The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-09-04
RESCUED FROM Drowning
SAM JOHNSON SAVED THREE
LIVES AT PEARL HARBOR.
Charles Murray and Misses Noble and
Myhre Capsized with a Small Sail
Boat Sunday.

Two young women and their escort
narrowly escaped being drowned in
Pearl harbor Sunday. But for the
prompt action of Captain Samuel john
son of the health department none of
the trio wouldshave returned alive from
their excursion. Charles Murray, book
keeper of e. o. Hall g. Son, Miss Noble
the stenographer for Bishop & Company
and Miss Myhre daughter of Milk ms
pector H. Myhre are the names of those
who were so near death.
Sunday afternoon Murray and the
young ladies were visitors at Pearl Har-
Dor. Murray has had considerable ex-
perience in the management of small
boats and he suggested that the young
women go with him for sail. They
consented so a small row boat with a
sail was hired. The water was quite
rough and the wind strong. Under
Murray's guidance the boat weathered
all of the rough water satisfactorily but
he took the craft too far from the shore.
AS he got near the peninsula they were
half mile from shore and the sea get
ting rougher and the wind more squally
every minute. Finally Murray decided
to return. Unfortunately as he started
to tack heavy gust of wind struck the
boat and capsized it.
The instant that the boat capsized the
mast parted and with the sail started
but Miss Noble could not Murray
called to the women to do as he ordered
and he caught Miss Noble and assisted
her to a hold on the mast Miss Myhre
having in the meanwhile also caught
hold of it. Very fortunately for her
the mast was within reach for it would
have been impossible for the young wU-
man, weighted down with her heavy
skirts, to have swan any distance. Miss
Myhre was able to hold fast and asM Muir
ray knew she was more accustomed to
being in deep water than Miss Noble
he held the latter up as much as possi-
BILE. The trio began to call for help.
Sam Johnson and Jack McVeigh were
on shore near w. w. Halls cottage
when their attention was attracted by
the capsizing of the little craft.
"By gosh" yelled Johnson "those peo-
pie are in the mischief of fix They'll
drown if somebody don't help them"
And without further words he sprang
into boat and started rowing toward
the struggling people. To those in the
water fighting for their lives it seemed
an age before Johnson came up with
them. Both of the women were able to
keep their heads above water but MUIR
ray was holding Miss Noble as far out
of the water as possible and was unable
to escape the rough swells. The waves
broke over him every moment and but
certainly have been forced to loosen his
hold upon the woman. The first time
Johnson came along side the waves
washed him away. He grabbed the
oars and brought the boat up again.
''Here take this one first" gasped Muir
ray "she can't swim" and with a des-
perate effort he held Miss Noble further
out of the water But Johnson realized
that unless great care was taken the
lives of not only the trio but of himself
as well would be endangered.
With the heavy waves and strong
wind it would be folly to try and lift
the woman over the side of the boat for
the craft would be capsized Johnson
swung the boat around and brought her
stern close to Murray and then reached
out caught hold of Miss Noble. The
woman was so weak with her long
struggle that she could not help John
son draw her into the boat. Johnson is
powerful man but he needed all of his
strength to drag the woman, weighted
down as she was in her wet clothes,
over the stern of the boat. The instant
that the weight was taken from Murray
he rallied and with an effort drew his
head out of the water and lay gaspnG
over the mast. Five minutes more and
he would have sunk from sheer ex-
haustion. Johnson brought the boat
about again and helped Miss Myhre in
side and the biggest past of the work
of rescue was finished.
"Say Charley called Sam "I guess
the boat amt big enough to carry all OF
you so you get on your boat and wait
until I take the girls ashore and come
back for you"
Johnson helped Murray to reach ihc
capsized boat and after seeing that his
friend was safely astride the uptnrned
craft, johnson. rowed the women to thf
cI, Mr1r
latter was very weak but Johnson got
him into the boat without any difficulty
and took him to shore. Not satisfied
with his splendid efforts in saving thret
lives Johnson went out a third Time Il
the capsized craft and proceeded to res
cue her by towing the rigging and lht
boat up to the bank.