Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-24
DEATH OF THE KING.
A READABLE LETTER ABOUT THE
SANDWICH ISLAND RULER.
Great Excitement when the Charleston
Arrived with His Remains-wecP-
ing ut the Palace.

A very interesting letter has been re-
ceived by Richmond gentleman from o
lady teacher IN Honolulu. the capital OF
the Sandwich Islands, dated February lst.
in which she gives q graphic description OF
the scenes when the body of the dead
King arrived from San Francisco.
II presume you read in the papers about
two weeks ago of King kalakauas death
in San Francisco commences the lazy ,
"butIt was not known here until the United
States steamer Charleston came INTO poIo
with its tiags at half-mast. All the pre-
parations were being made for grand pan
20 welcome him aud the invitations Wer0
out. IL flew like wild-fre through the
city that the King was dead. lt got into
my school-room in some mysterious man
ner and suddenly q whisper went around
1.-THE King is dead" In little While We
had the whole school in the chapel Gnu
read the account IN the San Francisco pa
pers of the death, not dwelling on the isct
that il was caused by dissipation. AS the
only large native school IN tho city we hau
to be careful, as the eyes of jealous peo-
pie are on oil institutions managed Dy
foreigners. In the afternoon we hau
short service in the chapel
THE SISTER MADE QUEEN.
MRS. Dominls, the Kings sister, had
signed the Constitution and Judge Judu
had administered the oath of Office, ana aJ
4 that afternoon she was proclaimed queen
on all the street corners by the royal
crieTs.
II did not see the procession when the
officers and marines of the Charleston ue-
livered the body Of the King at the palace
but the noxt day had enough in 1t for me-
10 81,
as 1t is 10 lie for something like three
weeks am told. At 1880 our girls. torLneu
their line of over one hundred, all IN Whlte
dresses and black sashes and with their
shining black HAIR tied with black ribbons
They wore no hats. We marched IN long
even row, two by two, without whisper
or turn TO the palace gate, where al.
Anterior met Us and escorted Us the rest
OF the way.
SCENE IN THE PALACE.
"As we entered the long, straight avenue
TO the palace with It's burning torches on
either side. the band at the left OF the
palace steps began TO play funeral march,
while the guards on the right rested on
their arms. We heard most dOleiul sounds
as we assembled the steps. The palace hall
was covered with crOuching natives wait
ing for the King. The wall Is a constant
repetition of mournful word IN single
pitched tone. They are paid for 1t put
they really do weep, too, for | saw great
tears rolling down their cheeks.
we passed into the thrOne-room, where
q curious sight met our eyes. In the centre
of the room on a raised bier covered with
black velvet, rested the coffin. Across tins
was thrown the royal mantle Of yellow;
made from feathers. The crown rested
here too. Around this the officers of the
household formed a hollow square, each
one holding a "Kaleili," a long stick
with feathers fastened half its length, a
kind of large feather-duster. These are
kept in motion all the time, up, down, TINS
way, that way. Various people were sitting
about the room, and here and there
waller would lift his or her doleful cry. AT
the head of the coffin sat the royal family,
except the Kings wife, now the Queen
Dowager, who stood leaning on the CONN
waiing.
AS we were going through an old native
woman addressed some sort of harangue to
her and she lifted her head and waved her
bandkarchiaf IN hcrW