The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-08
BLOOD'S DAY OF PERIL
Thrilling Adventures of Kaysville
Man In Samoa.
HOW HE DODGED DEATH
ESCAPED WITH LIFE ALMOST BY
A MIRACLE.
Mataafa Mems Pleasing Sport
Story of An Eyewitness of the
Fighting About Apia-Misionar-
les Lose $1,1O0 In Property
Other Battles Expected Any Time
(snecia1 Correspondence.1

KaySville, May IA letter was received
here today from George II. Blood, who is
travelling as a Mormon missionary in
Samoa, which gives a graphic account OF
some of the tragic scenes that he has wit
messed during the Samoan war. 1t has
been thought that Mormon missionaries
were absolutely safe, but Mr.. Blood eX-
perience shows that they are in imminent
danger. He was stationed at Tihuh and
thinking the war was over, started Tor
Apia. He says: When l started knew
nothing of the last trouble but a German
called me in and told me they were hav-
ing a time up the trail and that L would
never see Apia- When he saw that L was
determined to go he ordered a horse and
saddle for me and l started on. After
riding two miles l found a village on lire
and saw a man-of-war just outside of the
reef, and talk about Shellingi They were
"peacemakers' and Nordenfedts. Shells
and small bullets flew thick and. burning
houses on each side, made me feel like
was the target. All of the houses between
that village and Apia, a distance of ten
miles, had been burned that morning
About eight miles from Apia L was
met by 400 Mataafa warriors, painted ana
well armed. They had been ordered To
kill all the whites they could find. Forty
or fifty of them flocked around me, BRAN
dishing their knives. They were about To
take my head off, when one of them saw
a book in my coat pocket, which he took.
but when he saw it was a tract he said
'faifean.' which means missionary. and |
told them Yes. a Mormon missionary
and found myself breathing easier
A Samoan Diversion.
"a half-caste, who could talk English.
told me TO put up a white flag or they
would shoot my brains out. l obeyed or
ders and moved on, but was stopped about
"A dozen times by Mataafa men. some OF
whom leVeled guns at me. or raised
knives to see me dodge.
After passing the Mataafa men l met
no one for two miles. and then met the
Malietoa men, and they didn't believe that
came through the Mataafa lines.
'Apia is under martial law. All of the
Mormon elders from Fagalii are here.
that their things were left behind. and the
Mataafa men took everything of value.
broke the windows and doors and chopped
the furniture to pieces. Our loss is about
SLIGO"
Mr.. Blood tells of the butchery of Amer
lean and English officers and marines at
Fagalii on April l, and says the wounded
officers and men who were left on the
field were killed and their heads cut OF.
the bodies being buried without the heads.
horrible fight, with 900 Mataafa men on
one side. against 13O marines and 100
Malietoa followers.
The letter closes by saying that there
are 5000 Mataafa men around Apia, all
well armed and determined TO fight to the
last. They have sent in word that they
are going to rush in on the town.
The English boats go out every morn
ing, burning native villages along the
coast. and the United States boat Phila-
delDhia remains in the bay and throws
shells over the town to keep the natives
back. The missionaries will be removed
10 the island of Tutuila for better Irotec-
ton.