ISLAND DISASTER

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 194, 18 August 1919, Page 2

ISLAND DISASTER

WRECK OF MOTOR-BOAT.

THIRTEEN PERSONS MISSING

LITTLE HOPE OF SAFETY

APIA, July 28. Disaster befel a motor-launch off Mulifanua, near mid-channel between this and the adjoining island ot Savaii, about one o'clock last baturday afternoon. w On Saturday morning J. Ah Mv s motor-boat, the Lolin©, left the Cus-tcms-house Wharf for the t Faasaleleaga district in Sayan. About hve o'clock on the following afternoon natives at Mulifanua noticed two persons standing on the reef opposite, about two miles off the shore. The weather was hazy at the time, heavy squalls of wind and rain were intermittent, and the waves were breaking furiously on tho reet. It was evident that something unusual must have occurred to account tor the presence of human beings on tho reef at such a time, and a boat was promptly sent out to the spot. On arrival there the rescuers found two Samoan youths, one of whom was unconscious, the other in a greatly distressed and exhausted condition. They were quickly brought ashore, when the stronger of the pair recounted a pitiful story. The i.ame of this Samoan is Faatuai, and I. is narrative, giver, to the authorities in Apia this morning, records a feat of human endurance. He and his companion in distress were numbered among the passengers by the Loline. The total number of passengers, he said, was 15. After they left Apia all went well until about 1 p.m., when m the channel off Mulifanua, and several miles from the island of Manono, the engine broke down. The sail was set, and the engineer Avent below to attend to the engine. A heavy sea was running at this time, and suddenly a huge wave struck ths floundering boat broadside on, followed immediately after by snother, which caused the vessel to turn turtle. i

Samoans are almost as much at home in the water as on dry land, and they made a successful endeavor to right the boat, but in a few n-inutes she turned upside down again. All the people clung for a time to the boat, but presently Dr Grevel, one of the two> white passengers, was washed off and drowned. Faatuai and four other of the natives then decided to make an attempt to swim for the shore. What became of the other three adventurers is not known, but only Faatuai and his companion, Tanielu, succeeded in reaching the neighboring repf, which, however, was several miles away. In this terrible enterprise they had the assistance of a couple of empty boxes, which helped them to keep afloat. Of the two, Tanielu was the sooner tired, and time after time he gave up, being so exhausted that he was unable even to retain his hold on the box. At' these times Faatuai supported his companion with one arm, holding on to the box with the other, until Tanielu had sufficiently recovered to proceed. In this fashion, making headway when they could in the surging seas, the two men were immersed in the water for about 28 hours before they succeeded in. obtaining a foothold on the reef. How the pair escaped the sharks which infest these waters is remarkable.

. The t.wo white men among the passengers were Mr H. J. Ellevly, secretary to the Deputy-Administrator of Savaii, and Dr Grevel, a prominent plsnter. Faatuai states that when lie left the upturned boat there was only one white man astride her. From his description it is assumed that this was Mr Ellerly. The news of the disaster was sent down by motor-car into Apia, where upon its receipt Major Richardson, O.C. garrison, communicated with Captain Allen, whose steamer, the Dawn, lay at anchor in the harbor. Captain Allen at once proceeded m the Dawn, accompanied by two motor-boats, for the scene. He has not yet returned, and as the Talune sails in an hour's time, there is little prospect of hearing any further news before her departure. Throughout tho past three or four days the weather in Samoa has been very uncertain, with strong squalls recurring almost hourly. It is believed litre that the prospects of any one of the shipwrecked people being saved are highly remote, as even if the capsiaed ooat has remained afloat, they must almost certainly have peiished from exposure. Mr Ellerly came to Samoa in April, 1915, with the Samoan relief force, and on his discharge from the forces about eighteen months ago, to take up a civil position, held the rank of corporal in the paymaster's office. He is a Londoner by birth, and prior to enlisting four years ago was resident in the North Island.

Dr Grevel was a wealthy planter, having extensive interests also in several coal mines in Germany. He was accompanied on the fateful journey by two little daughters, one of whom is said to have been drowned before Faatuai and his companions left the wreck.—Auckland Herald's correspondent.