The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-26
GIBsoNs ROMANTIC CAREER.
a Life Full of Adventure, Peril and
Viciss.tude.


From the Netr Yori; Times.
With the death of Walter Murray Gibson,
in San Francisco, Saturday evening, ended
a career which rivaled in interest many of
those conceived in the fertile brains OF the
romancers His father was a merchant ard
importer at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England,
aud IN 1923, while returning with his family
from business trip to Cadiz, a son was
porn to him at sea, under the American
nag ms son was named Walter Murray
ulOson. Six years later the Gibson family
| removed TO Montreal, Can, where Dir. Glib
son engaged in business and young Walter
was placed at school in the College of 81.
Sulpice.
At the age of fourteen he turned up in
New York. Regarding this interval of
eight years nothing definite is known, but
IL was said that be had gathered enough ex-
perlence and knowledge of the world during
that period to form the basis for a respect
able dime novel. Being out of funds here
he answered the advertisement of William
Van W.yck, wealthy Southern planter on
ms wedding trip, who wanted a driver to
LtKe his coach back to Anderson county, ).
I. In the South ne became a teacher, and
there married daughter Of Jesse Lewis, a
planter. The wife died five years later
leaving three children. These were taken
70 the nome of their grandparents. Gibson.
tnen only % years old, set off
on tour with no definite purpose in
view. For short while he ran a passenger
steamer on the Savannah river: tried jour
nallsm for awhile in New York; took ad
vantage of the California fever and made a
snug fortune by specializing in cheap min
ing apparatuses. In the latter part of lS49
ne interested himself in Daniel WebsterS
idea OF centralizlng the Mexican States, and
Will ba ptt-s
YOy, DE Cramer, with that end in view
his travels there led him into regions where
Americans had never before penetrated,
and his adventures were something remark
able. Returning to New York he Joined
his fortunes with Gen. Carrera of Guate-
mala, who was endeavOring to effect a CEN
trallzation of the Central American repub-
lies. He purchased the schooner Flint, and,
although the government took away his
ornaments, he set sail for Brazil. On the
way his chief officer, Townsend plotted
with the crew to set him adrift and go on a
shaving cruise to Africa. Gibson frustrated
this attempt in time, but made an enemy of
his men, who caused his arrest in Maceo.
Brazil
The interference Of the British cruiser,
Conflict, saved him and he again put to
.ea, heading for the island of Sumatra. On
his arrival he contracted with a native
fr1nce for forty square miles inland, which
ne intended to make an American colony
The Dutch colonial authorities there became
suspicious, and he was imprisoned After
seventeen months of solitary confinement he
made his escape in manner which in itself
was romance. The natives almost w0r-
shipped him, and one of their prettiest
young women aided in his escape. This was
III 1898. Gibson returned to America, and,
after spending six months in a frutlesS at
tempt TO procure an indemnity from the
Dutch government, etook his children and
went to Salt Lake City lie remained there
until 1861 and then went to the Hawaiian
Islands as an agent of the MOrmoh church
with commission to establish colony. He
found it necessary to begin life anew in
some such way as all of his property which
was in the South, had been destroyed by
the war
He settled down in the ancient Capital
Lahalna, on the island of Maui, seventy
miles from Honolulu After a time he
abandoned the Mormon colonization
scheme, but the Mormon5 remained and
now with their converts they number nearly
1000, all told. Learning of the beauty and
fertility OF the little island of Lanai, Mr..
Gibson formed a cooperative company.
with about 100 natives, and leased a tract
OF 5000 acres on the island, for the raising
of wheat and produce. The natives worked
well for while, but finally dropped off and
LETT Mr. Gibson to himself With the profits
Of his first crop he leased other lands, and
finally had tie whole island, eighteen
miles long and ten wide, under his
control He subsequently turned his
attention to sheep raising and amassed
fortune Becoming weary of this
quiet life, he moved TO Honolulu in 1867
and took an active interest in public life
He established paper called the Hawaiian
Ac'rS, and helped to place King Lunalilo on
the throne. In 1869 he visited the United
States and assisted in negotiating the exist
ing reciprocity treaty. When Lunalilo
died, Mr. Gibson urged the claims of
kalakaua. and after the latter was elected.
he was offered place III the Cabinet. He
declined, but for many years was promi-
nent in the councils of the King, and was
referred TO by many as the power behind
the throne" In 1878 he was elected to the
Legislature, and after overthrowiug the
Ministry in 1882, he was offered the
portfolios of Premier and of Foreign Affairs
lie mace himself very popular with the
natives by his policy of Hawaii forthe
Hawaians." He wrote and spoke their
tongue with wonderful fluency and
power, and in the Legislature nodded
men 10 his will with ease He was also pro-
flcient in a dozen other languages, including
those of the Orient. Gibson remained in
almost autocratic power until the revolu-
ton of last July deposed him. The revolu-
tionists, who comprised the missionary
element, were 50 incensed against HIM that
lynch law was talked of, and a rope was
even prepared for him. Wiser councils
prevailed, however, and he was given a
civil trial. He had covered his tracks too
well to be convicted, but he gladly embraced
the opportunity to escape to San Francisco
on a sailing vessel.
He was compelled to leave his fortune
behind him, and died at last from CON
sumption, as he begun life, penniless. His
two sons are long since dead, but daughter
is married to f. II. Hayselden, who shared
his fortunes in Hawaii and is now fugitive
in San Francisco
An Opulent Bootblack.
From the Chicago Journal
As placed my boot on the box of boot