“Semaphoriste”

Sea Stories Recalled By Death of “Semaphoriste”

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, Nov. 20.

PATRICE BURNS, of British descent, Papeete’s famous “Semaphoriste,” passed away on November 14, aged 76.

This colourful figure of former Tahiti for many years kept a constant vigil for ships approaching the island, signalling to Papeete the rig and nationality, and, after code flag discourse with the ship, gave the eagerly awaited news to the population.

In November, 1906, he sighted a foreign skiff, which was found to two men, one of whom was an Australian, Mr. Joe Champion. They informed the authorities that they had deserted the British barque “Lord Templeton” 40 miles from shore, for alleged bad treatment by the mate, and paddled their way to the freedom of the Islands.

Mr. Burns was the first to give warning of the cyclone of February 6-7, 1906, when much of Papeete was washed away.

Through Mr. Burns we got the courage ous story of Captain Benson who, in 1914, found his vessel, the “El Dorado,” water logged in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

He sailed a small life-boat 1,000 miles to Easter Island, where he left his crew, and with a few men continued his voyage 2,500 miles to Papeete. A voyage compar able with that of Captain Bligh of “Bounty” fame.

Mr. Burns was the first to show defiance to the German cruisers “Schamhorst” and “Gneisenau”, when they appeared be fore Papeete on September 22, 1914, and he signalled them to give their identity.