ADRIFT IN OPEN BOAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17459, 1 May 1920, Page 2 (Supplement)

ADRIFT IN OPEN BOAT.

«. FIJI NATIVES' ORDEAL. WONDERFUL ENDURANCE SHOWN. The following remarkable story of the powers of endurance displayed by a party of Pijians is told in a communication received from Dr. W. Ramsay, district medical officer at Ik, in the Fijiwi Islands: - On Tuesday morning, March 9, Manasa, the native medical practitioner at Yasa was, his daughter, aged 12. and three men left 1 asawa.-i in an open boat, to visit me. At 6 m. a slmng wind got'up, and at 8 p.m. the boat wns washed over the reef and filled with water. The party hang on to the boat all night and next morning found themselves opposite Vatia I'ojnt about 12 miles from shore ' Two of the men left the boat to swim ashore, and have not been heard of since Mamisa i? quite sure they were drowned The boat drifted all that day in the rough s?as in the direct of Penan*, and D erf morning found them off Malaki. For a while the seas calmed down and tho party —now two men and the girl—were able to get some of the wat'r out of the boat by baling with their hands. They got into the boat and went to sleep in turns. Next morning. Friday, between Nairn- ' kaloa Bay and Ellington, they sighted a small steamer. They put up a signal of ' distress, and the vessel picked them up. i Manasa bruised his right ankle on tho I re?f, and it is still giving him trouble. I He was very thin and exhausted when ! brought into hospital, but is making good progress. The girl does not seem to have ; Buffered any bad effects. Yet these people ! had no water or food fioni Tuesday even- ' ing until Friday morning, and they were in the salt water, clinging to the boat, ; most of that time. It is a marvel that 1 most of that time. alive, a marvel that Hay were picked up alive,