Storm At Apia

Engineer Imprisoned In Launch Remarkable Escape From Death

From Our Fiji Correspondent SUVA, January 29.

ON January 16, Apia was visited by a severe storm, which damaged thousands of banana trees and other crops.

During the storm the launch Cal mar, captained by a Samoan who had his wife and three children on board with him, was thrown heavily on to the reef in a surging foam of breaking waters. Heavy seas lifted the vessel over the reef and finally turned her completely over, leaving her on the reef’s edge. The three children were drowned and the father and mother were cast ashore, the former being injured and taken to the hospital. Not so fortunate was the engineer, who was imprisoned in the overturned vessel.

It was shortly after 8 p.m. that the Calmar was thrown on the reef. The following morning, Mr. J. Hellescoe and a party went out to try to salve the vessel. Getting on top of the launch, Mr. Hellescoe started to ta* the timbers with a hammer to see if they were sound. To his surprise he heard an answering tap. Hardly be lieving his ears, he tapped again, and again came the sound of an answering tap.

Pending a boy ashore for an axe, a hole was quickly made in the hull, when

Mr. Hellescoe crawled through and found the engineer, Mr. Save, alive, out very weak.

He told a remarkable story. He sud denly found himself a prisoner, with the engine room partly filled with water.

Slowly the tide rose and the water came up to his chin. It was an awful experi ence. He found that by standing on the highest point of the room he coulc keep the water just below his chin The big danger was the slowly exhaust ing air. But, fortunately, the smashing on the reef had opened the planking a little and, through this, the precious air percolated, giving him enough fresh oxygen to keep him alive. Before com ing out, Mr. Save insisted upon detach ing the magneto from the engine.

The vessel was the property of Messrs. O. F. Nelson and Co. Ltd., of Apia.

A very sad event is reported on the last trip of the Marsina, when Mrs.

Howie, wife of Commander Howie RN„ disappeared during the night after leaving Salamoa. Mrs. Howie had been in ill health for some time and was proceeding to Australia to re cuperate. Great sympathy is extended to Commander Howie, who is a well known and popular resident on the goldfields.

Mr. Bruno Schwartz, one of the pioneers of the New Guinea goldfields, is on a visit to Rabaul. Mr. Schwartz has been prospecting on the Ramu River and confirms the Warden’s statement that natives are very hostile; apparently it is dangerous to leave one’s camp unless armed. -