The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-08-01
FATE OF a SAMOAN HERO.
Standing Dead, Tattooed and Embalmed,
In an Undertaker's Shop.

standing Dead, Tattooed and Embalmed.
in an Undertaker's Shop.
Coroner VALLEY and his partner, Mr..
Rollins, possess at their place of bust
ness decidedly novel, weird and
CHASTITY advertisement. In the corner
Of their back room stands an ordinary
looking pine box, such a one as is
used to place around caskets in the
grave. It stands upon one 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
similar garment to the one used by
the Yuma Indians (when they use one)
stands the dead body of a 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 the day Of
death, and he had it embalned. The
eyes are open and the black hair and
slight mlstache bristle out with peculiar
ferceness. From the waist to the knees
it has been tattooed with blue ink, SO as'
to resemble pair of knee pants, it be-
ing one of the peculiar customs Of the
country from whence he came to SO dec
crate the body of every male as soon as
he arrives at mans estate.
From the peculiar history of this lone
~ Pacific islander, who, it seems, rislzed
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 the government alone
owed a debt of gratitude to him to at
least put him in proper resting place.
Letungaifo was one Of five Samo-
ans brought to this country by r. 4.
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 weeks after the
departure of his countrymen he died.
In obtaining these five Samoans MIR.
Cunningham had great difficulty, as
Alataafa Ma]ietoa, the king OF the
islands, will not allow any OF his sub
jects to leave, claiming it contrary to
their law and custom.
In the terrible cyclone in March,
1889, when the American men OF war
Trenton and Vandalia wers wrecked in
the harbor of Pago-Pago, in che island
Of Tutuila, the natives rescued the sail
ors by making q human line out to reach
them, thus enabling them to get to the
shore. On this occasion Letungaifo par
ticular]y distinguished himself for feats
of bravery in saving the lives of several
Of the crew.
1t was after this Cunningham at
tempted to get this men away. They
sailed from the island of Upolu in an
open boat, intending to intercept the
Oceanic, steamer from Sidney to 'Fris"
co, but a. 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
Pago,Pago.
This was on Saturday, and the next
day being Sunday all were released to
attend church, as the authorities did not
think anything would sail on that day.
Cunningham, however, learned the
United States ship Alameda was short
ly to sail with the sailors who were
wrecked during the hurricane, and hast
lily getting the men together, who were
anxious to come on board, they We're
secreted and thus escaped to America,
being the first of their race to leave
their native country