Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-03-01

captain was very cool, and beaded Inc
boat for Futuna at once. The pump was
Immediately put to WORK, and all the
buckets and kegs were used Tor bailing
the water from the main and iotehoIds
The natives knowing that it was the only
chance Tor their lives, worked energetic
ally, urging each other on by saying,
'It is either work or drown" Thus the
work continued until twelve O'Clock
| By that time, we had lowered the water
about two feet. From that time on un'
iii we reached land, the pump was
sufficient to keep the water down. GA
examining the boat it was found that the
oakum had fallen out OF joint near the
| surface of the water, making a gap
about three feet in length. The joint was
corked as well as 1t could be al Futuna,
and the cargo shifted that II might dry.
Thursday 10th, we again set sail lor
Vavau This time there were no native
| passengers, as they were afraid to trust
the boat again. The wind was still con
trary, therefore we made little headway
Monday goth, at 3 p M, the boat
| again sprang leak at The same joint as
before. We were then I45 miles from
| Futuna, 400 from NAvau, and 800 from
| S1va, FIJI. The wIud being fair Tor IN c
| latter point, the captain Immediately
! headed the boat for there. While sail
ing on the starboard tack the pump was
| suifici to keep the water down.
| Friday, December 4lh, we arrived at
| Suva. a governmental survey was
made on the boat at once, and 1t was
| found to be in a very bad condition; a
number OF the timbers were decdyed
and had given way Alter enduring
! u'tfk Iarly ,ttte tar and nnH4T-
| going many hardships, we were pleased
10 get ashore where we could obtain
shelter from the rain and the excessive
heat OF the sun. while waiting the ar
| rival of the steamer from sydney on its
way TO Tonga aud New Zealand o!
course we had no money TO pay for a
house to stay in, but we had been taught
| by lormer experiences that If we would
rely on the Lord He would never for
| sake us.
Wednesday 9th it rained very hard
until 4 p. m. when the storm abated for
| short time, and Elder Smith and | de-
cided to go out in search OF place to
stay We were directed to Mr.. Nchol-
son, carpenter, and on arriving at his
shop we met him, and babe him good
day. About the first thing he said was:
ID IL NtAl
staying on the boat during the StOrml
have Just been thinking about your con-
dition." We told him we were now out
looking for a room to stay IN during our
sojourn in the city while awaiting the
arrival OF the steamer, but we mad no
money to pay rent with He said
There is a room up stairs in the shop
you can have free Of charge If you wish
to accept room OF that kind" We went
and looked at the room, and found il
would answer our purpose very well
and very thankfully accepted the same.
We then went to the boat, got our
valises, and returned TO the room
About dusk Mr.. Nicholson brought Us
nice warm supper. From that time OH
until We lett Suva h. proved very kind
friend to us, and he and his wife began
to investigate the Gospel. They said
we were the first Mormon Elders whom
they had ever had the opportunity OF
meeting. We gave them some tracts
and book to read When they had
perused them they asked a number oil
questions about various principles OF the
Gospel, thus giving us good chance to
explain the Gospel TO them. Alter con
versing for some lime on the first
principles OF the Gospel. they said they
had always had wrong impression in
their minds regarding the doctrines
which we teacn, and that they were
pleased to learn the truth about US.
Our conversation was the means OF al.
laying much pre- JUDGE in their minds,
VIII eli had arisen from false reports that
they had read and heard respecting us
as a people. Before we lett Suva they
said that they had a much higher opinion
OF the Mormons than before, and asked
us to send them some more tracts when
we arrived at Tonga. When the time
drew near tor the steamer 10 arrive, we
called on the agent of the Union Steam
ship company, and then asked him what
the fare was from Suva ito Tonga. He
informed US that it would be twenty five
dollars each. We apprised him OF our
financial condition, and why we were
there, then asked HIM il he would be so
kind as to let us have two tickets TO
Tonga and we would pay Tor them on
arriving at that point. He said, you
gentlemen say you are Mormon Elders,
but you are strangers in the city, and
how am to know" We told him there
was no one in the city with whom we
were acquainted except the captain and
the crew OF the boat which we came on
He said 81 believe your people to be all
right, you may call in when The steamer
comes and get your tickets" When we
called to get them he gave US discount
OF ten per cent.
Thursday, the 7ath, we babe our
friends on the Fleetwing good bye; and
also Mr.. Nicholson who had been SO
kind to us during our STAY in Suya. AT
a. III. we boarded the Tavinni, which
IN few minutes began TO sever herself
from the wharf, and was soon steaming
off IN the mighty deep towards Samoa
which lies Cos miles northwest OF Suya,
FIJI
Monday, the 2Sth, (Which was Sunday
in Samoa, as there is a change of time
between FIJI and that place. upon arts.
ing from our cots we could see the is.
land Upolu in the distance, and at s
p nj, cast anchor IN Apia harbor Elder
Smith and | were soon on small boat
going ashore. We then made our way
along the beach to Fsgalii, distance OF
three miles, where we were kindly re.
ceiyed by thirteen Elders who were very
much surprised to meet us at that time,
as they were not thinking of any thing
OF that kind. We had the pleasure OF
meeting Brother Wood and two other
Elders who had just arrived from Zion a
few days previously. In the evening we
held meeting, where all the Elders
bore their testimonies. never before
met more noble band OF T. ders; all
had the spirit OF their mission resting
uDon them and bore faithful testimonies