How might the abolitionists have been contributing to the tensions arising over slavery?

Answer:

The abolitionists might have been contributing to the tensions arising over slavery by acting towards the immediate emancipation of all slaves through writing books, essays, and articles on the issue of slavery.

Explanation:

The abolitionists were majorly the northerners who wanted to and worked for the eradication of the practices like slavery and discrimination that were prevalent in the southern states of the contemporary US.

Their wish to free the slaves from slavery as quickly as possible made them present the issue in front of the people in the most vibrant language through books and articles. This might have escalated the tensions.

what are local authorities doing to fix the problem

explanation:

the enslaved people onboard suffered from illness with some frequency