The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-30
FATE OF A SAMOAN HERO.
Standing Dead. Tattooed and Embalmod.
In an Undertakor'a Shop. J

Standing Dead, Tattooed nnd Embalmod.
inan Undortakor's Shop.
Coroner Valley and his partner. Mr..
Rollins possess at their place of bust
ness decidedly novel, weird and
ghastly advertisement. In the corner
OF their back room stands an ordinary
looking Pine box, such one as Is
used to place around casl1ots In the
grave. 1t stands upon ono end, and
hinges are at the sides. A lid Is opened
and startling sight is revealed.
Standing erect, with hands folded In
front and dressed In no raiment except
q similar garment to tho ono used by
the Yuma Indians (when they use one)
stands the dead body of Samoan tat
tooed warrior, who was known during
life as Letungaifo, and who died Of con-
sumption at ST. Luke's hospital. The
body, says the Denver Republican, was
taken to Coroner Valleys on tho day of
death, and he had 1t embalmed. The
eyes are open and the black hair and
slight mustache bristlc out with peculiar
fierceness. From tho waist to the knees
1t has been tattooed with blue ink, 80 as
to resemble pair Of knee pants, 1t be-
Ing one of the peculiar customs of.thc
country from whence he came to 30 deo-
orate tho body OF every male as soon as
he arrives at mans estate.
From the peculiar.history of this lone
" Pacific islander, who, 1t seems, risked
his life and assisted In saving the lives
OF many United States man-of-wars-
men during the terrible cyclone that
swept over the island In March, 1889, It
would seem that tho government alone
owed debt OF gratitude to him to Mt
least put him In proper resting place.
Lctungaifo was one of five Sumo
ans brought to this country By R. A.
Cunningham, August 10, 1889, and was
to have exhibited with them In this city,
but owing to his health he was sent to
the hospital, and few wccks after the
departure of his countrymen he died
In obtaining these five Samoans Mr..
Cunningham had great difficulty, as
Mataafa Malietoa. the king of tho
islands, will not allow any of his sub
jects to leave, claiming 1t contrary to
their law and custom.
In the terrible cyclone In March,
1880, when the American men of war
Trenton and Vandalia were wrecked In
the harbor of Pago-Pago, in the island
of Tutuila, the natives rescued the sail.
ors by making n human line out to reach
them, thus enabling them to get to the
shore. On this occasion Letungaifo par
ticularly distinguished himself for feats
of bravery in saving tho lives of several
of the crew.
1t was after this Cunningham ut
tempted to get the mon away. They
sailed from the island of Upolu In an
open boat, intending to intercept the
Oceanic, steamer from Sidney to FRS
CO, but q terrible storm arose, and
after nearly being capsized and suffer-
Ing all manner of hardships they were
compelled to put back In the harbor of
Pngo-P ago.
This was ON Saturday, and the next
dry being Sunday all were released 10
attend church, as the authorities didnot
think anything would sail on that day.
Cunningham, however, learned tho
United Statos ship Alameda was short
~ to sail with the sailors who were
wrecked during the hurricane, and hast
lily getting the mon together, who were
anxious to come on board, they were
secrcted and thus escaped to America,
being the first Of their race to lcave
their native country.