The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-09-14
SWAN THIRTY MILES,.
Remarkable Escape from Death Of

Remarkable Escape from Death Of a
Merry Hawaiian.
Honolulu Correspondence Chicago News.
Edward Duvauchelle. of Molokai, is
the hero Of a most remarkable story of
human courage II endurance, r. Of
a marvellous 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 eX-
perience.
Monday night. May 90, D%uvauchelle,
Who is ~ fisherman, living at Pukoo,
on the southern coast of Molokai, with
three native Hawaiians as companions,
left home in a w%haleboat with a load
of fish for Lahafna, about twelve miles
away. They arrived there safely, sold
their fish, and about 8 o'clock started in
a dead calm to row back. A light
breeze spranS up and they hoisted sail,
making the sheet fast. A sudden squall
capsized them before they could ease
off the sheet. The boat became water
logged and began drifting out to sea.
They were at the tire Il mile or two
from Kaanapali Landing, Maui. They
made a float With four bars and the
mast, and, With this to help them, two
of the natives. at their w request,
started to swim ashore to get help.
After awaiting their return for three
hours in vain Duvauchelle and his re-
manning companion. Dan Pawaa, came
to the conclusion that the two men had
failed to reach the shore by swimming.
They made a float of the boom and
gait and all that was left of the boats
gear, and started. The current carried
them in the direction of Napilli, and
they We're able to gradually make their
way toward the shore. When within
half a mile of it they discovered. to
their CONSERVATION. that the current
was setting against them, and that in
spite of all their efforts they were drift
ing farther away-this time in the di-
rection of Molokai, which seemed to
them to be about ten miles distant.
They therefore made up their minds
to swim tward the shore of that is!ard,
They seemed to be making considerable
Roadway, and by sunset We're, 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
midnight, when the moon set. BY this
time Dan Pawaa was becoming ex-
afloat. Thereupon Duvauchelle CAV
up the float to him entirely, placine
him OF the middle of it, and he him
self swan without the assisting buoy.
ancy of the float. When about 500
yards from the shore of a little rock
llllSly lbpoa q iiiAS tlIC- JIG
coast. Pawaa was overcome with ex.
haustion, and, bidding Duvauchellt
goodby. dropped from the Aoat, SUM
and never rose. Duvauchelle succeeded
about an hour later in reaching thu
rock and dragging himself, woundef
and bleeding, beyond reach of Thu
waves, Where he fell asleep from ex.
haustion, not awakening until pas
noon the mex day. Then he swan t,
the Molokai shore, a mile away, ant
made his way home.
When he started on his swim he hat
taken off his shirt, as it was a hin
drance in swimming, but lad kept hi
trousers on, SO that the white skin o
his legs would not attract the shark
which infest these waters. He wa
terribly tormented while in the waite
by small crabs which fastened them
selves to the skin of his chest an,
clawed and bit him almost to mad
ness. He was in the water nearly sew
enteen hours and van a distance O
between twenty-five and thirty miles
Duvauchelle is of French and Ha
waiian %parentage, IS years old, tall an,
powerfully built In many respect
Duvauchelle's experience is without
parallel, although there have been sew
eral somewhat similar occurrences il
these waters, the comparatively marrow
channel between the islands of Molokaj
Lanai and Maui tempting many t,
cross in whaleboats and other SINAI
craft.