Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-23
Sandwich Island Swimmers.

We returned to the Sunbeam on
Christmas day, and on the following
day we witnessed some extraordinary
feats of swimming performed by the
natives of the island. A copious stream
enters the sea about a quarter of q mile
west of the little town of Hilo. At a
short distance from its mouth it forces
its way through chasm in the volcanic |
rocks and then winds round precipi-
tous crag of lava, at the foot of which it
| forms still pool, six fathoms in depth. |
| We had been invited to witness two
noted swimmers leap from the sum-
nit of the crag into the pool be-
low. The whole population turned out
on the. occasion, and seated themselves
on the slopes above the river, awaiting
the arrival of the two athletes. Mean
while number OF the more youthful
inhabitants of Hilo, of both sexes, en-
tertained us with display of the art of
swimming and diving. One active girl
leaped repeatedly from height of TWEEN
ty feet into the river. In the intervals
between these performances these am
phibious people climbed up the rocks
that overhung the river, where they
gathered themselves into the most pic
turesque groups of bronze colored, yet
shapely humanity. There were few
) II
: forms, but there was not the slightest
faint of immodesty in the scene. A
sculptor, looking on with the cultivated
: eve of trained artist, would have rev
= elled in the graceful movements of the
d forms displayed before him. while a
;, painter would have appreciated not less
= the harmonious colors of the picture in
!, which the olive-fiesh tints formed such
@ an admirable contrast to the dark lava
y rocks on which the swimmsrs reclined.
Z Many laborious student Of the Acade-
j my has racked his brain in the vain eff
= fort to produce composition on canvas
- or marble with not One-half the beauty
+ of the truth to nature of these fortuitous
n assemblages of graceful figures.
r An hour bad passed away not I'M
q pleasantly when the heroes Of the day
% arrived They were to leap in the pool
Il beneath from the summit of precipice
a ninety feet in height. Thirty feet below
>. the edge of y crag juts out fifteen feet
+. from the face of the rock. It was nee
essary for the swimmers to clear this
!. projection. We were seated on the ledge
is of a rock near the edge of the water tc
81 witness the feat they were about to per
q form. 1t was a point of view whence
q the swimmers were seen with striking
- effect, as they first appeared on the cras
.. above us and paused for a moment OIL
f its brink before taking their tremendou:
vi leap in the gulf beneath.
~ AS we looked up to the summit o
q the precipice the powerful forms of these
p. olive colored men-nOtable specimen.
Of Of the native races of the Pacific-stooC
a out in magnificent relief against thu
nj dark-blue sky. Each wore & greer
to wreath fastened on his brow-a trifiins
o touch, which enhanced the resemblance
n to those admirable products of ancien
n, art, the bronze figures of the flying Mer
at curry in the museum at Naples. AS tn
70 first swimmer gathered himself togethe
DC for the leap, there was q bfeathless 81
es lence in the crowd, momentary gianc
e9 of hesitation in the hero Of Hilo sue
~ eeeded by that set look which a maj
q wears Who has determined to q chival
~ rous deed or perish in the attempt
10 Then came a superb elastic bound, a,
20 agile REIMBURSEMENT of the BALANCES, AM
10 the athletic figure darted downward
" like an arrow through the air, with
~ tremendous splash disappeared, fee
n downwards, below the CLASSY surface
Ie and, after prolonged immersion, rOs
w again to the surface scatheless, amid TIL
+ enthusiastic ovations of the crowd
,ir The great feat was followed by per
o. Torrance which, in e less amphibiou
TO country. would have excited wonder
- 1t was a leap down a waterfall havin,
rv a fell of fifteen feet. Not only did tn
10 two champions take the leap, but ever
n. the nymphs Of Hiln, ~ numbers, follow
! n ed them. After disappearing slr few
; a moments in the seething water at tn
ed foot of the cascade they reappeared
ara laughing and talking, evidently regard
nv ing the feat as an ordinary bathing in
If Icident.-N5neteenfh Century.