The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-06-04
Il SEA C4PTfTS'* NIEDELOTS
T.GRN.

Capt. John 0. Holmes, who recently
arrived at San Francisco from Valparaiso,
Is responsible for the following story.
which he declares to be strictly true Tie
Captain had been cruising among the
Society islands, when, putting into Il
small cove, Il day, for water, anumbrr
Of natives, as usual, came on board 10
trade. Among them was q stout, comely
maiden OF is, to whom the mate took Il
great fancy. She WAS the daughter OF Il
chief, and r~eciprocating the mates nftec-
ton "a" twain were married. a grand
feast honoring the occasion. Wi-Wi was
the name Of the bride, signifying in the
language Of her country, Big Fish,"
or tomterpret more particularly, "Greut
Swimmer, she havinga AL extended nOto-
rlety as an expert in the art Of swimming.
Having married the mate she took mp
her quarters on the ship, much to the
dislike of the Captain, who, saiior-like,
felt the unseemllneSS of having Il m
aboard. However, the vessel left the
island and stood for Tahiti, where she
loaded with oranges and bore thence for
Valparaiso. On the vovage this incident
occurred Wi-Wi, the mates wife, was
III evening performing her additions
near the bows. There was a moderate
sea running, not, however, enough to in
commOde the turtles, which could be
seen floating all around the ship. Some
OF these were Of very large size and
known us the green turtle. 1t happened
while the fair islander was SO engaged
that the ship toppled her bow under and
picked up a sea, Which, passing over,
carried vi Wi with K far to lecward.
The crew We're 1t eupper, but the man at
the wheel saw Wi-Wi as she went
over, and shouted. MAN overheard"
At his CRY, Sc tcr"ini" on ship
board" the crew rushed on deck the
ship was brought TO, and 4 whale boat
lowered. BY this time Wi-Wi had drift
ed some distance to leeward, and night
failing made the task Of rescuing her one
Of extreme difficulty. But the mate was
III the boat, and, though half-crazcd at
the mishap which had hcfallen his dusky
wife, resolved to make every effort to
save her. SO he urged his men with
telling carncstness. They, too, shared
his spirit and pulled away on their dan
gerous venture. But night fell and no
sign Of the unfortunate Wi-Wi was seen.
Tie men gave her up as lost, but the
mate was still hopeful. "Wi-Wi il a
fish," said he, land one night ut sea
viii not hurt her. We will lay by till
morning." SO they lay in the boat that
shouting, but hearing no response.
In the morning the mate saw Il dark Oh
iect on the top OF a surge a long way off.
"There IS something over there" said
he; give way for it." "It's only 4
turtle" answered the men. "Nevcr
replied the mate, "give way"
They gave way, and after Il hard pail,
the sea having risen, reached the object.
L WAS an immense turtle, and on the
back thereof sat Wi-Wi. She hailed the
boat crew with acry OF JOY, and ~plunging
into the sea swan to the boat. The tur-
tie was then secured and towed to the
ship, where Wi-Wi was received with
three cheers and a tiger. 4 glass of
brandy stimulated her and made her 10
quacious. She told the story of going
overheard, how being bruised by strik-
ing against the rail she could not reach
the ship hy swimming, but, floating at
the mercy of the sea, was at last thrown
on the back of the turtle, which was COM
placently oscillating on the surface of the
water. "But for this singular assist
ance,' said the Captain, "Wi-Wi must
have persisted, and it is to he regretted"
he added III Il choking voice, "tlat the
creature which had SO p~rovidentially
saved the life Of Il human being should
have subsequently been utilized i'll the
form of turtle soup"
APPLES are now GROWN in which tuo