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Photographer: Barry Swackhamer
Taken: September 6, 2017
Caption: For Friends, Only One Survivor: The Marsue McGinnis Story
Additional Description: "Miss Kingseed, Miss Kingseed, do you want to see a tidal wave? Come, come quick!" These words awakened four young teachers, Helen Kingseed, Marsue McGinnis, Dorothy Drake, and Fay Johnson, who shared a seaside cottage at Laupahoehoe School. While still in their pajamas, they hurried outside and watched in amazement as the sea withdrew, leaving the ocean floor exposed. They observed children trying to catch the fish that had been washed up on the school grounds; everyone was excited. No one even considered that the danger was advancing.
A huge wall of water began to form off the peninsula, and as it sped towards shore, fear spread through the women. Marsue and Fay ran back into their cottage. As all four teachers tried to make an escape, the cottage was torn apart by the turbulence of the water. Helen was ripped from Marsue's grasp. Marsue, Fay, and Dorothy clung to the roof for safety, but one by one, all four were lost to the sea.
Marsue surrendered to the tremendous force of the water and felt her body being dragged and thrashed like a lifeless doll. What seemed like an eternity, she finally surfaced and could see piles of debris floating in the swirling water. Mars was cold, sick, and in pain from the cuts and bruisesFinding several boards of debris, she laid across them. She was being swiftly carried down the coast away from Laupahoehoe.
After long hours floating at sea, night began to fall, and Marsue heard the sound of an engine. Looking up she saw a tiny boat heading directly toward her. Standing at the bow was a man she had made a date with for later that evening, Dr. Leabert Fernandez. When he rescued Marsue he said, "Say you'll marry me of I will throw you back in." Her life was changed forever. -- (Exhibit at the Tsunami Museum at Hilo, Hawaii)
Submitted: December 2, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
Database Locator Identification Number: p406549
File Size: 3.377 Megabytes

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