The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-07-10
TIE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser,
URSDA JULY 10A/

FoRTY-Two years ago, ON the Fourth of July 1914,
there were moored in the quiet and newly discovered
harbor of Honolulu, three American merchant ships,
engaged in the northwest trade, the Isabella, COM
manded by Capt. Davis, the 0. Kane commanded by
Capt. iona. Winship, and the Albatross, commanded
by Capt. Nathan Winship, with which latter vessel
onr venerable friend. Capt. Adams, of Kalihi, was
At that time the only pilot to the new
harbor was the King, Kamehameha /, who, III his
royah double canoes, each seventy-five feet IN length,
manned by two hundred brawny arms always first
boarded each vessel, and taking command, brought
her within the harbor. Those were fabulous days
when the royal pilot stood up, and with his sword In
han0, waved the motion of q hundred paddles.
The brothers Winship were as true patriots as ever
sailed under the American flag, and with the consent
of that noble King Kamehameha [, they determined
to celebrate their nations birthday. Each vessel fired
a national salute-one in the morning, another at
meridian, and the third at sunset. An accident on
that day is still remembered that the hand of one of
the seamen was blown off in the discharge of a can
non Oh ship board, and similar accidents required
on each. of the four succeeding celebrations of the 18th,
in Honolulu, and one of the natives then injured is
still living on the island.
In the afternoon, q royal banquet was prepared,
such as the days of Kamehameha I. only witnessed,
and mats and tables spread on the open rlain, just in
rear of the Catholic Church lot or near the residence
of Louis Antilon, Esq. II should boctetod that from
where Nuuanu street now is, towards the Palace, was
then an open plain without a dwelling, the only houses
were along the beach and up the valleys. The Kings
residence was in an enclosure where the fort now
stands and which included the land now occupied by
the Hudson Bay Co. His house stood just where the
store of the Co. is located. A grove ofcocoanut trees,
1oD. cino "a o,t down stood on tho clio IF tlo H1pt opd
Robinson s. Co.'s ship yard.
His Majesty, the warm friend of the foreigner, had
ordered his servants to prepare literally for the feast,
and the tables and mats were loaded with all that
royal benefcence could provide. 1t was a ggand
day. All the foreigners, including those connected
with the vessels in port, sat down. There too, was
the noble Kamehameha the first, and his chiefs, and
his priests. There was Mr.. Marin Cor Manini as now
called) and John Young, Governor of Hawaii-na1nes
venerated in Hawaiian History. There, too, was the
young Prince Liholiho, then about nineteen years of
age, from whom, at the earnest entreaty of foreign
ea, Se King had removed the sacred ta6u so that he
might JScnt IN the f~csttyfties of the day. Ten thousand
native crowded around, 10 witness the feast. Such
was the frsf 18th of July eyer celebrated In the
Hawaiian Kingdom. And the onlg reilo Of that an.
cieiit time, the only link that bnnds the days Of
KauehamehaI I. to those Of Kamella'aeha N is nov
quietly passing tie autumn of his checkared Life
among the groves of Kalihi. May many years of
health and happiness still be allotted to the worthy
old man.. Let us turn now to the
Fourth of July, 1855.
Friday of last week was the anniversary of the
independence of the United States of America, and
it was celebrated in a manner which every American
in Honolulu must acknowledge, was appropriate to
the event. Young America with its usual go-ahead-
atiyeness commenced the festivities ON the first open
ing ofthe day, stwhen half the world lies buried in
oblivion Obeying the words of the Revolutionary
matron to a reluctant son, they ssbegged, borrowed,