The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-03-31
san FRANCIsCo. March 9th. 1866.

~ i NNN'' -'
Nix. EDITOR Having noticed in quite a number
Honolulu papers certain articles in reference to
ae trial of Capt. Tooker. of the whaling bark
Iercury. which showed It want of full knowledge
f the facts in the case. | have been constrained to
end you something on the case.
During the trial of Capt. Tooker. Mr.. Hastings.
he Attorney for the seaman John Adams, request
d of me a. a favor that | would call upon the poor
IAN. who was lying at the point of death, saying
hat he was a kanaka. and would doubtless be
realty pleased by a visit fIOm one with whom he
Guild converse.
had previously heard Mr.. Hastings relate some
f the barbarous cruelties, to which John Adams
ad been subjected while at sea. and the interest
,hicb he manifested in the case was unusual. and
,as first awakened out of sympathy for the suffer
ng. dying man.
In view of the great interest which he had taken
4 the man. and of the labOrs in his behalf, l took
ne opportunity to say to him. in the presence of
everal gentlemen, that if the man was an Hawai-
IN seaman. |. as a subject of His Majesty. and n
arm friend of the Hawaiian race, would assure
in that the Hawaiian Government would not pass
is efforts by unnOticed.
As soon as possible | called upon the man. who
.as living in a small house in the outskirts of the
ity. but who was being we'll and carefully cared
II by a friend and former %shipmate, by the name
f Thompson.
saw upon entering the room that the man was
OF an Hawaiian. and ] learned on enquiry that he
AS a native of Hope Island. an island in the Pa
ifc ocean. He was a miserable creature to look
t. and was gradually breathing away a life which
ad been crushed and ruined by the most shock
~ cruelties ever perpetrated by civilized man
pom his fellOwman. He was an ignorant degrad-
I -,,,r and Nc stood NV his lpU ppnph and
,membered that in his case was involved several
lousand dollars. twenty thousand or more, per-
APPS. if he died. and that if Justice was done, an
xample would be made of n man greatly his supe-
Tor in scale of being. l could not help thinking
nat towards every creature stamped with the I'M
ress of the Great Creator, whether that creature
e the lowest African, nOr freedman, in the State
Georgia. or the most ignorant Pacific Islander,
he equal rights of man to man must be maintained
,efore the Iaw.-human and Divine.
At the urgent request of Thompson, the friend
f John Adams. | explained to him the contents of
is will which was waiting his signature, and then
Witnessed his mark. This will left whatever was
due by the ship on the mans lay. and all damages
which might be won by the suit. after deducting
the costs, etc, to the man Thompson who had taken
the sick man from the ship TO nurse and care for.
In a few days the man died. His wages have
Decn obtained by his friend, and Capt. Tooher was
entenced to Imprisonment. but he was pardOned
mt by the President before the term expired. This
pardon. it has been said, was obtained through the
influence of Hon. D. C.. McRuer.f formerly of Nc
2uer Il Merrill. but now Representative in Con
grcss from this State.
remain. very respectfully yours.
c. K. CLARK.