Twelve Hours In Sea
p. 66 · Read in the full issue
Fijians’ Feat of Endurance
n n a * From Our Own Correspondent qTTVA np feUVA, Dec. 22.
P|ETAILS of the remarkable endurance 8 1 of a party of Fijians in the Lau Group have been received from Pastor W. G.
Ferris, of the Seventh Day Adventist Mis sion at Vanua Belavu. The natives, in eluding a woman with a six months’ old baby, spent over 12 hours in the water be fore they were rescued, following the cap size of their canoe.
“One night about 9 o’clock, we heard cries from a nearby reef,” said Mr. Ferris, “and launching our little boat, sculled in the direction of the shouting. It was dark
and blowing a gale, but presently we found a woman in water almost up to her neck, and carrying a baby. We took her on board, and she told us that there were some men on the other side of the reef trying to save their upturned canoe. We went back later for the men and found them very much exhausted, with most of their clothes gone.
“They had left Cikobia in the morning, and had not gone far when a fierce wind tipped them over. With the child sitting on the upturned canoe, they just managed to keep afloat. Heavy seas had washed them along, and with difficulty they steered for our light after dark.
“Next morning they were sent on with a new outfit of clothes,” added Mr. Ferris, “but I do not think the captain will ever again tie the mainsail down in the teeth of stormy winds.”