Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-05-10
Adventures OF a Prlnter.

Adventures of q Printer.
By the Cherokee we received letter dated at Ho-
nolulu, Sandwich Islands, Jan. l. 1850, from an old
friend and fellow printer whose adventures have been
so much out of the common order that extract a
part of his letter for the amusement of readers
The writer left New York in 1916, full private
/ in Col. Stevensons regiment. After the wars were
over. he remained in California, where he was en-
ployed by Gen. Vallejo as carpenter at the time
the gold mines were discovered He of course took
his chances at gold digging, but abandoned the
business. When we last heard from him (previous
to the letter received friday he was one of the
publishers of the Californian. He writes that he
soon abandoned this speculation. He concludes his
adventures for the present by being wrecked day
on Honolulu and marrying the daughter ofthe chief
of the village the following Sunday But let him
speak for himself: Trenton State Gazette.
g The paper slow pay in those times, so sold
out my interest and gained two thousand dol
lars which spent. Specuated little, however, and
did well-faed in some things. but made up on 9TH
| ers
On the 9th of October last, in company with 7, l
left San Francisco visit to the Beautiful Is
lands intending afterwards to sail for China, make
our way overland to Russia where have an uncle,
and thence to England, where could take passage
for home On the 28th at noon, when we were with"
in two leagues of the harbor of Honolulu it came on
to blow gale. We stood off, and succeeded in wor-
rying out the gale, but just entering the
mouth of the harbor it came to blow very hard
from the northwest and in five minutes we were
| hard and fast on the shore rushed to my chest
for my Dimes and had barely time to them
when the hull parted keeled over and filed Sc
cured spar, and chung to it and the dust, like
grin death to a deceased African After being in
the water about three quarters of hour dashed by
the surge and bruised by the SPAR gained the shore
kissed the earth where first stepped, and deter
mined never to leave it. Having Is pounds of gold
dust about my person. besides three four hundred
dollars in gold coin, was completely exhausted, and
turned in for the night for night it began to beg
der tree, where slept seundly until II OF
l o'clock when | awoke SO stiff with cold and sore
from my bruises that could scarcely move To my
great joy discovered fire about half mile to the
west 1t proved to be village of the natives (Kana
kas who, learning by signs) my misfortune stir
red up the fire, gave me some boiled pork, bread
fruit yams and variety of eating matter. After
had disposed of this turned in some mats where
slept soundly until sunrise, when arose.
| After had made my toilette was introduced tc
the chief of the village Heis of high rank and much
respected. His name is Kanni, and he is related to
the King of the Islands. He was very polite spoke
English huently: offered me house, some land, and
his daughter in marriage, if l would live with his
tribe and instruct them far as was able in the
arts of civilization thanked him for his offer and
told him that would think over the matter.
"After this interview I 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 l discovered the
sad result of the storm sat down on the beach and
wept like child had lost the only friends that
have had since left my home But tears are of NO
avail, SO [ made up my mind to bear it, and to &C
cept the offer of the chief and become his SON. &C
cordngly, on my return to the village informed the
chief that would accept his offer. He Immediately
introduced me to the FAIR ONE. Her name is NIAA-
RIA (Mary) She is of light copper color, fourteen
years DID, feet inches high, small hand and foot
black hair and eyes, and above all very aectionate.
Her dress consisted of faded blue satin skirt
ing no lower than the knee, moccasins, and leggns
and curiously wrought bead head-dress. She was
| by no means bashful, and none too modest She sat
on my knee and kissed me- and when asked her if
she would marry she said without the slight
est hesitation, and expressed wish that the ceremo-
ny should take place on the following Sunday, say
ing that missionary would be there on that day
This agreed to, when she rewarded me with kiss,
and ran off to her father.
"The following day visited the capital and pur-
chased the wedding dress for my lady and myself,
together with some presents for the tribe, and on
Sunday we twain made flesh
'On Monday my father-in-law at my request set
several at work at getting out cocoa-nut logs to
build my house, and in the of ten days very
substantial dwelling 40 feet 'front.' Is feet Deep and
of the kind in the village all the others being built
of reeds and mud. The chief is very much pleased
with it, and hope that within year the whole vii
lage will be of log houses. have offered to furnish
and all other tools, and think the natives will
build themselves better houses
/" am perfectly contented with my situation, and
think that mine is peculiarly happy lot. After SC
long struggle with the world poor as rat
sticking type for liying-to be cast ashore with
pocket full of rocks among friendly sAvAGEs in this
lovely climate.
1 81 am still good Wing, and if my second girl
turns out to be boy he shall be called Henry Clay
By the way, think of agitating the project of the
annexation of his Hawaain majesty's dominions t.
the United States"
! The THoueHTs OF SILENT MEmBER.--I never
speak, but think all the more
I often think, if Members spoke no more than
did, that business would get all the better for it