The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-14
CUT OFF SEVERAL HEADS.
A Bloody War Between the Rival
Tribes OF the Samoan
Islands.
Barbaritiss and Atrocities OF the
Most Terrible Kind Are
Committed.
white IahsbItants In . Great State Of
AlArm-MAkiaE = Constitution for
the uawaiians.

Special correspondence Of the Associated Press
APiA, Samoa, March 28.-Samoan blood
has again been shed. Since early in March
there hss been q bloody contention between
rival native tribes. and already over thirty
natives have been killed and hfty cruelty
mAimOd. The brief summary Of the trou-
bles oabled 10 the Assooistsd press from
Auckland Is probably the only account OF
the atrocities that has reached the outside
world. IL has been hoped that there might
be peaceful settlement of the inter-tribal
differences, and 10 was with that end 10
Wow that the warning factions submitted
their chiefs 10 trial before tho chief JUS
tioe. This peaceful method, however, came
all 10 nAught.
On the 10Th instant the two factions
came together in actual warfare. On that
day detachment from Aana. or the rebel
party. ambushed q number of natives OF
Faasaleaga, Salvaii. who are understood to
be Supporters of abe governmsnL Several
we're killed. News Of ths outbreak was
reesived here during the progress Of a con
sultation between the president. chief
iustico and consular representatives.. Con-
hrmation Of the news came few minutes
later in the Rhastly form OF two men
wounded In q terrible manner. About an
hour later another rarity arrived. bringing
with them the head Of q chief OF Fasitoo
named IuifaiR. who had been slain by the
RovSrnmont patty. In the opening skiT.
mish two government followers we're killed
and several seriously wounded. The rebsls
Loaf one killed. Chief IuifaiR, and six
wounded. Many OF the Injured Of the gov
/ Al 49, IN AMI ~
cared by the London Missionary society.
The wounded rebels were cared for In thelr
own district by Rev. j. W. Hills. of the
same society.
The opening battle showed oonclusively
that neither the rebels nor the government
natives will heed In the least the ordinance
recently enacted by the samoan govern
ment prohibiting head d-cutting barbaritiss.
In fact, th' taking OF the head of Chief
luifaig was of mere than usual atfooity.
When brought captive into toe government
camp he was but slightly woundsd, but, IL
is asserted. his arms were hrst taken on.
and afterward hia head. That Chief luz
faiR's head was actually brought to Apia TO
be presented 30 King Malietoa is certainly
significant.
Following this outbreak there was ces-
sation OF hostiiites for few days. bat
| there was great excitement here caused by
news that the people of Atua intended to
| join the rebels IN an attack on Apia.
The eOnsuls had issued = proolam tion
warning armed parties OF Samoans against
coming within tue Apia municipal district.
| IL prevented the town from being overrun
By armed natives. On the following Mon
day a government party attacked the Anna
Tebsls but we're Tepulssd lOsing four killed
and having many wounded. The rebels
suffered no loss. On Monday. March 10 a
particularly sangutnary battle was fought
TIE battle ended In the com plete rout OF
the rebels. but their defeat was not accom-
plished until their houses had bSen bu ned,
cows and hcrses butchersd, women and
children maltreatsd, and the most horribls
barbarities committed. The rebels lost ten
OF twelve men and had a large number OF
wounded. Ihs loyalists lost about the
same number of killed and their list OF
wounded was also vsry large. len heada
were taken. OF these six came from the
bodies OF attacking loyalists. But when
the bleeding and bloody warriors OF the
government returned victorious from the
scene of battle tnsy brought with them the
heads of four of the VAnQuished band.
After this battle the rebels withdrew and
took position farther down the coast. 80
far no attempt has bsen made TO drive them
out. Nor have they shown much inelinA-
tion to engage and Rvsngo their defeat al
the hands OF the covorn ment warriors. The
consuls are trying to arrange psace and
avert further bloodahsd. COnsuls have
also paid . visit to the other end of the
ialand in an sndsaVor 20 dissuade the dis
satisfied Atua tribe from joining tho Aana
rebels. 1he Atua chiefs were passive lis
tensfs. but an outbreak on their part is
considered imminent. They promised
nothing. The arrival of anY foreign war
ships, carrying force Of marines. would
be welcomed by white residents of every
nationality in Apis.