite
q NUN Der OF naLlV6S WHO were O1 SudTu
They had seen our boat and evidently
thought we were some of the enemy, for
when within twenty-five yards Of US, we
Jaw their glittering rifles raise and dis
tinctly heard
TIE CLICR-CLICK OF THE TRIGGER,
and saw them halt We were then up to
our arm-pits in the water, and had watched
their movements with great interest, but
were not afraid of them, as we were &C
quainted with their position. Just before
the guns were leveled Mr.. Dean said ''talofa
alii," the usual Samoan greeting. They
recognized his voice, lowered the hammers
and gladly shook hands with US. Wewere
taken and kindly cared for in native house.
We started from this place (Tafuga) at day
break and walked through rain and mud
nine miles to Leone. There is no post Of
fee here. so we have to depend on having
our mail brought from Apia by the first
schooner coming.
A Mr.. Bond brought it over this time.
He said no doubt some of our mail was
burned, for when the postoffice was on fire,
all the mail was thrown out on the berah;
we don't know of anything missing as yet.
/ saw the Samoan Time of January 9Th,
1889, which tried to get to send you, but
Nv, Of Thpra hpiucr only Oua or two