Resijdent.

Samoa’S Oldest

Death of Manuel Silva, Hero of the 1889 Hurricane.

Prom Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Feb. 22.

WHEN the German cruiser “Karls ruhe” called at Apia in 1935, there took place a service of rememb rance for the German sailors who per ished during the 1889 hurricane. At that ceremony there was presented to the Commander of the German warship a small, inoffensive-looking old man whose sparkling black eyes betrayed the Portu guese blood in his veins—Manuel Silva, who once had been feted and honoured by the German and American Govern ments for saving 10 American and Ger man sailors during the catastrophe in Apia harbour Quietly and unobtrusively as he has lived, Manuel Silva passed away on Feb ruary 6, after having worked right up to the time of his death on his small plan tation in spite of his ripe old age of 90.

Manuel Silva lived in Samoa through stirring times and witnessed many changes. His father, a Portuguese sailor on a whaler which called at Falealili on the South Coast of Upolu during the 40’s of last century, jumped his ship and went to the village of Lotofaga, where he married a Samoan girl, the daughter of a local chief. Of this marriage, Man uel Silva was bom.

With Godeffroy And Co.

As a boy, Silva went to Apia and ob tained work with the German firm of Godeffroy &' Co. (Hamburg), which started business in Apia in 1854 and which subsequently had widespread acti vities throughout the South Seas. As a sailor on Godeffroys barkentines, he roamed not only through every corner of the Pacific but all over the world.

The year of the Franco-Prussian War (1870) found Silva in Hamburg. The same year, Godeffroys went bankrupt and was taken over by the D.H. & P.G. (the “long handle firm”) and he contin ued to work for these people in Apia, in charge of a labour gang. Thqugh he went on board the company’s ship only occas ionally, he served as guide, pilot, and in terpreter during the visit of German warships in the 70’s to places round the Samoan Islands.

During the disastrous hurricane on March 16, 1889, Silva was in charge of the small cutter “Vailele” in Apia Har bour. By cutting her mast, his ship was the only one which rode out the hurri cane. In spite of the danger to himself and the ship, Silva succeeded in saving 10 American and German sailors drifting past the “Vailele”. His brave and cour ageous deed was publicly acknowledged, and he was thanked by both the Ameri can and German admirals.

For over 50 years, until the time of the world war, Manuel Silva continued to work for the D.H. and P.G. as overseer and in various other capacities. He left the service of the firm (which had been taken over by the New Zealand Govern ment) in 1926. Since then, the old man worked quietly on his small place and seldom appeared in public.

The present generation had forgotten his existence, but “old-timers” well re membered that Manuel Silva had once played an important part in Samoa’s chequered history.

Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Protheroe, of Haapai, Tonga, recently celebrated their Silver Wedding (1913-1938). A dance in their honour was attended by 200 guests, including the Governor of Haapai, Hon. Tuihateiho. Mr. Protheroe is a member of the staff of Messrs.

Morris, Hedstrom, Ltd.

Mr. and Mrs. Lindon H. L. Osborn, arrived in New Zealand by the February “Niagara” from Fiji to spend their honeymoon in Auckland and, later, in Australia. The bride was formerly Miss Lorna Irene Edwards, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Edwards, of Suva. The bridegroom is a New Zealander.