The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-02
ROBERT L. sTEvExsoN's BURIAL.
Mrs. Stevenson Tells of His Inter-
ment on the Top of the Mountain
Win.

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mrs. Stevenson reached san Francisco
from Samoa on the Oceanic line steamship
Mariposa yesterday morning. accompanied
by her son, Lloyd Osborne. and her daugh-
ter. Mrs. Isabel Strong. In response to
the question whether her late husband LETT
instructions as TO what should be done
with his unpublished manuscripts, Mrs.
Stevenson said:
He was out Of health so many years
that scarcely day passed that he did not
anticipate the end. and he told me many
things. He also kept in close touch with
such friends as he desired to perform GER
tain tasks. His death, however, was very
sudden and unexpected, for he had enjoyed
better health for a longer period than at
any time in his life. II ne had contemplate ted
leaving special Instructions he was thus
deprived of the chance of doing so. but we
knew what he wanted, and we executed
his ante-mOrtem commands
Was the interment on the mountain
peak in accordance with his desires?'
les. Naia peak, a bold, precipitous, vol
canic formation that rises to a hight of
i, 40 feet was the final resting place ne had
selected. Some newspapers. indeed nearly
al OF them, named another mountain, but
ne IS rest on the summit of Vaia."
HOW far IS Naia from Mr.. Stevenson's
1T IS on our estates. 1t rises almost
perpendicular right in front of our house"
is II difhcult of ascent?'
Very. Only natives accustomed to
mountain climbing from their infancy can
reach its summit without great labor and
eAlaustlon. only three white men have
accomplished the task, and one of these is
suffered"
was it not difficult task to carry Mr..
hight?"
1T seemed an impossible task but forty
ISs :, ana sturdy Samoans accomplish
ed II after journey that was full of peril
They carried the coffin shoulder high with
such consummate skill that they did not
snake II once during the trip. They had
so arranged for their progress that when
one fell-and many did fall-another took
MS place, so that the march upward
uld not meet with single delay Many
Whlte men who knew and loved Mr.. Stew
ehson set out with the pail bearers, intent
upon joining in the simple religious SER
vices that were to be conducted on the
summit of the mountain before the coffin
was lowered into the grave but only TWO
of their number were successful. one of
these has not yet recovered from the ter
rlble exhaustion that overcame him when
ne had scaled the hight"
Then you have never visited your hus-
bands grave?'
Yes, / have"
You climbed the mountain"
IN assembled it," was Mrs. Stevenson's
reply. THE natives cut out a path for
me They cut steps in the rocks and after
infinite labor, made is possible for me to
ascend to the grave. 1t was an act Of
touching devotion to the memory of a be-
loved friend that deserves to be recorded
in history.
of course" Mrs Stevenson went on.
Il had to be assisted, but if the path had
not been cut for me it would have been
impossible to have reached that hight
The day assembled Naia hundreds of ma
tives went with me- They came from ev-
cry island Of the Samoan group. and
among them were many celebrated chiefs.
who had known and loved Mr.. Stevenson
during his life. The women brought
flowers in such abundance that they were
strewn along the side Of the mountain
from base to summit. and these they threw
into the grave. one woman, a devoted
creature who had received some kindness
from Mr.. Stevenson's hand brought lit
tie tin cross that possessed value in
the eyes of the simple natives far greater
than its real intrinsic worth. This cross
was not flung into the grave with the
flowers and other offerings. but was plant
ed over il, and | did not have the heart
to disturb it. The manner in which the
cross was offered was very touching"
rs there a monument over the grave?"
"Only the monument of rocks reared by
the natives and the little sin cross sur
mounts these"