The record-union., 1899-10-21
Aspect of Affairs Reported to be
Far From Reassuring.
Hostilltles Between the Natives Likely to
Break Out In the Near Future.
The Three Interested Powers Will
Have to Come Quickly to the
Aid of the Government to Pre-
vent an Open Rupture-Action
of President Solf Criticised.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2O.-The
steamer Moana arrived to-day from
Australian ports via Apia, Samoa ana
Honolulu. The correspondent of the
Associated Press at Apia sends news
of startling character. He says un-
der date of October 9th:
The aspect Of affairs in Samoa is in
deed far from reassuring. There is
trouble brewing, and it will come soon
if the three Powers do not come quick
ly to the aid of the Government and the
distracted officials. The three ConsulS
which were left here as a provisional
Government by the Commissioners are
finding their position by no means
bed of roses. 1t is a matter of report
that the feeling between the members
of the provisional Government are
strained.
Trouble has arisen in the Atua dis
trict among the natives. The Saleaula
natives visited that district to attend
a feast given in their honor. There
was a disagreement over the distribu-
ton of food, and Tuisila, chief of the
Nutiateles, struck a man of another
village. The man started to rum as
Tuisila is a man Of desperate charac-
ter, and as he turned his back the chief
drew a revolver and shot him dead. He
then turned the weapon on another
man, with the same result. Another
high chief then demanded the death
of Tuisila, and a battle followed, TUT
sila being badly injured. Tuisila was
removed to the German war vessel Kor-
moran, but nothing could be done for
him, and he was returned to his own
village, where he died.
All the natives mixed up in the af-
fray are Mataafa adherents. If Tui-
sila had not died there would have been
a revenge fight, as preparations to that
end were in progress at the time of his
death.
The thirteen chiefs that were asso-
ciated with the rebel Government now
claim they are the Government of Sa-
moa, and have issued a proclamation
to the three ConSuls regarding the poll
tax. The Pap notifies all Samoans that
a poll tax of one dollar a head must
be paid by all the able bodied native
and colored men outside of the town
OF Apia by the first of November. The
proclamation is signed by adherents Of
Mataafa.
To offset this President Solf, without
the consent of the Consuls, has issued
in his own name proclamation that
a poll tax will be levied and collected
by the end of the year. This action
of the President has aroused the peo-
pie, who seem to believe that Solf is
of the opinion that he is in supreme
power. Some of the Consuls take ex-
ception to his action, but steps will be
taken TO set aside the action of the
Mataafa faction
The Mataafa people ever since the
commission left have been accusing
Malletoa adherents of causing strife
and not obeying the commissions ord
ers, but nearly all the trouble since has
been caused by Mataafa people, and
now they seem as if bent on having a
fight before the year is out
AT Tuisila's funeral fifty-two rifles
were counted in the procession, and
Mataafa has informed the commission
that his party had no arms left. They
have some hundreds of rifles, it is stat
ed, and if not afraid of the men-of-war
would have been fighting the Maliet-
oans long ago.
Worried by the Mataafa complaints
at the Malietoa people not being COM
PEELED to leave Apia and live in their
villages, the Government has issued a
notice that all may come and go as
they please on legitimate business.
They have also allowed natives to keep
possession openly of fouling pieces
which We're prohibited by the commits
sion's order. Hundreds of revolvers
are owned by natives, but they have
never been collected and rifles are
also plentiful with them
Things look ripe for another out
break. Only the pretext is now want
ing.