The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1850-05-23
ROMANTIC ADVENTURE OF A
SHIPW RECkED PRINTER.

: tAe California mails, We received a le
| ter dated Honolulu. Sandwich Island
Jan. ]. 1850. written by an old fricn
and fellow printer, whose adventure
, have been 50 much out of the commo
order that we extract part Of his let
ter for the amusement Of our reader.
The writer lcf, New York in 1876, q
n full private in Col. S,cvenson's reg
ment. After the wars were over. h
remained in California, where he wa
employed by Gen. Vcllejo rs a carpsn
ter at the time when the gold mine
were discovered. lie Of course tool
his chance at the gold digging. but 500,
abandoned the business. When we La
heard from him (prcvious TO the lct,c
received cn friday he was one Of tn
publishers Of tho Californian. lie write.
that he soon abandoned the speculation
lie concluded his adventures for til.
present by being wrecked one day nj
Honolulu, and marrying the daugh,c,
OF the chief Of the village on the fol
lowing Sunday But let him speak 70,
himself
"The paper was slow pay in those
times. SO ! sold out my interest and
gained only two or three thousand dol.
lars, which ! spent. Speculaicd little,
however. and did well--failed in some
things, but made up in others. On the
9th Of October last, in company with
seven. left San Francisco on a visit to
the "Bcauiiiul Islands" intending after.
wards to sail to China, make our way
overland TO Russia, where ! have an
uncle, and thence TO England, where
could take passage for home On the
2Sth at noon, when we were within two
leagues Of the harbor Of IInnoluln, il
came on to blow gale. We stood off.
and succeeded in worrying out The gale
but just as We were entering the mouth
of the harbnr il came on 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 secure
them when the hull parted, keelcd over
and filled. secured spar, and clung
to it and the dust like grim death to a
deceased African"
After bring in the water about three
quarters of an hour. lnshed by the surf
and bruised by the spar, ] gained the
shore. kissed the earth where first
stopped, and determined never to leave
it. Having sixty.fve pounds Of gold
dust about my person, besides three or
four hundred dollars in gold coin. !
was completely exhausted, and turned
in for the night (fdr night il began 10
be) under a cocoa nut tree. where /
slept soundlv till twelve or one o'clock,
when awoke so cold an! sore from my
bruises that ] could scarcely move. To
my great joy ! discovered fire about
half "A mile to the West. 1t proved
TO be a village Of the natives (kanakas,)
who, on learning, by signs, my misfor.
tune, stirred up the fire, gave me some
boiled pork, bread fruit, yams and a va
riety Of eating matter. After had
disposed Of this turned in on some
mats, where ! slept sounlly until sun
rise. when ! arose. After had made
my toilette | was introduced TO the
chief Of the village. lie is Of high
rank and much respected. His name
is Kanhi, and he i, related TO the King
Of the Islands. lie is very polite. and
speaks English fucntly, offered me
house, some land. and his daughter in
marriage, if would live with his tribe
and instruct them, rs far as | was able.
in the arts Of civilization. ] thanked
him for his offer and told him would
think over the matter.
After this interview ] went down 10
the beach, accompanied by a party Of
the natives. TO look after the wreck, but
nothing could be seen save the spar on
which came ashore. Wien l discoy-
cred the sad result Of the storm. | sat
down on the beach and wept like
child had lost the only friends ,la,
| have had since ] left my home. But
tears are Of no avail, 50 made up my
mind to bear it, and accep, the offer Of
the chief and become his son. accor-
dirgly, on my return 10 the village, in
formed the chief tha. would accept
his Offer. lie Immediately introduced
me to the Jair one. Her name is Nj
aara Mary She il Of "A light copper
color, fourteen years OIL, five feet four
inches high, small hand and foot, black
hair and eyes, and above all very atiec-
tionate. Her dress consisted Of fad !
ed blue satin skirt. coming no lower
than her knees, moccss-ins and lcggins,
and a curiouslywrougli, bead head dress.
She was by no means Lashful, and none
ton modest. She sat on my knee and
kis led me. and when ] asked her IL she
would marry me, she said ye., without
the slightest hesitation, and oppressed
with that the ceremony -hould take
place on the following Sunday, saying
that missionary would be there on that
day. This | agreed Ia, when she re-
VARIED me with kiss, and ran of to
her father.
The following day visited the capital
and purchased the wedding dr-s, for my
lady and myself, together with some
press his for The bride, and on Sunday
We twain were made one flesh