Death of Jean Peyroux

One of Rarotonga's Most Picturesque Characters

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, July 1.

RAROTONGA lost another interesting old-timer with the death of Jean Peyroux on July 19. He was 85 years of age.

M. Peyroux spent the earlier years of his life in the French Navy. He told many anecdotes of his life afloat. Once he had a narrow escape from death when he was one of the few survivors picked up after a long drift in an open boat from a shipwreck in the Indian Ocean. Once he was stranded for many weeks on a mudbank far up an African river.

The last years of his naval career were spent as an engineer on a gunboat stationed in Tahiti, when he escorted Queen Pomare on many journeys among the Society Islands. He later became a close frieud of Queen Makea, of Raro tonga.

When he finished his naval service he embarked on a steamer bound for Noumea, intending to catch a con nection there to return to France.

The ship made a stop at Rarotonga.

In those days Messrs. Donald and Eden borough were operating a sawmill at Rarotonga, and at this time it happened that the steam engine of the plant was out of action.

Learning that M. Peyroux was a steam engineer, members of the firm invited him to look at the engine. The trouble was rectified, and the grateful staff persuaded the engineer to join them in sampling a few bottles of rum.

When the party was over the ship had gone, and so Jean Peyroux stayed in Rarotonga—for no less than half a cen tury.

The dashing and dapper Frenchman set to work with much energy to create a home and a plantation at Matavera.

About 1910 he lost his right arm while engaged in the forbidden sport of dyna miting fish. It is said that after the accident, his native companions fled, and that unaided he harnessed his buggy and drove five miles to the Imspital where his arm was amputated with a few stiff brandies in place of anaesthetic.

This accident did not deter him from coming near to losing his other arm in the same manner not long after.

M. PEYROUX continued to work his plantation almost to the end of his days with the aid of his growing sons.

Although he never again saw his be loved France, he remained a loyal French man. On July 14, he would gather a few friends to drink many toasts to France and Tahiti. Then with glass held high he would sing the Marseillaise, in a quavering but earnest voice.

M Peyroux leaves a wife and a Eurone sian family of five sons, two daughters and ten grandchildren. The Peyroux family are outstanding for their good looks and athletic ability. The eldest son, Dominique, is in the Free French Forces, and at present is stationed in Tahiti.

The eldest daughter, Marie, is the wife of Mr. W. H. Watson, a Rarotonga busi ness man.

Mr. H. E. L. Friday has had another book published in Wellington, New Zea land. It is called “The War from Coconut Square.” This is his second book since the Pacific war began. The first, “Cannibal Island,” was about the early history of New Caledonia.