The San Francisco call., 1904-12-24

The morning Of the day the Oceanic
STEAMSHIP ComPany's liner Mariposa.
captain Lawiess. left Tahiti there ar
rived at that tropic port a tiny dory
IN which I'VE shipwrecked traders had
Foyaged Tor i days. with little food
and less water. The men, emaciated
and worn cut from constant toll at the
oars and frequent battles with sharks.
hungry as themselves. were taken 10
the Government hospital at Papeete,
where they told Of the wreck Of their
vessel. the little French trading
schooner Victor.
Discipline on the Victor seems 10
have been OF the catch-as-catch-can
kind At > a. N. on November 80 the
Victor, with Captain sam Harris and
has crew Of four. all below and sound
asleep, was sailing the summer seas
At her own sweet VIII. There was no
lockout 10 hear the roar Of the surf
breaking on Apataki Island, no helms
man 10 turn the schoOner's nose from
the coral reef-which Ike a line OF
infantry was ambushed and waiting
with bayOnets set directly in the path
OF the little boat.
The Victor sailed 10 her doom with
al the abandon OF a woman stepping
backward of a moving car And the
result was about the same. The crash
aroused the sleePers. who managed TO
make their way through the breakers
10 dry land. In the morning they re-
covered dory, a little food and six
cocOanuts. The island Of Apataki is
barren OF vegetation and without
water Tahiti. zee miles away, was
the nearest refuge.
The nve men embarked in the dory.
AC friendly breeze lghtened their la
bcrs, no rain came from the sky to ill
The empty water kegs. They had 10
row every weary foot Of the 200 miles
10 Tahiti and the milk in the half
dozen cocOanuts was the sole liquid re-
freshment that moistened the lips OF
The shipwrecked FIVE.
The dOry was small and the weight
Of i've men brought its gunwales close
10 the waters edge. Sharks became
interested in the i've dainty tidbits
almost within reach and more than
once TWO Of the oarsmen had to cease
rowing and with their oars drive away
The more persistent OF the maneaters.
Harris and his men were in bad
shape when they reached Tahiti, but
j was thought that all would recover.
The MaripOsa brought from Tahiti
cargo OF tropical products and a
score OF passengers. most Of whom
were tourists. who have been enjoying
The novelty OF summer sunshine and
warmth in the middle OF winter. G. A
Batchelder and wife, who returned on
The M@riposa, spent more than
month AT Tahiti and left with reluct-
auce. So delighted is Batchelder with
The climate Of the South Sea island
that he intends TO return there very
.soon- F. Levy. the pearl king, and his
VIE came up on the MaripOsa. They
ere going 10 London, a trip they make
once year. Captain S. Higgins. who
was well known here Up 10 sixteen
years ago as a trader between here
and the South Seas. was a passenger
ca the Mariposa with his two sons.
Higgins is IN business on Raiatea and
IS said to be prosperous. 7. A. Grady,
travelling passenger agent of the
Oceanic Steamship Company, came up
ouRthe MaripOsa.
Following is a list Of the passengers:
F. Levy and wife. Miss A Levy. c. A
Esatchelder sno wife. 7. A Grady, A Con
rich. T. Tazol.. D. Patton @. Welter, Miss o.
Coucke. Miss !. Rsunsu, Miss D Lechner,
Miss n Lege. Captain s. Higgins ". Higgins,
Z E HlEginss " Dobbins. c. L. Young