Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-11
FATE OF A SAMOAN HERO.

The Tattooed Body of Native of Samoa
Used as an Advertisement.
Coroner Wally and his partner, Mr..
Rollins, possess at their place of business
a decidedly novel, weird and CHASTITY ad-
vertisement. In the corner of their back
room stands an ordinary looking pine
box, such q one as is used to place
around caskets in the grave. It stands
upon an end and hinges are at the side.
A lid is opened and a startling sight is
revealed.
Standing erect, with hands folded in
front and dressed in no raiment except
a similar garment to the one 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 at st.
Luke's hospital. The body was taken
to Coroner Wally's on the day of death,
and he had it embalmed. The eyes are
open and the black hair and slight mus
tache bristle out with peculiar fierce
ness. From the waist to the knees it
has been tattooed with blue ink, SO as to
resemble pair of knee pants, it being
one of the peculiar customs of the coun-
try from whence he came to SO decorate
the body of every male as soon as he az
rives 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 States man-of-wars men dur
ing the terrible cyclone that swept over
the island in March, 1889, it would seem
that the government alone owed debt
of gratitude to him, to at least put him
in proper resting place. Letungaifo
was one of five Samoans brought to this
country by r. A. Cunningham Aug 10,
1889, and was to have exhibited with
them in this city, but owing to his
health he was sent to the hospital, and o
few weeks after the departure of his
countrymen he died. In obtaining these
five Samoans Mr. Cunninghamhad great
difficulty, as Mataafa Malietoa, the king
of the islands, will not allow any of his
subjects 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 were wrecked in the harbor
of Pago-Pago, in the island of Tutuila,
the natives rescued the sailors by max
ing human line out to reach them, thus
enabling them to get to the shore. On
this occasion Letungaifo particularly
distinguished himself for feats of bravery
in saving the lives of several of the crew.
1t was after this Cunningham attempt
ed to get the men away. They sailed
from the island of Upolu in an open
boat, intending to intercept the Oceanic
steamer from Sydney to Frisco, but
terrible storm arose, and after nearly
being capsized and suffering all manner
of hardships they were compelled to put
back into 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 that the
United States ship Almeda was shortly
to sail with the sailors who were wreck
ed during the hurricane, and hastily
getting the men together who were
anxious to come on board they were
.secreted and thus escaped to America,
being the first of their race to leave their
native country. Republican.