Death of Mrs. E. W. Gurr.

Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 18, Issue 6, 9 February 1918, Page 5

Death of Mrs. E. W. Gurr.

LIFE REPLETE WITH INTERESTING INCIDENTS.

With deep regret the death of Mr 9. E. W. Gurr (Fanua), wite of Judge Gurr, is recorded. On the morning ot December 13th, she had an attack of fever, and Dr. Linde, U.S.N. of the Samoan Hospital, was called to attend her. It was then discovered she was suffering from ptomaine poisoning, and every every efltort was put forward to overcome the attack. Dr. Linde with the whole staft of nurses, Mrs. Deignan, Miss Grey, Miss Hayden and the Samoan Nurses Pepe and Mafaulauga, were in constant attendance and did all that could be done by human skill, devotion and care to save the life of one much loved and respected. For two days Mrs. Gurr suffered intense agony but bore up bravely in order to give the treatment all possible chance for restoration. At 1 o'cloek in the afternoon of December 15th Fanua breathed her last. Her husband was with her, but her two children, Teuila (Mrs. Halliday) and Bernard are in New Zealand. Governor Poyer U.S.N., was away on a cruise. A wireless message was sent to him by Lieut. Mallison, U.S.N., and shortly after two o'clock the Governor sent a message by wireless of condolence to Judge Gurr and he then arranged to cancel the cruise in'order to attend the funeral on Sunday, December 16th. The funeral was attended by the Governor, Naval Officers, and most residents of Pago Pago ; it was very impressive and at the same time picturesque, taking place at her home and buried amongst the flowers and plants she delighted to rear and cultivate. The life of Mrs. Gurr (Fanua) is full of interesting incidents, some stirring and dangerous and exciting, and she had on many occasions exhibited' much coolness, presence of mind, and bravery in danger and trouble. Fanua's father was Aisake Ainuu, a chief closely allied to the Malietoa family. He was one ot the chiefs deported with King Malietoa Laupepa to Alrica in the year 1887 by the Germans, and whose return to Samoa was afterwards insisted upon by Great Britain and the United States of America. Her mother was Amalaina, a sister ot Moananu of Aoloau and of Fuimaono, present county chief of Leasina, and also connected with 010 and Salavea ot Lealataua in Tutuila. When Fanua was a few years old she was adopted (after the Samoan custom of exchange by adoption ot the children of chiefs) by Seumanutafa, chief ot Apia in Upolu and has been from that time recognized as his daughter. In the year 1871 the war known as the "Faatasiga" was waged in Samoa. It was then that the Malietoas with their adherents, including Aisake and Seumanutafa, had been driven from Apia and had fled for protection to Atua. Whilst Aisake and Amalaina were living in Atua at the water of "Fanuaea" in Saluatata Mrs. Gurr was born and was then named after the water "Fanuaea". A few months after her birth in the year 1872 a reconciliation between the warring parties was effected and the people returned to their lands and rebuilt the towns, including Apia, which bad been destroyed. In the year 1888, being then 16 years old, Fanua was invested with the title of Taupou of Apia. The inauguration ceremony was an imposing one and was attended by large numbers of people, including the white residents of Apia. These elaborate ceremonies are seldom Practised at th« present time. Then war broke out again in Samoa wltn the attemptof Mataafa, the regent °fthe deported Malietoa, to overthrow Tamasese, who was supported by the Germans. It was during these troublous times that Fanua

showed much courage and bravery when accompanying Seumanutata in the fighting. She frequently travelled from the trenches to Apia to purchase supplies and ammunition for Seumanutafa and the Apia warriors. On these occasions the British and American sympathisers presented her with ammunition, beef, rice and biscuits to load up the boats she had brought to convey the supplies. It was on one of these trips that she was attacked in the street at Apia by a German, who almost strangled" her, and who threatened to shoot her if she again came to Apia for supplies. Notwithstanding this threat she frequently visited Apia afterwards for further provisions etc. The Vaemauga (people ot Apia and sur rounding vicinity) had,, taken an almost impregnable fort of the enemy at Luatuanuu. Some of the men after the hard fighting had to retire to a stockade for rest, leaving a contingent of people from Savaii to guard the outer trenches. The Tamasese warriors made a counter attack, and the Savaii men fled without giving warning. Fanua had gone with some ot her maids to get drinking water, and seeing a Savaii man fleeing guessed at the cause and then rushed to the stockade just in time to give warning to those inside. There were ever 50 warriors shut in. Seumanutafa and Fanua and as many others as could during the short time permitted succeeded in escaping to the shelter of some outside trenohes before the stockade was surrounded by the enemy. It wis then that the slaughter of those who attempted to escape took place. Fanua rushed away for reinforcements, and these coming up drove the enemy away and thus saved those who had remained inside the stockade. . •. After the disastrous hurricane ot 1889 Fanua with her retinue under Faatulia, the noble and gentle wife of Seumanutafa, took an active part in attending to the officers and men rescued from the wrecked menotwar at Apia. Admiral Kimberley, U S.N., recognized the kindness shown in personally thanking Fanua and presenting her with a valuable gl On December 31st 1890 she was married to Judge Gurr, and has bVrne him two children, Teuila. now M«. H. Lloyd Halliday, of New Zealand, and Bernard, who inherits the plnck and bravery of his noble mother.

Mrs. Gurr lived in Apia during the first 11 years of her married life, and her home was one of the most hospitable in Apia. She was an excellent hostess, and twice every week she entertained her friends at some outdoor pastime or evening pleasure. An interesting incident which occurred during the last war in Samoa may here be mentioned, in which is exhibited a strong contrast between the attitude *of Samoan Chiefs towards women in wartime and the barbarism practised by some ot the belligerents in Europe during the present world's war. Judge Gurr was the leading counsel in advocating the claim of Malietoa Tanu to the Kingship, and he had for safekeeping at his home valuable papers ot the Samoan Government and the uniform and sword of Malietoa His home was occupied by a division of the Mataata people under Aliipia of Leulumoega. Several attempts were made to get the documents lest they be destroyed by the Mataafa people, as well as the uniform and sword which were sought for by the warriors. White residents who had not joined either ?ide tried to get these things, but were turned away by the native soldiers. Mrs. Gurr then essayed to go herself. She went to her home, which was then occupied and surrounded by hundreds of men, and informed Aliipia that she desired to take away her husband's typewriter and some papers and other things he wanted on the man of war. Aliipia courteously allowed her to get together the things she wanted, including a tin case containing the much coveted'uniform and sword. She then turned to the young men, and addressing them asked : " Will any of you young chiefs carry these things to the town for me ?" Several immediately volunteered, and then Mrs. Gurr, a strong Malietoa supporter, with these warriors of Mataafa carried the articles down to the wharf at Apia and placed them in a man-of-war's boat waiting tor her. When thanking the young chiefs she further remarked to them : u Do you know what you have brought down ? You have carried the uniform and sword of Malietoa with those things." It appeared a cruel joke, and the Samoans being amazed at her audacity were greatly chagrined, but took it in good part and laughed the matter off. In the year 1901 she accompanied her husband, who had been retained

by the first Governor of American Samoa, Capt. Tilley, U.S.N., to assist and advise him in the establisbment of the Island Government,, to Tutuila. Here, also, her pleasant disposition and generosity, proved of great assistance to her husband in endeavouring to reconcile the Samoans to the new regime. • Mrs. Gurr numbered amongst her firm friends many prominent people who have been in Samoa. She was" a special favourite of the late Robert Louis Stevenson, who always, re* cognized her as a member of his family. Mrs. .Thomas Stevenson, mother of R. L. Stevenson, took a lively interest in Fauna, and Mes. Gurr owed much of her knowledge of the English language to her asso:iation with Mrs. Thomas Stevenson and the Stevenson family. R. L. Stevenson was wont to address Mrs. Gurr as the "Aitu'* (occultist), at the same time dubbing himself "a plain human being."— " Ole Faatonu," Tutuila.