The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-03-07
The 0VtrlGTnlEg Of Canoe EldaN.
gers Life.
MARROW ESCAPE or TOURISTS
a Natives Swimming Feat-Tases a
Child TO the shore-Weli Known
Travellers suggestions.

\ party of tourists. including Capt
]. Il. Stearns and his eight-year-old
daughter. OF Chicago, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Robt. L. Strahorn. OF Boston. had an
experience al Waikiki Saturday after
noon that they will not soon forget.
They were taking a surf ride with two
natives TO handle the canoe and while
at the furthest point on shore, PROBABLY
a third of a mile out, suffered com
plete capslze and wreck in about TWEEN
ty-fiye feet of water.
Mr.. Strahorn. who was In the front
end OF the canoe, says they had partly
turned to make the dash for shore on
the crest of a huge wave. Instead of
.oing with IL the prov was sent to-
ward the bottom by an elevation of
about forty-fve degrees from the rear
and then they were turned over almost
endways by the giant wave, which also
twisted on the outrigger as though 1t
were a ppestem and carried 1t out of
reach.
On coming TO the surface all man
aged TO get to the boats slippery bot
tom turned upward. They had just
grasped this when another great wave
rolled over them, washing the Stra-
horns OF This dangerous experience
was repeated again and again by other
heavy rollers quickly following, but
finally when both were nearly exhaust
ed Mr.. Strahorn succeeded in helping
his wife astride the still owe rturned
canoe. where she lay mere securely
with firm hold with both hands on
the gunwales under water
Meanwhile Capt. Stearns who Is OF
powerful build, but cannot swim, had
managed to cling to the other end OF
the boat, while one of the natives swan
CALAMITY ashore with the little girl.
How this superb swimmer and his
precious burden We're received by the
nearly frantic mother of the child, who
had witnessed the whole proceeding
from shore, can possibly DE imagined.
The balance of the party finally man
aged 10 right the canoe and direct II to
shore by padding alongside. and also
managed to recover the broken out
rigger.
Considering the unusually heavy sea
and high tide which had the effect of
extending deep water pretty close in
shore and also the fact that only one
of the party could swim. and he in
delicate health, ii looks like very
narrow escape and sounds note OF
warning.
These people are famous travellers
and in a general way are no doubt as
nh ~ fAp thapN a : tho ~.
srage. Capt. Stearns has seen about
every form OF "roughing It" known
and the Strahorns have made some
notable canoe trips In American wilds
aggregating many hundreds of miles
to say nothing OF fifteen or twenty
thousand miles by stage and saddle
They are most enthusiastic admirers OF
Hawaii's many attractions. but on the
subject of this accident Mr. Strahorn
said last night:
1T was such a close shave that
think ! may hs pardoned for making q
few suggestions. II followed they
would eliminate the risk you are now
running of having catastrophe som,
day that will 20 far To ruin wnat | con
slider the most delightfully."- unique and
eXhilirating aquatic sport In the world
a glorious treat that Hawaii almost
has a monopoly Of We were in danger
probably twenty minutes in view OF
many people and yet no hand was lift
ed 10 push out a boat to help us. Why
not keep at least one native there with
a canoe ready to meet just such an
emergency; something ON small scale
Ike our life saving service on every