Samoan Stowaways

Disillusioned

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, September 11.

DISILLUSIONED over the present-day treatment of stowaways, two young Western Samoans irom Apia, who had been on an uncomfortable Pacific tour, recently jumped overboard from the ship, Tweed Bank, at Savusavu, Vanua Levu, swam in the dark for 500 yards in waters where sharks are common, lived on coconuts in the bush for six days, and were on their way to give themselves up to the police when they were found by a Fijian constable who was looking for them.

The two young men, Charlie Pereira and St. John Mella (known as Jack) left Apia on March 25 in the ship Hero Bank, which put them ashore at Panama. After a month in custody they were placed aboard the Tweed Bank, which sailed from Panama to Sydney, where she re mained for three weeks, and then to Mel bourne for another 28 days. While the ship was in port the stowaways were in gaol on shore.

By the time the Tweed Bank was on the way from Melbourne to Levuka to pick up copra, the Samoans were look ing for means of escape, but it was not until after the ship’s arrival at Savusavu that their guard happened to leave the door open.

They promptly bolted for the ship’s side, dived over and swam the 500 yards to the shore. They hid in the bush for six days to allow time for the Tweed Bank to leave Savusavu.

Miss Ruth Strange of Perth, WA, has be come chairman’s assistant, Methodist Mission, Suva, Fiji.