The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-01-07
sMisfeAaneous.
KALAKA UA'S HISTORY as TOLD
BY HIS COUSIN.
From the Salt Lake Tribune.l

From the Salt Lake Tribune.l
In the year 1921 the whale ship lnde-
dependence, from New Bedford, Mass,
foundered in the Pacific Ocean, and all
on board pershed, with the exception OF
four sailors, who made their escape in a
boat, which after tossing many days on
the boundless deep, at last reached the
Sandwich Islands, then in a state of semi
barbarianism, that being about the time
Of the first appearance of Christian mis-
sionaries there. One of these seamen
was fne-looking, stalwart young man
from Barnstable, and, in the strange land
upon which he was cast up from the
waste of waters at once engaged in such
pursuits as a vivacious disposition and
true Yankee genius discovered, both for
employment and livelihood. He soon
succeeded, and in year or two after
making his involuntary settlement
among the Kanakas, had the exlraordln-
airy fortune of marrying the daughter and
sole princess Of the monarch then on the
throne of the islands. This royal damsel
had fallen in love with the wrecked
mariner, proposed wedlock in queenly
style, which the young New England
er accepted for the reason thatthe King
ordered him to do so, or have his head
CHOPPED off. Being son-in-law, and rec
ognized as Ma member of the dynasty
our hero adapted himself to the dignity
of prince consort, and from this remark
able union issued the present King of
the Sandwich Islands, the only surviving
son of the Massachusetts man, out OF a
large family The name Kalakaua de-
notes the origin of the sovereign, and
translated, means safe journey or God
speed" referring to the escape of his
immediate ancestor from the perils OF the
wave as related above. DEPRESSING from
the general narrative here, we will men
ton that the father Of our august visitor,
Notwithstanding his illustrious alliance,
had never forgotten his home in the dis
tant republic; but day after day and
month after month looked from the por-
tico of his palace for the friendly can
vass and flag of his native land, but five
and twenty years of weary watching were
endured before the keel Of an American
ship glided into Island harbor. When
this did take place, the Yankee prince
vearnlng for the scenes and associations
of youth, one night deserted rank, wife
and children, jumped into the sea which
a quarter of century before had cast
up naked to become the progenltor of
kindly line and sailed away for the shores
of Narragansett. After long voyage
Barnstable was again visited, but all had
changed. Leaving there in sunny youth,
the traveller now found that the few re-
naming acquaintance Of the past had
died, departed to other places, or had
grown gray and forgetful of the time
when all were boys at school together.
1t was a mistake to return; for the heart
could not give its love for the wife and
children of more than score of years in
the far-off islands of the Pacific. The
longings of the wanderer and his loneli-
ness were intolerable. He then once
more looked for the speedy bark to car
ry him back to his only home. and wait
ed three years before an opportunity
came.
In the year I847. the whaler Thomas
jefferson, from New London, Conn. was
fishing in the Pacific. Meeting school
of the leviathans, the crew prepared for
action, and among the parties sent out
from the shipto operate againstthe mon
ster of the deep the prince was one of
the first to volunteer in the hazardous
duty, AS has often hapepned, the boat
of the harpooners was demolished by a
wounded and infuriated whale, several
of the men, including the farther Of Kal-
akaua, perishlng in the disaster That
was the end of our hero's romantic
career.
The balance of this interesting story
may be stated briefly. When the New
Englander fled from the Sandwich Is
lands his spouse mourned for custo-
mary period, but grief did not cause her
to neglect the grave responsibilities Of
widowhood. She gave her children the |
best education the islands afforded, and |
David being the favorite though not the
eldest son, was sent to San Francisco to |
study politics and finances. His mother
also directed him to visit the home of his |
father and kindred but the young man,
for some reason satisfactory to himself,
did not then go to Barnstahle. He will |
do so now, however, after first conclud-
ing his official interview with the Presi.
dent ofthe United States. Thuswe have
an easy solution Of the friendship of this
monarch for our country and country
institutions.
For this interesting narrative we are
indebted to a cousin of his Majesty, re-
siding in this city, Major--, we'll
known in mining circles, who, with the
exception Of being few years older,
is said to resemble the King in aremark-
able degree. Their fathers were broth
ers, born and reared in the good old State
of Massachusetts.
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