The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-01-05
A Gala Day at Kapaa, Kauai.

A few days before Christmas, Col. Spalding de-
cided to give his friends and the natives little
sport on Christmas day, gave his orders to
prepare native feast, and issued programme for
horse races, mule races, swimming races, a canoe
race, foot race, climbing the creased POLE DC
The day was fine, and the people nocked in from
all directions. The first called at II,
prize $50, won by Handlay; next purse SIS, won
by Sherman; third purse 500, won by Handlay ;
fourth a mule race for S20 and won by H. Petus
and here there was little fun Two of the fastest
mules were selected, and two good riders strided
them, they had good start but OWNS mule began
b sulk after he left the starting point, and
fell SO much behind that Gwin gave up the chase,
when Petus mule ran within hundred feet of
the home stand and then bolted and ran of in the
crowd and 1t was with great difficulty that Petus'
mule was put the track again before Gwin
could come up, if Gwin had not given up the race
so early he would have come in a winner. No
whips or spurs could be used, and Gwin made up
a roll of brown paper which he rusted over his
mules head to brighten him along, but Gwin hap
pened TO drop his paper, and then his mule
dropped the race. But the next race was fuller of
fun In more ways than one. II mule race,
and the last one in to be the winner.
Now it happened that several of the men having
charge of the different departments in Col. Spald-
1ngs two sugar mills, are from the Southern
States, andsympathized with the Democratic party
in the late election, while the Col is strong Re
publican, and the Col. selected mule from his
rancho, which he thought was the stoutest and
most stubborn of all mules, and ordered him to
be put III this race, under the name of Gen. Han
COCK.
Mr.. Sherman, one of the Coils. engineers
thought he had the meanest mule on the Island to
get along with, and he entered him in the race
under the name of Gen. Garfield. There were 9TH
III the race, but the interest centered on Han
cock and Garfield. The bell rang for the contest
ants TO come up to the judges stand for instruct
ions, when only three put in an appearance. Sher-
man was behind his house trying to get saddle
on his mule Garfield, and the cussed mule wouldn't
move when he sadded only as he was pulled
by a big rope around his neck. But the other
three were sent down TO the starting point, and
they behaved very well. At last Sherman came in
front of the judges stand, heard his Instructions
and then turned his mule in the direction of the
starting post and with the aid of several natives
and horse to pull the old fellow along he man
aged to get down to the scratch where they
to start. The Col. was down there himself, to see
that every one had a fair show and a fair start,
and now, when the riders required to change
mules, he managed TO get Mr.. Sherman on Gen.
Hancock, while the other three riders were famil-
lar with mules, and when the word Go" was
given, Garfield and the other two mules started
of at good pace for the home stretch, but Han
cock couldn't see 1t; he thought this race, like the
tariff, was a local question:" and he bolted from
the track, with Sherman on his back while several
good friends surrounded him and tried to push
him towards the home stand, and even the Col.
punched him along with the flagstaff, but it was
minutes, distance quarter of a mile.
After two swimming races, a canoe race and
foot race all hands went to the lanai for dinner.
frame structure had been erected 20 by 80 feet.
matched, and filed in with fresh cut rushes,
making it shady and cool, with six wide doors or
spaces for ventilation, and the ground inside
covered with fresh green leaves, and on these
leaves were spread along in three rows dishes of
poi, besides meats, chickens fish, potatoes, DC,
cooked under ground, in true native style. We sat
down the leaves around the dishes and began
to eat, with fingers, such we liked best and
the natives began to file in until the entire
building was filled, and as some would leave 9TH
ers would fill their places, while the South Sea
Islanders, outside the building, enjoyed their
feast in their own crude way. A long time was
spent at dinner, for there were great many to be
fed. We were told 100 gallons of poi had been
prepared and it Lid us good to see the natives,
and South Sea Islanders lick it from their fingers
as we would molasses- Ample justice was done
TO every thing intended for the outer and inner
man, and every man, woman, and child, looked
and acted as if they were having a good time. 1t
is now four O'Clock, and as the creased pole has
been wiped dry enough for native to get the 50
at the top, there is nothing left but the sweep
stakes race, and the bell rings for the horses TO
come up, which they do in gallant style, and then
the people leave for their homes with Thousand
thanks to Col. Spalding for his delightful Christ
mas entertainment. A VISITOR.