Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-06-13
Jenson's Travels.

morning hour found US beating of the
south coast OF Ragiroa, which Is the
largest Of all the Tuamotu islands ex.
tcndirZ as II does from northwest TO
southeast about fofty.two miles aud IS
twenty miles vide on an average. It's
centre Is situated IN latitude Iso o. south
and longitude i47' 40 west OF Green.
wich. This island ike most OF its sister
islands consists merely OF a coral reef
which here and there Is covered with
trees. Some Of these patches are
several miles long and from few yards
to half a mile or more IN width; but
Others contain only few acres, some OF
them as seen from distance puts one
IN mind OF a huge bouquet OF flowers.
The lagoon inside the reef abound with
pearl shells Tor which the natives dive
whenever the lagoon IS open Tor that
purpose. Cocoa.nut trees are plentiful
ON this island. and the export Of cobra
amounts 10 something like 100 tons
year, Ragiroa, which translated means
long heaven was one Of the Islands OF
the ! uamoiu group where Elder Berja.
min T. GrouaTd and other Elders at an
early day. preached the Gospel with
success. aud branch Organizations were
kept up I'LL about 1885, Wncn the Joseph.
ties inieflsfei and caused the natives to
identify themselves with their organila.
ton.
During the day Tenifa, the Hawaiian
captain OF the Teavaroi, related the
following incident In his life. Some
time ia 1859 he sailed from Tubnai
bound Tor Tahiti as master Of the
schooner Aura Toeran, having twelve
souls on board, including himself all
natives. There were eight men, three
women and one child. The schooner
was a vessel OF seventeen tons register.
After proceeding about i35 miles from
the port OF cmDarkaiion, a terrific whIIl.
wind struck the vessel and oapslxed her,
spiling most Of the passengers in the
ocean. The captain, not being on duty
on time, but asleep in the cabin, was
not aware OF what had happened III lie
IelI his feet and soon his whole body in
the water. lie made a spring for the
cabin door and soon found himself to
gether with nine others sitting on the
keel Of the vessel, which by this time
had turned completely upside down.
But two Of the women were missing, one
Of whom was the captains own wife.
Though they were supposed to be
drowned already IcuiTa who Ike most
natives OF the Pacific Islands Is a good
diver aud swimmer, dove under the YES.
sci and tried TO force his way into the
cabin but rs one or more heavy boxes
hadirolled against the door from the la.
side he was at FIRST unable to effect an
entrance; but succeeded. after diving
several times In pushing the door open,
when he found the two women standing
in water to the neck, being just able TO
breathe. Bidding one Of them to follow
him At time by Giving for the door, he
succeeded IA pulling them out from tue
interior Of the vessel, and them helped
them 10 position on the keel. Thus ali
hands we're saved so lar, but how to
proceed next was question OF vital i'm.
poriance. Most oil the others SCENE d
to have lost their presence Of mind and
could think OF no means OF escape from
the doomed vessel, but the captain I'M
aidsd by the Others. set to work to un.
iasten tue little boat which was secured
to the deck or rigging OF the vessel d, eT
under the water. This lie did by diyin,