The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-04-14

ADai. Samoa. March 2S.-[Special cor
respondence to the Associated Press. i
Samoan blood has again been shed.
Since early in March, there has been
a bloody contention between the rival
native tribes. and already over thirty
natives have been killed and fifty
cruelty MANNED.
A brief summary of the troubles
cabled to the Associated Press from
Auckland is probably the only account
of the atrocities that has yet reached
the outside world.
1t had been hoped that there might
be a peaceful settlement of the inter
tribal differences and it was with that
end in view that the warning factions
submitted their chiefs to a trial before
the chief justice.
Ambushed the Natives.
This peaceful method, however, came
all to naught. On the 10th inst. the
two factions came together in actual
warfare. On that day a detachment
from the Aana, or rebel party, am
pushed a number of natives of Faasa-
leaga. Salvaii. who are understood to
be supporters of the government. Sew
eral were killed. News of the outbreak
was received here during the progress
of a consulta ton between the presi-
dent, chief justice and consular repre-
SentatiVeS.
Confirmation of the news came a few
minutes later in the CHASTITY form of
two men. wounded in terrible man
ner. About an hour later, another par
tv arrived. bringing with them the
head of a chief of Fasitoo, named
government followers. In the opening
skirmish two of the government fol-
lowers were killed and several seriously
wounded. The rebels lost one killed,
Chief Iuifaiga, and six wounded. Many
of the injured of the COVE pment party
were brought to Apia AMI red for by
the London missionary =. The
own district by Rev. ]. w. Hills, of the
same society.
Both Defy the Ordinance.
This opening battle showed conclu-
sively that neither the rebels nor the
government natives will heed in the
least the ordinance recently enacted by
the Samoan government prohibiting
head-cutting barbarities. In fact, the
was of more than usual atrocity When
brought a captive into the government
camp. he was but slightly wounded, but
it is asserted that his arms were first
taken off and afterWard his head. That
Chief Taffaga's head was actually
brought to Apia to be presented to
King Malieto, is certainly significant.
Following this outbreak, there was a
cessation of hostilities for a few days,
l011t
caused by news that the people of
Atua. who sympathized with those of
Aana, intended to join the rebels in an
attack on Apia. The citizens of Apia
were made more uneasy by their
knowledge that the Aana rebels were
possessed of $1,000 worth of cartridges,
surreptitiously supplied to them by an
INSCRIPTIONS dealer. The Aana tribe
acquired this money from the govern
ment through land claim compromise.
At this juncture, however, the united
consuls issued a proclamation warning
armed parties of Samoans against COM
ing within the Apia municipal district.
Though sneered at, the proclamation
was not scorned. 1t prevented the
town from being overrun by armed ma
tives.
Particularly Bloody Battle.
On the following Monday a govern
ment party attacked the Aana rebels
but were repulsed, losing four killed
and having many wounded. The rebels
suffered no loss.
On Monday. March 19, a particularly
sanguinary battle was fought For
Samoan warfare, it was a heavy en-
gagement The battle ended in a COM
plete rout of the rebels, but their defeat
was not accomplished until houses had
been burned. COWS and horses butch
cred. women and children maltreated
and the most horrible of ibarbarities
committed. The rebels lost ten OF
twelve men and had a large number
wounded. The loyalists lost about the
same number of killed and their list
of wounded were also very large. Ter
heads were taken. Of these six came
from the bodies of the attacking loyal
lists But when the bleeding and bloody
warriors of the government returned
victorious from the scene of battle
! they brought with them the heads OF
four of the vanquished band. After
this battle the rebels withdrew anC
took a position further down the coast
So far no attempt has been made tC
drive them out nor have they shown
much inclination to engage and avenge
their defeat at the hands of the gov
eminent warriors.
ConsuIs Acting as Peace-makers.
peace and avert further bloodshed
That they will succeed is, however
doubtful
The consuls have also paid visi
| to the other end of the island in al
endeavor to dissuade the dissati sfieC
Atua tribe from joining the Aana reb
els.
The Atua chiefs were passive listen
ers but an outbreak on their part i:
nothing.
! The government chiefs, however
have promised the consuIs not to move
again upon the Aana rebels until tn
consuls shall have visited them ant
submitted a proposition for peaceful
surrender of their weapons.
The arrival of any foreign warshiI
carving a force of marines would 81
welcomed by the white residents o
every nationality in Apia.
IN A PECK OF TROUBLE.