Gallant Rescue

19 Shipwrecked Men Saved in Samoa

EARLY in June, a large fautasi (row ing boat), carrying 20 important Chiefs and Mau orators, was cap sized in a heavy sea off the south-west coast of Upolu, Western Samoa. Night was approaching. Two men tried to swim ashore: one was drowned, and one returned to the capsized boat —which was rapidly drifting seawards.

In the dusk, they yelled in chorus.

Young Chris. Hellesloe, a banana planter (now gone on active service) heard the faint sound, and investigated, and located the party in distress.

With great difficulty, owing to the wild sea, the drifting fautasi, and the fact that, on each trip, they had to “jump the reef”, Mr. Hellesloe and two Samoan assistants, between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m., in a 12 ft. dinghy, brought all 19 men ashore. Some were old men, and all suffered much from exposure; but all recovered.