Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-14
In The SAMOAN ISLANDS,
Evidences Of Last Yeaf's Destrue-
tire Gale.
JAPANESE AND THEIR VISITS
Prctestsn,s and CathOIics.-0ppOs'
ing the "Mormuns.-

tive storm at this place, which
caused so much loss Of life aud
property in the German and Anieri-
can navies. The sigma OF that event
are sim very prominent, and TO a
stranger entering the Apia harbor
Tor the first time his heart is apt to
beat somewhat faster at the sight be-
fore him. The first object that at
tracts the eye is an immense egg
shaped body on the reef, which at
low tide is high and dry above
water As YOU draw nearer. this
object is recognized 70 is The re-
mains Of a large vessel which has
been cast up out Of the sea. 1t lies
fairly on its side with the oval
shaped bottom facing the sea, and
presenting a most peculiar sight,
with its deck changed from hori-
z0ntal to a perpendicular position.
This vessel was once the Adler, Of
the German navy. Her companion,
the Eber, was literally smashed to
pieces against the reef, and there
are still great pieces cut Of her Sides
sticking in the sand on the beach.
The Doet nournful sight of all is
I the wrecks Of the American flagship
Trenton and her cOnsort the Yam
dada. The Ia ter was the first to be
driven by the wind and waves
against the reef, aud then the
Trenton, which is a much larger
vessel, was driven broadside against
her. AS a result, the Ftcn6altd was
crushed between the larger vessel
and the reef and now lies with
only the point Of her bow and
broken masts above the water,
while the huge black body Of the
Trenton seems far enough above the
water TO float. Taken altogether,
the scene is a sad one, although a
year subsequent to the occurrence,
and 1t is very suggestive Of the
power behind the elements, and
teaches us that with the wind,
wave. and other forces at His COM
mand, the Lord can bring about
mighty changes.
There are no large vessels In Apia
at the present time, and only one
man-oi-war in these waters. That
one IL the American adams, which
is lying at Pago Page harbor for
safety. She comes here for the
mail, but at the slightest sign Of an
approaching storm, seeks refuge in
land locked Page Page.
During the last year two Jap
anese trading ships came 10 these
islands. They remained In Page
Page two weeks and then came TO
this place, but were so frightened at
the sight Of wrecked vessels that
they Immediately left for safer wa
tiers.
We happened to be in Page Page
when the "Japs'' were there, and
met a number Of them who could
speak very good English. Among
their passengers was a reporter of
the Toxic Public Opinion. The first
question he asked was, "Is II true
that there is n man in Utah who
has one hundred wives" We an
swered his question and gave him n
few facts and figures about Utah
and the 'MOrmOns, which he jotted
down in his note book for the benefit
OF those who read the Toxic E'tibitc
Opinion. In company with the re-
porter we visited one Of the Japa-
nese men-of-war, and were shown
the guns, large and small, Of various
designs and strength Both vessels
were made in England for the Japa-
nese government, and are fitted up
with al modern couvenienciez;
even their cooking Is done after the
European style. In our igno-
rance Of the rapid march Of the
japanese in modern civilization,
we expected TO see foreigners on
their vessels teaching them the
science OF steam navigation, but we
were mistaken; they are capable Of
running their own vessels.
1t seems to be part Of the nature
OF every japanese, or a result Of their
training, 10 be on the watch con-
tinually for something new. They
are fast becoming great travellers
filed with desire to find something
that will benefit their country. IL
they lack originality, they certainly
are not slow to copy things they COLI
slider good in others. Their ships
are English; they dress like Ger
mans and their coins are like ours,
even to the nickel, which is marked
's5 SEM
We had the pleasure of bearing
our testimony 10 quite number of
this interesting people, some Of whom
have accepted modern Christianity
and Others who still adhere to the
faith Of their forefathers. We gave
them the written ARTICLES of faith"
and several said: eve would be
pleased to have you bring your re
ligion to japan"
Between fifty and sixty yesrs ago
the London Missionary Society sent
missionaries 10 Samoa, and for about
thirty years were left undisturbed
by other religious bodies. Then
came the Catholics, from France,
who, during the last twenty-five
years, have succeeded in causing a
division in many 2 village, and in
some places they have the entire
population. il is n cannon thing
to see two church buildings in one
small village, one Protestant and the
other Catholic. The Protestants are
still in the majority, but in my opin-
ion the Catholics are gaining fast.
The circumstances are favorable to
them as they have everything 10
gain, and it is a well known fact
that they seldom lose a convert after
they once get their mark on him.
The mysterious rites and ceremo-
mics of the Catholic church take well
with the supplemented natives,
ana they love 10 wear around their
necks rosary with large bright me-
talic cross attached 10 il. After more
than half century of Prtestantism
IL up hill work 10 spread the true
Gospel. However, the work Of the
Lord is progressing here and He
blesses our labors from time to time
with those who are sincere and
honest in heart. Many apply for
admission, desiring their financial
condition to be bettered thereby;
while others who sincerely believe
dare not join us for fear Of losing
their earthly possessions, as they
are bound body and soul to Baby
lon.
4 favorite mode of campaign
among the Catholics is TO loan
money on 4 natives land. which al
most invariably is not repaid; then
the land belongs TO the church and
the former owner will very likely
become Catholic and live subject
TO the church on their property.
The Catholics alss furnish medicine
free 10 their members. while the
Protestants charge for the same;
Tins may seem a small item, but il
nas great weight in adding num-
hers 70 the Catholic church We