The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-05-23
From the Trenion Ga=ette.l |

STRANGE AND ROMANTIC ADyEN.
TuRES OF SHIPWRECKED PRINTER
By the steamer Cherokee, bringing the Cali
fornia mails, we received letter dated Honolulu,
Sandwich Islands, Jan. |, 1850, written by an
old friend and fellow printer, whose adventures
have been SO much ont Of The common order that
we extract part OF his letter for the amusement
Of our readers. The writer left New York in
1916, as full private in Col Stevenson's regi-
ment. After the was were over, he remained
in California, where he was employed BY Gen
Vallejo as carpenter at the time the gold mines
were discovered. He Of eourse took his chances
At gold digging, but soon abandoned the business
When We last heard from him (previous to the
letter received on Friday he was one Of the pub
fishers oith Californian. lie writes that he soon
abandoned the speculation. He concludes his
adventures for the present by being wrecked one
day on Honolulu, and marr, inc The daughter Of
the chief Of the village on the following Sunday.
Bot ie' him speak for himself.
"The paper was slow pay in those times, so
! sold out my interest and gained only two OF
three thousand dollars, which spent Specula-
ted little, however, aud did well-failed in some
things, but made up in others. On the 9th OF
October last, in company with seven, ! left S
Francisco on a visit to the Beautiful Islands
intending afterward 10 sail 10 China, make our
overland 10 Russia, where have an uncle. aid
home. On the 28th Al noon, when We were
within two leagues Of the hsrbor Of Honolulu, il
came on 10 blow gaze. We stood of, and suc-
eeeded in worrying out the gale, but jus, as we
were entering The mouth OF the harbor il came
to blow very hard from the North west, and in five
minutes we were hard and at on the shore ]
rushed 10 my chest Tor my dimes, and had barely
time TO seenre them when the hull Parted, keeled
over, and filled. secured spar and clnne 70
Il and The dust like grim death to . deceased
African
After being in the water about three quarters
OF an honr. lsshed by the surf and bruised by the
spar, ]. gained the shore. / kissed the earth
where first stopped, and determined never to
lraveit. Havii,g sixtv.five pounds Of gold dust
about my person, beside three or ionr hundred
dollars IN gold coin, Twas comnieiely exhausted
and turned IN forth night (fot night becoMe 10
be) under coeoa-nut tree, where slept sonnd.
" untii twelve or one O'Clock when awoke so
cold and sore from my br,,ise. that could scarce-
ly move. Tony great joy discovered fire abont
half a mile 10 the Wesi. Il proved 10 be vii
iage Of the native. (Kanakas). who, on learning.
By signs, my misfortune, stirred ~ the fire. gave
me some boiled pork, bread fruit, yams and q
variety OF eating matter Afer had disposed Of
this turned in on some mats, where slept sopnd.
" until sun rise, when / arose. ftsr ! had
made my toilette was introduced TO the chset OF
the village. He l. OF high rank and mnch respect
ed. Hin name is Kama. and he is related to the
King Of the Islands. He il very polite, spoke
English Auenily, offered n- house, some land,
and his daughter in marriage, II would live
with his tribe and instruct them. ~ fer as ! was
able in civilization. thanked him Tor his offer,
and told him would think over the matter.
After this interview went down TO the beach,
accompanied by party Of the natives, to look
after the wreck, but nothing could be seen save the
spar on which came ashore. When discover
ed the sad result Of The storm, sat down on the
beach and wept like . child. had los, the only
But tears are ofno avail, 50 made up nv mind to
bear II, and accept the offer Of the chief and be-
come his son. I accordingly, on my return 10
the village, informed the chief that l wonid ac-
cept his offer. He immedieiely introduced me TO
the fair one. Her name 10 Niaara Mary. She
is Of light copper color, fourteen wears old, hve
feet fonr inches high, small hand and foo', black
hair and eyes, and above all very a6ec'ionate -
Her dress consisted Of faded blue satin skirt,
coming no lower than the knee, moccasins and
|leggings, and cuTiously wrought bead head dress.
She was by no means bashful, andnone too mod.
est. She set on my knee and kissed me, and
| when asked her II she would marry me she said
yes, without the slightest hesit alton, and express.
ed a wish that the ceremony should take place on
the following Sunday, saying that a missionary y
would be there on that day. This agreed 10,
when she rewarded me with kiss, and ran off 10
her father.
The following day visited the capital snd
purchased the wedding dresses ior my lady and
myself, together with some presents Tor the bride,
and on Sunday I'VE twain were made one flesh.
On Monday my father-in.law, Ut my request
sci several men al work At getting out cocoa nut
logs 10 build my house, and in the course Of ter
days very substantial dwelling, 40 feet front, 25
feet deep, and Is feet high, was eompleted.--
This IL the only building Of the kind in the vii.