The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-07-04
The Shooting as Jnluit-The Facts i'm the
Case. Il

Case.
Mr.. EpIroR In the last Gazette, in an article
under the caption of "The shooting at Jaluit, q
singularly unfair account is given of the shooting of
q Mr.. Lewis by Robert Keslou, at the island of Ja-
luit.
Having heard the story Of Robert Keslou, and
knowing it to be in substance the same as given to
other parties in this city, 1 purpose giving the de-
tails publicity, in order that the public may judge for
themselves. All who have listened to the story or the
testimony will bear me out in the assertion that the
whole demeanor of the man Keslou is of a nature to
stamp his statement as truthful in every particular.
I feel some delicacy in making the statement, as Mr..
Lewis is dead ; but 1 see no reason why he should be
exalted at the expense of the living, unless it is to
screen other parties.
Mr.. Keslou says: 1 went down to Jaluit in the
.Morning Star on her cruise last year nnd was dis
charged from the brig. I found John Crowell, C. A..
Williams agent, on the island trading, and went to
work for him, making myself generally useful. Soon
after Captain Pease. in the brig Blossom, touched at
che island, and took Mr.. Crowen of, leaving Mr..
Lewis in his place. In about five weeks the Blossom
returned to take off the cocoanut oil which had been
collected. There was an oil station on the island be-
longing to another company who had a native in
charge. Captain Pease frightened the native away.
ouu u purity lduucu IOA II IA " away
the oil which had been collected. I assisted them to
roll the oil, having been sent to do it by Mr.. Lewis.
Soon after the Blossom sailed = schooner arrived with
an agent, Captain CapeIle, to tske the oil collected
by the native. Not finding the oil Captain Capelle
asked Mr.. Lewis where the oil was. Mr.. Lewis told
to ask me as I knew all about it. Captain Cap
came to me ana-I told him.that Captain Pease
had taken off the oil in the brig Blossom. Mr.. Lewis
came to me afterwards and blamed me for telling
where the oil was. and said 1 win pas you for it. I
was taken sick, was confined to my bed, and Lewis
refused me food. The natives brought me food for !
about two months. They had to bring it in the
night as Lewis threatened to hurt them if they fed
me and having heard that they were feeding and
nursing me nights. he watched for them, and for
three days and nights l had nothing but young cocoa
nuts to eat. The missionary, a native, came to see
me on Sunday and brought me food, Lewis came to
the house and drove him away.
Mr.. Lewis came to my house early in April, ON a
Sunday, and called me q wretch and said that I must
leave the house, caught hold of my feet and pulled
me off my bed on to the stone floor, and kicked me
IN the side until blood came from my mouth. 1 said
ion't abuse me, Lewis, 1 shan'tIve long. He said
you die you shan't be buried, you shall rot Cd the
ground. Housed very bad language to me, and as
ne left said, if I was in the house in the morning he
would shoot me. Next morning 1 saw him coming
,owards the house with q musket in his hands; he
anne to within six feet of the house, leveled his gun
md fired. 1 fell forward off my chest, and the shot
passed close by me. caught at my gun, and Lewis
'ame towards the door, 1 said, Lewis, what are you
soing to do? He said, kill you, you son of b.. At
his I raised my gun, he turned and ran ; I fired
md he fell forward on his face, one arm under his
'ody. I crawled out to him. he turned over, face !
lp. l wanted to get help, and take him into the
but he said, let me alone, let me lie here. 1
ook his hand in mine and said, Lewis, have you
reated me right or wrong? He answered, forget or
l could not understand which, as he spoke
cry low, and died soon after. I had him buried as
veil as 1 could, and put a cross over his grave.
A schooner came along soon after in which 4 might
left. but -rusin until some of Mr..
W. L chose to ren.-4A
,liams' agents came to take charge of the place.
npraln Briggs, IN the .hfafofo. came to the island, >
I'd made me n prisoner on board the schooner.
lch is the story of Keslou.
The treatment of Keslou by Briggs, while on board
lie .Maioio was disgraceful Keslou was chained by
e body, feet and arms, in a position which was J
ry painful. While chained, rats gnawed his toes
the quick.
That Keslou 6 p~ilfered'' or was party to a a eon-
to take the schooner, no one who has heard I
IN relate his story, believes. Other facts related
= Kesou, and which he says viii he corroborated
time, prove that the trsffic in which cocoanut oil
aders are engaged, is, to use no harsher term, highly :
sreputable.
HoSoLuLU. July ID, 1868.
T..