The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1875-07-10
A Sea Captains Marvellous Yarn.

Capt. John O. Holmes, who re-
Gently arrived at San Francisco
from Valparaiso, is responsible for
the following story, which he de-
clares to be strictly true: The
Captain had been cruising am Ong
the Society islands, when, putting
into a small cove, one day, for Wa
ter, a number of natives, as usual,
came on board to trade. Among
them was a stout, cOmely maid
en- of IS, to whom the mate took
a great fancy. She was the daugh-
ter of a chief, and reciprocating
the mates affection the twain
were married, a grand feast honor
ing the occasion. Wi-Wi was
the name of the bride, signifying
in the language of her country,
"Big Fish," or to interpret more
particularly, ''Great Swimmer"
She having on extended notoriety
as an expert in the art of swim
ming. Having married the mate
she took up her quarters on the
ship much to the dislike of the
Captain. who, sailor-like, felt the
unSeemlineSs of having a woman
aboard. However, the vessel left
the island and stood for Tahiti,
where she loaded with oranges
and bore thence for Valparaiso.
On the voyage this incident Oc-
Cured: Wi Wi, the mates wife,
was one evening performing her
| ablutiOns near the bows. There
was a moderate sea running, not,
however, enough to incOmmode
the turtle, which could be seen
floating all around the ship. Some
of these we're of very large size
and known as the green turtle.
1t happened while the fair islander
was SO. engaged that the ship top |
pied her bow under and picked |
up a sea, which, passing over, car
ried Wi Wi with it far to leeward. |
The crew were at supper, but the
man at the wheel saw Wi-Wi as
she went over, and shouted, "Man
overheard" At this cry, terrible
on shipb0ard, the crew rushed on
deck; the ship was brought to, .
and a whale boat lowered. By /
this time Wi-Wi had drifted some |
distance to leeward, and night
falling made the task Of rescuing
her one of extreme difficulty.
But the mate was in the boat, and,
though half craZed at the mishap
which had befallen his dusky wife,
resolved to make every efforts to
save her. So he urged his men
with telling earnestness. They,
too, shared his spirit and pulled
away on their dangerous venture.
But night fell and no sign of the
unfortunate Wi-Wi was seen. The
men gave her up as lost, but the
mate was still hopeful. "Wi-W
is fish," said he, land one night
at sea will not hurt her. We will
lay by till morning" So they lay
in the boat that night shouting,
but hearing no response In the
morning the mate saw dark OBJ
ject on the top of surge a long
way off There is something ov-
er there" said he; "give way for
it." "It's only a TURTLE" answer. ,
the men. Never mind" re-
piled the mate, give away"
They gave way, and after hard
pull, the sea having risen. reach 4
ed the object. 1t was an immense
turtle, and on the back thereof
sat Wi-Wi. She hailed the boat
crew with cry of joy, and plung-
ing into the sea swan to the boat.
The turtle was then secured and
towed to the ship, where wiz Wi
was received with three cheers
and tiger. A glass Of brandy
her and made her To-
quaciOus. She told the story of
going overheard, how being bruis-
ed by striking against the rail she -
could not reach the ship by SWIM
ming, but, floating at the mercy
Of the sea, was at last thrown on
the back of the turtle, which was
cOmplacently OsciIlating on the
surface Of the water. "But for
this singular ssistance," said the
wi Wi must have per- t
ished, and it is to be regretted"
he added in a choking voice, "that !
the creature which had so pro.
videntially saved the life of hui
man being should have subse,
quently been utilized in the form
of turtle soup"