SAMOAN'S SWIM FOR LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19807, 30 November 1927, Page 8

SAMOAN'S SWIM FOR LIFE.

THREE DAYS IN THE WATER WONDERFUL ENDURANCE TEST [WASHED UP AND DOWN COAST. COMPANION'S TERRIBLE FATE, oub own correspondent.) SUVA, Nov. 22. That a man could swim and float for three days in rough weather without food or drink and regain shore and safety is a feat that must ever remain as conspicuous in the annals of marine endurance and bravery. Two native Sarnoan fishermen of Savau went out in their canoe. The wind rose and their comrades called to them as they made for the beach to follow them, but the two went on and at last a big wave capsized the small craft. For three days and nights one of them, Faaeseina, kept afloat—with the help of the outrigger at the last —but for over on® and n half days he was mostly swimming, laving givac up his share of the canoe 3 support to his mate Lepaio, who was u poor swimmer. Lepaio at last could not endure the thirst and drank salt water and went crazy. Me would leave the cauoo and swim aW*ay until Faaeseina followed :&nd brought him back. But human endurance has its limits and at last Faaeseina had not strength to follow and Lepaio, after several attempts to keep afloat, finally sank and did not rise again. Flis last ■word was to call out the names ox his wife and children. For two days Faaeseina was washed np and down the coast, sometimes within reach of land, and only to be washed away again, and at others he saw searching for him but could not attract attention. At last a big wava swept him up on to some rocks, and with his last remaining energy reserve he staggered ashore and at length, when he saw * man coming toward him, he collapsed oa | the sand. The Dews was taken to a honse of some Europeans, who used every method to resuscitate the sore distressed man and with difficulty restored hun to consciousness. His tale of weird distress has made an immense impression where stories of derring-do are quite common. Faaeseina s wonderful fortitude is something that even a Samoan will talk about for many a year. ■ .