The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-03-17
ANOTHER NOTABLE
ESCAPE AT SEA
JAPANnsE fSvED TWENTY. ONE
DAYS ON LONELY ROCK
OFT KoHALA.
CMall speaIal @ rhs Adver.I.sr.l

(dail Special to The Advertlser.)
HILo, March ls.-The ago Of mir
acles has not passed that is as far as
Hawaii is concerned--and tho rescue Of
Horimoto saykaichi, a japanese fisher
man, who was given up ms dead three
weeks ago, proves the fact. On Friday
last the Nipponeso was found castawhy
on lonely roclS, short distance OF
the Kohala coast.
1t will be remembered that three
weeks ago a very severe storm ragged
all over the group, and that the thun-
der and lightning was the worst for
years. Houses were stricken on Oahu
and Kauai and steamers reported all
sorts of phenomena. 1t was at that
time that the Japanese set out alone
in his small sampan to fish along the
coast. Morimoto had often sailed
away alone on such expeditions and
had previously returned safely.
Shortly after the lone fisherman
started on his fishing excursion, the big
storm broke and he was carried helpless
past LaupahOehoe, where he had tried
to run for shelter. Every minute the
waves seemed to become larger and,
before long, the old man decided that
there was nothing for it but to run
before the seas, and trust to making
some bay where he might possibly land,
The lightning played all around him
and it increased his terror till he simply
lay on the bottom of his sampan and
few along to what he thought would
be his death.
After many hours he felt the sampan
strike something, and the next second
he was struggling for his life in the
breakers. Atrer vain attempts to get
foothold on the jagged rocks, Mort
motto had just about abandoned all hope
when larger wave than usual threw
him onto ledge where he gripped a
projecting rock, and hung on for dear
life. A rev minutes later the Japanese
hauled himself up out of reach of the
angry waves, and then rolled over UNI
conscious.
According to the man IS story, it was
opAAAo AhAAAp dAbGAMAAuo ludb ne uMUht
and realized where he was. The sam
pan had disappeared and he saw that
there was no chance of his reaching the
mainland and attempting to scale the
forbidding cliffs.
Morimoto gave himself up for lost
but decided To try and live as long as
possible. The heavy rain storm had
left small pools Of water in the crevices
of the big rock, and the fear of dying
Of thirst was lessened lot. Food was
the next thing thought Of and being
SON of Nippon, the sea was brought
under tribute to keep body and soul
together. A few shelliish supplied bait
and, as he fortunately had an old fish
ing line in his pocket, Morimoto began
to see light ahead. Shelter there was
none, and the man felt the cold intense
" at times. Still he chung to life hop
ing that some passing sampan or
steamer might sight the signal that he
rugged up with part Of his clothing.
For twenty.one days Morimoto sean
ned the horizon and, although he saw
some fishing boats in the distance, they
were too far away for him to attract
their attention.
On the twenty-second day the cast
away was delighted to see a sampan
approaching the rock ON which he was
marooned. The fishermen saw the lone
figure and at once headed for the rock.
The Hilo man presented pathetic
sight and he broke down as kindly
hands caught him and took him on
board the big power sampan.
A telephone message to Hilo inform
ed Morimoto's friends that the dead
had come to life, and then there was
great rejoicing. Last week the Hilo
friends of Morimoto held funeral ser
vice for him and the affair was very
impressive. Now the Japanese colony
is awaiting the lone fisherman Is return
to Hilo when a big feast will be given.
--s-$s--