The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-09

| had at least acquired some experience. This
time success crowned my efforts
From this moment | date a comfortable
change of diet, and l may say that in the COM
pletion of this labor and contemplation Of it's
results TO me was happier-at any rate calmer
than had been since my arrival on the,
island.
My misery was soon deepened aye, made in
supportabe by the loss of my precious knife
the one invaluable treasure that yet remained
AS | was STOPPING over my turtle cage to OBJ
serve the welfare of it's occupants it slipped
from my pocket and dropped into the water
For some time had been of opinion that
the bad weather would soon have it's ending
and that probably a gale of wind would mark
it's exit. The accuracy of my calculations was
justified, for after several days of great heat
and unexampled calm, one of those sudden con
vulsions of tropic violence assailed the island
with cyclonic force. My frail hut bodily
lifted by the blast as If it were feathers
weight, and no portion of 1t or it's contents ever
met my eye again. Torrential rain in binding
sheets, almost suffocating in it's profusion, ut
terly drenched me, and the great ocean, dashed
into wild fury, seemed bent submerging
the little island as it had done on previous oc-
casions.
From the ending of this storm, my days
were spent in searching for food and praying
to the fiend and my nights we're troubled with
such realistic dreams and phantoms--if such
they were--as wholly to wreck my reason
Naked and unkempt | roamed over the lin
tied extent the land afforded; attached now to
no particular place, and needless of any at
tempts at rescue, no longer kept a lookout
Like wild man that was, cleaned such
food as the place afforded, untroubled by
qualms of any sort
One day while drowsily musing new sounds
assailed my ears-more Ineligible more har-
monious they seemed, than the others l had
been accustomed to. Though they evidently
came from behind l expected the new breed
of Intervals to deploy suddenly in 'front.' as
thehr predecessors had always DONE there
fore I did not turn until one of them laid
rough hand on me. This was a new expert
ence for till now the busy imps had under
close inspection seemed intangible
Turning to the touch, number of figures
in white garb met my astonished gaze, and
though their countenances seemed plying and
benefceDt l knew them for their decetful
worth, and cursed their uncalledfor interfer-
ence. / would have chased them from the
island Till now all COLLINS and little inqusi-
tive imps had fed before my rage, but these
newcomers closed in around me, selling my
weapon and overpovering my fercest efforts,
until / lay fast in bonds, and quite insensbe.
The end had come had been rescued by
adventurous and devoted party of Samoan
Strange to say, nearly if not all of my mes
sages had safely reached inhabited
island but unfortunately none could read and
understand the English words.
Paulo the teacher on Nanomea, sent mes
sage after message through the group and
these timely explanations came to the south
ern teachers, enlghtening them to the
real meaning of my misspelled and almost
ineligible Samoan notes which they had
been getting from time to time by bird post
a letter-delivery service which was soon
lively employed in my behalf.
AS the defective system would al
low, the teachers consulted, and one bold
spirit aged man. brave old Alamoa-jour-
neyed from Nicutao to Vaitupu, and on to
Funafuti, in open boat, to give direction
to the work of rescue
AS an example of infinite unselfishness of
noble devotion to high convictions of duty,
think that the work of my difficult rescue can
be favoraby compared with many other shin.
ing records of Christian endeavor
The original party of thirteen adventures
set out from Funafuti in ordinary open
boat, three oars on a side and using a bat
tered compass as their only guide. After a
rest of several days on Nukulailai, and with IN
creased stores of food and water, the perilous
journey to Nuulakita was successfully at
tempted.
Who with pen or type recount the rap
lures of a return such as mine turned out to
be?
By kindness and generosity, my EMPLOYERS
sought to reward the good teachers and the
workers who had saved me from living death
at the imminent risk Of their own lives. and
my good wife and children set down in feeling
terms the heavy obligations under which they
lay; but l, who more Immediately knew the
case felt that long life of thankfulness to
and respect for the good people of the Elliee
Group no more than paid my score