A FANCIFUL STORY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17354, 20 May 1924, Page 5

A FANCIFUL STORY.

“MAROONED FOR MONTHS.” ( Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON. May ID. Some months ago Dr M. Loeb, the well-known anthropologist and professor of Berkeley University, arranged with the New Zealand Government to visit Niue Island to make scientific investigations in his special line of study. He was accredited by the Cook Islands Department to the Resident Commissioner and carried letters of introduction from Dr Buck and other New Zealanders interested in Polynesian ethnology. Dr Loeb and his wife went to Niue and were provided with residence. It was reported that he was continuing his work in connection with mythology, geneologics and other features of native life with great success, and that he was well received by the natives. His intention was to stay about twelve months- However, news recently came through an unexpected channel, an American daily, which published a sensational heading ‘‘Marooned Ten Months on South Sea Island." It then detailed how Dr Loeb and his wife had been rescued from the typhoon-swept, reef-ringed island of Niue in the Savage. Group, by the Alaska Siberian Navigation Company’s steamer Bulford. The newspaper describes their sufferings through shortage of water and declares that the message of their plight wa= carried 375 miles in an open boat to Samoa by the captain of the trading schooner, Lady Roberts, “wrecked when she attempted to make Niue with a cargo of proNew Zealanders may recognise the Lady Roberts as a former Government steamer nw used in 'Samoa and still in commission unscathed, the open boat storv being a myth. The explanation of the fanciful picture of the rescued Americans is that after a very pleasant stav, during which several vessels palled at the island. Dr Loeb and his wife sliehtly curtailed a delightful scientific holiday bv catching the American excursion steamer which took them home via a number of other Pacific islands instead of having to return to the States by the. round about route of Auckland.