Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-27
THE BLIND wHISTIE Err
How He Announces the Approach of In
coming Steamers at HiIo.

In the little town of Hilo, that lies upon
the bay of that name, there lives one of the
happiest of all the Hawatiians, or Sand
witch Islanders, a blind boy, or rather man.
Everybody for miles around knows him.
and the stranger who tarries at Hilo for a
short time is soon made familiar with the
Blind Whistler, as he is called, and the
other curiosities of the place, the Blind
Whistler's pet goose and giant blind
turtle.
Hawaii being an important sugar cane
port, many steamers put in here, and their
entry into the little harbor is one of the
most important events that can happen
and the steamers whistle a welcome
sound to the inhabitants of Hilo.
One day it was discovered that the blind
boy had developed taste for music as
from his hut and the woods where he loved
to wander came strange sounds resembl-
ing those people make when learning to
play upon some new musical instrument.
For some time it was mystery what it
all meant but one day when a steamer was
expected a whistle was heard, loud and
shrill. Soon it came again, and when the
shopkeepers looked out of their doors they
saw the blind boy standing in the street,
producing from a bamboo whistle which
lie fldtl illdttb So pAdCb dil lIlitdIlOI VI lilt
whistle of the steamer looked for that
morning that people without going out,
said: There is the Hawaii coming In. ;"
The blind boy had conceived the idea that
he could thus remind the inhabitants that
the steamer was coming.
So successful was he in this first attempt
that he began to initiate other whistles
and to-day he has a whistle for every
steamer that regularly visits the port and
when she is sighted or her smoke can be
seen on the horizon, her whistle is heard
before every shop in the town and the
people know that in an hour or so the
vessel will be in.
Our Blind Whistler is tall and slender.
with jet-black hair and rich, copper-hued
| complexion He goes barefooted and In
! his open shirt he carries his half-dozen
| whistles. As he walks along the street
his sightless eyes lifted upward, behind
him. in solemn fashion, waddles along a
| big white goose familiar sight to the
people of Hilo and a curious one to for
| eigners.
The third wonder of Hilo is a large
| turtle as blind as Joe and so old that no
/ one knows how long he has lived ON the
island. though probably over 100 years
| 1t is the only turtle of the kind here and is
one of the Galapagos Island Variety
| perfect giant 1t is confined in a large
| corral and during the day crawls slowly
about. feeding upon the grass. at night,
| by some strange intuition, finding its way
| back to depression or hollow it has made
in the ground.
The old turtle is very patient and has
room for three Hilo boys upon its back,
and if the rides are not very exciting or
rapid they are not the less enjoyable
| philadelphia Times.l
Franc Rea Richardson tells this story of
| Mrs. Blaine: A stranger In Washington,
lady, happened to be stopping at the
| same hotel, but was unacquainted even by
sight, with the Secretary's wife. Intend
/ ing to go from the parlor to the dining
| room, the lady stepped inside the elevator,
saying to the boy. Down. Up and
the first lady was confronted by a second
| one who had Immediately followed her.
| The stranger flushed, but stood her ground,
| saving, rather tartly. Down." ''Upi" in
! terposed the severe-looking elderly lady,
staring blandly over the others head.
| Down. ''Upi' The bewildered eleva-
| tor boy Just here caught sight of the clerk
| and called him. What Is it - demand
/ ed that gentleman. glancIng from the pale
| face of one lady to the burning cheek of
| the other i stepped into the elevator
and ordered the boy to go down. This
woman followed and ordered him to go
| up" The clerk turned to the boy and
said. with severity: Take Mrs. Blaine
! I'D at once. and. hereafter never hesitate In
| obeyine her order" 4 very angry and
! very much ehagrined woman is said to
have made an unwilling trip TO the upper
| floor, while another coldly triumphant.
went up, as she had desired.