NATIVE HEROISM

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1922, Page 7

NATIVE HEROISM

DROWNING OF a CHIEF. > — SUVA (Fiji), May 17. : One of the most thrilling stories of quiet heroism has just come to light by the receipt at the native office of the evidence taken at an enquiry at Labasa concerning the reported drowning of a chief or buii of the native town of Namuka on flic Macuata coast- of Vanua Lcvu. The buli’s name was Inoke Radrisi. He and a native boy of 12 years were capsized about a quarter of a mile from land in a rough sea. The buli was a sick man and weak. Ihe evidence given below tells a pathetic but splendid story of heroism. A little gill of eight vears, named Marica, showed herself a heroine, and guided a blind man, Joseva, swimming to the rescue. Finding she could not help, the girl swam ashore, and after a search found a takia or raft made of bamboos, and paddled out to help, only to find Joseva feebly swimming round helplessly and Inoke gone. The old man's simple, story of how he dived and found the body of Inoke and brought it to the surface, and dragged it along until exhaustion compelled him to let it go is a veritable epic of heroism. And one must not forget in this tribute how Inoke died, courageously like a chief without a struggle. The evidence is given in full. Jiaji Tobesavu said he lived at Druadrua. The rowing boat with a sail went out. He and the buli were in it. They were going to Viscago. There was a strong wind, and the boat overturned when iv was 500 yards from shore. The buli said, “Let us swim to land.” They had gone a little way, and the buli said, “Let us return to the boat.” They went back, and were hanging on to the boat. Jo and Marica swam out, and the buli instructed witness and Marica to swim off, and go ashore. They arrived on the beach, ai d witness went to the town. He went alc.no ti the town as he was very cold. Jo was a blind man, Marica was a little girl. Vv’lncss was about 12 years old. To the Court: The sheet was not tied. '.Che buli was holding the rope, and a gust came, and the boat heeled over and filbd. Marica Samavn, of Nahuahua, said: “I was fishing alone on the shore, . saw a boat with the buli and Tobesavu capsize about 200yds from the shore. I ran to the town. I called Jo. He is blind, and was the only person in the town. I returned with him to the beach, and ho and t swam out to the boat. The hu’i n:i.l T< • esavu were clinging to t: e boat. Ibe 1-uh said, “You and Tobc^a-u swim tn shore together. You help '.'.mi. When we got ashore, I went to Lekeba to try to find a boat. I found a takia(canoe)there, and brought it back and picked up Jo, who was swimming about 50yds from the shore. I asked Jo where the buli was, but ho was too exhausted to answer. I suppose the buli was drowned. I know before that he had chest trouble.” Joseva Ratuisova, of Nahuahua, who was blind, said, “I was in the town at Nahuahua when Marica told me the buli was capsized. I was frightened and went to the sea with Marica, who guided me 1 y the hand. We swam off and ge* to t:.c boat If' Uowed her close, touching her. The buli said, ‘Let you and me swim cff.’ We S’-’fi'n cff.- and the buli j a;d, Let us fellow the wind.’ Then the buli said, ‘I am going to die.’ He touched me with his feet. I tried to get him and dived and I brought him up, and dragged him along. Then I got cramp in the hand, I was supporting the buli, and I had to leave go. Then Marica picked me up in a boat. Marica and Tabesavu got ashore first. The depth was only three fathoms.” The Court found that Inoke Radrisi had been drowned, and said that the conduct of Marica and Joseva in attempting to rescue him was worthy of the highest