LONG SWIM ASHORE.

Otaki Mail, 3 January 1923, Page 3

LONG SWIM ASHORE.

AN ISLAND EPISODE. Suva, Nov. 22. Air Frank AVitherow, a very old resident of the colony and a cocoanut planter, went, out in a small punt, accompanied by a native a few days ago to net a turtle. In the course of time they secure u large one, and in the cndcTrvour to got it into the punt, cap- , sized the ftail craft. The Fijian clung I to the upturned boat, which was rather j unusual as the natives generally are splendid swimmers and not at all afraid of -i swim, even for several miles. Air I Witlierow found that it would not support the two of them, so without a word ho left the Fijian in possession and boldly struck out for the reef some considerable distance away. Air AYitlierow is an old mail, iu his seventies, but ho put his heart into the job in hand with His usual thoroughness. It took him over an hour of: haul swimming to gain the reef. Feeling very exhausted he hoped that he had reached safety, but he quickly discovered to his dismay (hat the tide was rising, and that his refuge would 1 soon be swept by the incoming title, lie therefore made haste to get along

the reef to the small lighthouse some distance away. How he accomplished it he dues not quite know-. lie was verv exhausted, and by the time he

reached the welcome stars of the lighthouse he was in a condition which made the ascent of the steps a long and painful journey. It took him some time to recover from his big endeavour, and in vain he sought to attract attention from the distant shore. It was not until some live hours a for that he was taken oil by some native fishermen. Before he was taken ashore he insisted that they limit for the Fijian, and they eventually found him still clinging to the punt, for the anchor had gone to the bottom, and had held her where she had eap- ■ i/.ed. Air AYitherow is now about again apparently little the worse for his adventure.