A WONDER SWIM

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 2 December 1927, Page 8

A WONDER SWIM

SAMOAN’S FIGHT FOR LIFE. MARVELLOUS ENDURANCE. Suva, Nov. 23. On a recent Tuesday morning a number of small fishing craft, containing two natives, Lepaio and Faaesema. set out from Sala'una. m Savaii, and nothing was heard of them for thre days. On the third evening, about 9 o’clock, Faaeseina suddenly staggered out of the sea and collapsed upon the beach. It took much nursing and some brandy to bring him round and out of danger. He told of how he and his companion kept fishing and moving out until a big wave swamped their canoe. Lepaio suggested they swim ashore, but as the land was some ten miles away they decided to stick to the canoe, which supported them. A s lepaio was a poor swimmer he was given the canoe as a support, while his companion swam alongside. The tide took them quite close to houses on the shore, but no one saw them. Things looked promising, but the wind changed and they were again carried to sea. Lepaio was feeling the strain, and began to drink water. He kept swimming away from the canoe, and eventually sank. Faaeseina, who had refrained from drinking any salt water, was suffering th« torments from thirst He took th* outrigger off the canoe and with the canoe made a slight support. He spent all the night trying to get inshore but in vain. Ho drifted on in iron-bound coast where landing meant death, but the tide changed and drew him away to safety. Then he commenced to drift back along the coast. At last a hip wave washed him on to the rocks, and with his last ounce of strength be scrambled ashore.