The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-21
ODD FATE OF A WARRIOR.
A Tattooed Samoan Used for Adver-
Using Purposes

eAoAAR 4 - kOosSs
From the Denver Times
Coroner Wally and his partner, Mr.. Rol-
Inns, possess at their place Of business a de-
cidedly novel, weird and CHASTITY advertise
ment. 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. 1t stands upon an end and hinges
are at the side. A lid Is opened and a start
| ling 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 In
| dams when they use onel is the dead body
Of Samoan tattooed warrior, who was
known during life as Letungaifo, and who
died at st. Luks's hospital. The body was
taken TO Coroner Wnlly's ON the day Of
death and he had it embalmed. The eyes
are open and the black hair aud slight
mustache bristle out with peculiar fierce
ness. From the waist to the knees it has
been tattooed with blue ink, so as to re-
semble pair Of knee pants, IL beinR one OF
| the peculiar customs Of the country from
whence he came to 80 decorate the body of
every male as soon az he arrives at mans
estate.
From the peculiar history Of the lonely
Pacific Islander, who it seems risked his life
and assisted in saving the lives of United
Dtdkcb uou-Ol- WAE Ln6u curing Cue USrrlDlo
cyclone that swept over the island in March,
1889, 1t would seem that the governments
alone owed a debt of gratitude to him to at
least put him in a proper resting place.
LetungaKo was one of five Samoans
brought to this country by r. A. Cunning
ham Aug. 10, 1888, and was to have ex-
hibitsd with them in this city, but owing to
his health he was sent TO the hospital, and q
few weeks after the departure of his coun-
trymen he died. In obtaining these five
Samoans Mr.. Cunningham had great diff
Guilty, as Mataafa Maletoa, king of the
Islands, will not allow any of his subjects to
leave, claiming 1t contrary to their law and
custom.
10 the terrible cyclone in March, 1889,
when the American men-of war Trenton
and Vandalia were wrecked In the harbor
OF Pago-Pago, in the island OF Tutulia, the
natives rescued the sailors by making a hu
man line out to reach them, thus enabling
them to get to the shore. On this occasion
Letungaifo particularly distinguished him.
self for feats of bravery in saving the lives
Of several of the crew.
Ii was after this Cunningham attempted
TO get the men away. They sailed from the
island OF Upolu in an open boat, intending
TO intercept the oceanic steamer from Syd-
| ney to Frisco, but a terrible storm arose,
and after nearly being capsized and suffer-
| ing all manner Of hardships, they were COM
| pelled to put back into the harbor OF Pago-
Page.
This was on Saturday, and the next day
being Sunday oil we're released TO attend
! church, as the authorities did not think
anything would sail on that day. Cunning
ham, however, learned that the United
States ship Alameda was shortly to sail
with the sailors who we're wrecked during
the hurricane, aud hastily getting the men
together, who were anxious to get on board,
| they were secreted aud thus escaped TO
America, being the first Of their ace to
leave their native country