Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-03-08
fArE oE 4 SAMOAN HERO.
The Tattooed Body Of a Native of Samoa
Used as an Advertisement.


Used as an Advertisement.
Coroner Wally and his partner, Mr..
Rollins, possess at their place of business
a decidedly novel. weird and ghastly 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. 1t 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
3 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 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 ar
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-ofwars 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 X. A. Cunningham Aug. 10,
1880, and was to have exhibited with
them in this city, but owing to his
health he was sent to the hospital, and a
few weeks after the departure of his
countrymen he died. In obtaining these
five Samoans Mr.. Cunningham had great
difficulty, as Mataafa Malietoa, the king
of the islands, will not allow any of his
subjects to leave, claiming it contrary tc
their law and custom.
In the terrible cyclone in March, 1899
when the American men-of-war Trenton
and Vandalia were wrecked in the harbol
of Pago-Pago, in the island of Tutuila
the natives rescued the sailors by max
ing human line out to reach them, thu
enabling them to get to the shore. On
this occasion Letungaifo particularly
distinguished himself for feats of braver.
in saving the lives Of several of the crew
1t was after this Cunningham attempt
ed to get the men away. They sailet
from the island of Upolu in an opel
boat, intending to intercept the Oceani
, steamer from Sydney to Frisco, but
terrible storm arose, and after nearl
being capsized and suffering all manne
{ of hardships they were compelled to pu
, back into the harbor of Pago-Pago.
! This was on Saturday, and the mex
day being Sunday all were released +
attend church, as the authorities did no
, think anything would sail on that day
= Cunningham, however, learned that tn
United States ship Almeda was shortl
= to sail with the sailors who were wreck
ed during the hurricane, and hastil
getting the men together who wer
anxious to come on board they wer
secreted and thus escaped to America
being the first of their race to leave thei
native country. Republican.