The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-04-06
A ROMANTIC CAREER.
History of King KaIakaua's Disposed
Prime Minister.
Tho Somadic Life of Walter VI. Gibson
His Career as Coachman and scholar In
the South.-His Travels


Tho Somadic Life of Walter VI. Gibson
His Career as Coachman and scholar In
the South.-His Travels
= An interesting sketch Of the romantic
and chcckcrcd career of Walter VI. Glib
son, King Kalakaua's deposed Prime
Minister, comes from Anderson, ;. G.,
where he spent many years OF ms early
life The facts in this story have been
gathered from several old citizens OF An
dcrsJn, who knew Gibson as boy nearly
fifty wears ago, and with whom he rovcd
the hills OF the Blue Ridge in pursuit OF
game that has long since disappeared 10
the deeper businesses Of the great mount
aims beyond.
About 1880 Mr. William Van Wyck, 4
wealthy planter Of Anders IN County, was
married to Miss Maverick, and the young
couple started to New GuTl on Il bridal
trip. In New York Mr.. Nan Nyck adver-
tiSed for driver TO take his coach back
to Sourh Carolina, and among the appi-
cants who came in answer to the adNcr-
tiscmcnt WAS young Walter NJ. Gibson,
then mere boy, but already had he gath
cred enough experience and knOwlciE.
OF the world 10 form the basis for re-
spCct1ble dime novel. OF GihsOl's life
previous 10 his time nothing definite was
known, bat il WAS said that he was OF
lDrelEl tlFl ;llll lilbl ne istA dlI'd "
been in prison in Grssc', bUt had eS-
cap-l by the AID OF the keepers daugh-
turS, aul that hc had returned to New
York. Tor lac had previously spent some
time there.
n SCHOLARLY CoACHMAH.
Gibson saw the advcrtis .ment OF Mr..
Van Wyrl, and, being our of funds, and
also to craIify his rowing. romantic spirit,
he applied and was accepted. Gibson
drove the horses from New York 10 Nor
folk, Va, where lis employer, who had
come bv n different route, joined him
with his wife, and were driven from
Norfolk TO Pendleton, ;. {. While On
the road Mr.. and Mrs. Van Wyck were
carrying on conversations in French and
German, until Gibson told them that II
they wished him not 10 understand them
they must usc some other language. Tins
led to inquiry. and Mr.. Van Wvck dis
covered that his boy coachman was
scholar, AMI, though coachman, h" Was
treated ~ one. 4 white servant WAS
something unusual in the South at that
time, and Mr.. Van Wvck's driver cX-
cited good deal of attention, especially
as he always had a book with him, and
would spend his time reading while those
he drove We're visiting That Gibson was
strongly attached 10 his employer and his
family is seen IN the reversed way he
speaks or them in a book written after
his escape from the Dutch in Sumatra.
In this book, written III the prison OF
We.terrcdcn, he makes the following re-
marks on his bovho1d in South Carolina:
The region Of country in which |
dwelt the upland border OF the State, is
4 chosen spot OF nature TO tester the
ardor OF young thoughts OF novel and
lofty enterprise. There are no groupings
of earth and woods and streams that Of
fer wilder and richer pictures than can
he seen along the WIutIngs OF the
Keowee, 50 deeply iringed with borders
of laurel and muscadinc; on the Wild
Wolf Creek, from the mighty bcetling
Crags OF table rock, in the sweet Valley OF
Jacossee, on Horseshoe Chauga, famed in
Kennedy's romance, and then beyond
Ta"aioO in the Currahee, in the rich
beauty OF the leaping liquid silver OF
Tallula and FOccOa, and this a. post OF
vii and lovely Wales and irOwuinI peaks
and shining streams, in this Switzerland
OF America, were the scenes OF my early
! dreaming.
Ills LILLE N ANDERSON COUNTY.
Gibson remained in Anderson County
| Tor about ten years, and during that time
he taught in the family OF his employer
for about three years. He aiterward
! married 8 daughter OF Mr.. Jessie Lewis,
OF the Sandy Springs neiEhborhoOd- lie
speaks very fondly of his loye for this
fair, gentle girl, whom he welded 'long
ere | was man" After his marriage he
taught school both in Anderson and
| PendletOn, but teaching was not to his
| taste. He longed for adventure, and
spent much OF his time wandering over
| hills searching Tor the silver mines oi the
Indians. lie found some silver, but not
| n great deal
After his wife died he ran boat for a
short time on the Savannah Riv"r. His
wife bore hlm te.ee children, two sons
and daughter, and died about 1873 a-1
now lies buried in the old Icwis flntijv
| pu"yln@ grCc,,iind near the old homestead,
/ Gibson always visits his wiie's grave
when he returns 10 America.
! There was some difference OF opinion
regarding the character OF the man.
though the great majority Of enc people
thought very highly Of kIn. tie lett
South Carolina iii 1850 leaving his chill,
dren here.
What he did for the next few wears is
uncertain, as he, in his books. tells one
tale, ani many others are told elsewhere.
vt all events, he followed his inc!na.
tions, and became free trader in his lit
tie vessel, which was originally intended
Tor one OF the ships in the Missionary
Centrallan navy.
- CAPTURED BT TIE DUTCH.
1t was at this time that he WAS cantur.l
by the Dutch on Sumatra and imprisoncl
! IN Wclterreicn. His escape from the
| prison was in itself 4 romance. He was
almost worShipel by the Natives. There
was woman who did a great deal to AS
sist him in his escape. The plot was laid
and vessel ready. He had been fur
nished with Il woman's dress and. shay
ing off his beard and changing his cos
tune, he managed to pass the guards and
| escape. This was in lS5B
lie returned Immediately TO Anderson
but remained only about six months
During this visit the citiz ms ri Pcndlctor
held meeting and expressed their sym.
pathy with him, and passed resolutions
asking Colonel j. J.. Orr, Just elected 10
Congress, TO take the matter in hand and
recover damages from the Dutch Tho
matter was aiterward dropped Taking
his children with him, he set out for Sail
Lake City. lie remained there several
years, and was there during the civil war
From salt Lake he went to the Sandwich
Islands, and his history from that time Is
well known to the newspaper reader.
Mr.. Gibson has been back once to hi,
Old home since he became Prime Minis
ter. That was about 1877, and he delivere,
lecture in the Masonic Hall whicl
nearly induced all the young men to 2,
out there u raise sheep, but tn, next day
he blasted his own hopes bv letting il ont
that there was leprosy there. 50 ne did
not carry off any of the boys. Mr.. Gibsor
has many warm friends and svmpathizer
in Anderson County, and he i cDnnecte,
by marriage with many OF its best pao
pie. He has a sister who is now keepin.
4 candy store on Broadway, New York
Tow TO Get Crowded House.
First actor-"I am going to have my
benefit next Saturday night"
Second actor-"Nou are >"