Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05
SWAIN THIRTY MILES.
Remarkable Escape From Death of
Nervy Hawaiian

Honolulu Correspondence OF the Chicago News
Edward Duvauchelle of Mookai, is the
hero of a most remarkable story of human
courage and endurance, and of marvel
Gus escape from death. The fact that he
was one of the team that represented the
National Guard of Hawaii at the rifle
shooting at Sea Girt. n. j., last fall will
perhaps add some interest to the tale of
his thrilling experience.
Monday night, May %. Duvauchelle, who
is a fisherman. living at Pukoo. on the
southern coast of Molokai. with three ma
tive Hawaiians as companions. left home
in a whale boat with load of fish for La
hama, about twelve miles away. They ar
rived there safely. sold their fish and
about O'Clock started in a dead calm to
row back. A light breeze sprang up and
they hoisted sail. making the sheet fast. A
sudden squall capsiZed them before they
could ease off the sheet. The boat became
waterlogged and began drifting out TO sea.
They were at the time mile or two from
Kaanapal Landing. Maui. They made a
float with four oars and the mast, and,
with this to help them. two of the natives
at their own request, started to swim
ashore TO get help.
After awaiting their return for three
hours in vain Duvauchelle and his re-
naming companion, Dan Pawaa, came to
the conclusion that the two men had failed
to reach the shore by swimming. They
made 4 float of the boom and gan and all
that was left of the boats gear and start
ed. The current carried them in the direc-
ton OF Napilli, and they were able to grad
ually make their way toward the shore.
When within half a mile of It they discov-
cred 10 their CONSERVATION. that the cur
rent was setting against them, and that
in spite of all their efforts they were drift
ing farther away-this time in the direction
OF Mookai. which seemed to them TO be
about ten miles distant. They therefore
made up their minds to swim toward the
shore OF that island They seemed to be
t,aI-f
set were, as near as could be judged by the
line of the breakers on the reef, four or
FIVE miles from the shore.
They had moonlight until nearly mid
night when the moon set. BY this time
Dan Pawaa was becoming exhausted and
could barely keep himself afioat. There
upon Duvauehelle gave up the float TO him
entirely, placing him on the middle of it.
buoyancy of the float When about 500
yards from the shore OF little rocky inlet
about a mile from the Molokai coast!
Pawaa was overcome with exhaustion, and,
bidding Duvauchelle good-by dropped from
the fioat. sunk and never rose. Duvauchene
succeeded about an hour later In reaching
the rock and dragging himself. wounded
and bleeding beyond reach of the waves,
where he fell asleep from exhaustion not
awakening until past noon the next day.
Then he swan TO the Molokai shore, a
mile away, and made his way home.
When he started on his swim he had
taken of his shirt, as it was a hindrance
In swimming but had kept his trousers
on so that the white skin of his legs
would not attract the sharks which infest
these waters He was terribly tormented
while in the water by small crabs which
fastened themselves TO the skin of his chest
and clawed and bit him almost to madness
He was in the water nearly seventeen hours
and swan a distance Of between twenty
five and thirty miles.
Duvauchelle is of French and Hawaiian
parentage. thirty-eight years old, tall and
powerfully built In many respects Du-
vauchelle's experience is without a parallel,
although there have been several some
what similar occurrences in these waters,
the comparatively narrow channel between
the islands of Molokai, Lanai and Maui
tempting many to cross In whaleboats and
other small craft.