Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-09-17

Honolulu, proclaiming on every block
"King Kan ehameha III. is dead Long
live Kamelamoha ". ~ All that after.
noon, throughout that long night, and
thence onward during every day and night,
the devoted, loving, loyal, deeply grieved,
and earne, tly mourning natives assembled
around the palace yard walls, there wall
ing and moaning wildly and terribly in
their semi-barbaran custom the older
ones knocking out their front teeth. or any
still left to them, in memorial honor TO
their late King and master. His body,
kept in state until then, was eutombed with
extraordinary pomp, and ancient custom
observed at the funeral, on Thursday, Jam
uary 4th, 1850. The next day, Friday
ill-omened in some espects--Alexander
was crowned MS King Kamehameha ",
Mt the old stone church, before an immense
assemblege, with all the foreign lega.
tons present in full force. 1t was the
grandest coronation scene ever witnessed
in the kingdom up to that time.
That Friday evening, Commissioner
Gregg had invited to grand dinner the
American naval officers in Honolulu har.
Dor, Consul Pratt, G.. w. Ryckmnn, and
the writer. Just before the cloth was
removed, there came n messenger from the
Palace, with note of official character to
Mr.. Gregg. He opened it, read it, and it
was mnnfestly dispeasing. Then he asked
the earnest attention of all present to
it's contents, as he read this substantial
portion of it
The message bore the royal signature
kamchameha ". The attendant of the
old King, who had given him that brandy
haud-bnth thatsmorning of Tuesday, De-
cember l4th 1854 had left the bowl con.
tanning the brandy-then wasted to less
than pint-upon table ut the bedside
to get fresh towel in the adjoining room.
The old King, who had been vainly COM
manding the attendant all the morning to
bring him liquor-against the express
orders of the physicians-had seized the
opportunity and the bowl of brandy, drank
1t down Mt a draught, rolled back on his
bed, choking and retching, and in few
minutes gasped his expiring breath. (l4)
With it went out also forever the project
then so nearly accomplished to bring the
Sandwich Islands under the government of
the United States. Kamehameha ". lived
and died as King. His elder brother lot
succeeded him, the last Kamehameha the
fifth of the title. Emma Rock was Queen
to each (l5) She was subsequently Pre-.
tender. Old Lot Pakeo came near being
Usurper. He Would have made great
Kirg. Drunken "Blly- Kenino" sue
ceeded Lot He reigned only brief period
Now reigns Kalnkaua. He declares no
will never sell his kingdom. 1t remains to
be seen what he will do with it.
JAMES O'MEARA. (l6)
SIR; All negotiations pending between the
government of the United States and the Hawaiian
Kingdom, i'll relation to the subject of annexation,
are hereby declared at an end"
90 This story about the Kings debauch on
champagne cocktails and the final bowl OF brandy.
Is all news to old residents of Honolulu, and WAS
probably picked up in PECK Cutrel's" siloon.
1t Is not, however, denied that intemperance WAS
the primary cause of tho Kings death.
(15) The honored Queen Dowager Emma Kale-
leonalani has remained widow since the death,
in 1864, of the lamented Kamehancha W. Per-
haps we may measure the credit TO be given other
statements in the article by this last one.
(16) In 1853, James O'Meara was Jour.
printer compoaitor, employed on the San Fran
cisco Doity Herdid,-s Democratic paper, of which
John Nueent was editor. He soon gave up type
setting altogether. and became what used to be
known in New Yorkas ward POLITICIAN at
tended all the Den}cratic primary meetings, and
see9pently heard of Jim in Oregon, as the profege
OF Ben. Hnaday, ssAho was engaged in n railroad
WAT in That State and in whose interests O'Meara
the 80, While u His AZ! s.,iss IL
wich Islands - bers,.is 10 the same cntegory of
sensational newspaper talk that has been recently
going the rounds about the Kings intention to
doubtless produced at this particular time for the
purpose of helping to keep up the sensation.