The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-06
LOUIS THE ADVENTURE.
He Encounters q Storm on Samea
and Loses Some Cigars.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN--Sir: BE-
| ing in terrible straits the experience Of
Mr.. Sackett reminds me OF one OF my
escapes from the jaws OF extinction,
which transpired in Samoa. At the
present moment 1 am joyful that am
still one among mortals.
The English dramatist Mr.. Fox and
| resolved to rough It by taking a native
boat with full cargo Of lumber. &C., to
visit a native village twenty lies away
along the treacherous coast rom Apia
The only other white man was trades
man. stationed at the village of our
destination. There were seven Samoans
real Shadows. who piled the oars. We
left at 6 P. NJ. a glorious sunset augur-
Ing a real pleasure trip.
or course bought 100 strong Manilas
the only brand sold there. and slowed
them away under the seat at the stern
was sure that no native could see them
At 2, it having grown dusky, the
weather changed of a sudden. and down
poured the rain, accompanied by fierce
gale. The poor oarstnen tugged away,
now and then voicing their displeasure
But the tradesman, with ten years OF
Samoan experience to his credit. urged
them on. while the ocean grew wild.
Yes The waves pushed the heavy
boat out Of its course. Smash! The
bow struck a protruding coral reef
SLOW up"' screamed the tradesman.
They did. TRY and find the channel -
Hard work In the dark. ana the driving
rain slashing our faces. Six times the
boat struck the reef. once almost break
ing the hull. Al last they found the
channel. On they rowed.
The worst stretch Is ahead OF us ; one
mile of real ocean ahead-no reef. no
shore. In this storm it is very danger
ous.- said the tradesmsn.
Mr.. Fox and I grew nervous. The
natives would not risk It. But the
tradesman stood up and threatened
them.
The ocean stretch. covered without
accident. was behind US. Now the
Samoans revolted. They would not row
any further. So they suddenly turned
for the shore. a quarter OF mile to the
right To say the truth. I was glad
drenched, uncertain of what was in store
for us in the still raging storm, and It
was 10 o'clock
In a quarter of an hour the boat was
near the beach. And here my personal
dilemma began.
The anchor was lowered Waist deep
water was ahead Of us. While my two
friends rode astride on the backs of two
natives, l bethought myself of my cigars.
Will you believe it. the paper was torn
and only half of them lay strewn pell
n,.fc 7 AZ
twenty. Then noticed that had been
left alone with only one native. He paci-
ned my excitement by inviting me on his
back. Hardly one hundred feet OF this
novel riding when he Stops and let's me
drop into the water, knee deep. And off
ne scampers at trot to sh ~.
Here / was all alo1e-darkness
around-far from shore. which / hardly
could see as 1t was raining.
When the beach was reached
stumbled. Naturally. my eyeglasses fell.
Three minutes to find them There I
stood. not knowing where my friends
were No light from fires, huts--nothing
to indicate where the village was.
All! ] hear faint voices, follow
them. At last my foot strikes terra firma.
Banana groves greet my eyes However.
under the trees it was pitch dark Four
feet ahead was all that could discern.
stand still. l shout. Succor shows it.
self in the shape OF a young Samoan.
How could your friends have left
you alone? Take my hand. will lead
you to the chiefs hut" she said in half
English.
Four minutes later I sat squatted
at the feet OF the chiefs wife, and her
little daughter brought me fai-fai to eat
and kawa to drink.
At in the morning our boat was
manned by the willy Sanoans. At noon
we reached Tafanua. There We spent
two weeks filled with adventures no fic-
ton writer could imagine.
louis NJ. EILsHEMIUs, e.
Supreme Spirit Of the Spheres
New YORK, September 5.