The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1892-11-08
GILBERI ISLANDS.
American Whalemen Hofsfed
Stars and Stripes On
Them.

No one who has a casual ac-
quaintance with VIM. C. Paddock,
OF this city, quiet, unassuming
man, would for an instant imagine
that he has been an actor in scenes
of the most stirring nature and was
an actor in a performance which
may almost be said to have inter
national significance in view of the
telegraphic announcement a few
days ago that Great Britain has
virtually established a protectorate
in the Gilbert Islands, a group
lying in the Pacific Ocean just
north Of the equator, yet such is
the fact, says the New Bedford Re-
publican Standard.
The brief story given of Mr.. Pad
dack's (or Captain Paddock, as he
is fully entitled to be called), first
voyage reads almost like a
romance.
On July 4, 1847, Capt. Paddock,
then boy of Is or Is years of age,
sailed from Nantucket harbor as
one of the crew of the bark Planter,
Capt. Isaac B. Hussey, on whal-
ing voyage of uncertain duration.
In those days the means of COM
municating with home were few,
for with the exception of Honolulu
there was no point in the Pacific
ocean where whaleships rendez-
voused, and oil was not often
shipped home, but was kept on
board until the vessel returned to
to the home port. The Planter had
a pleasant cruise, and in the late
summer of 184S was off the group
known as the Gilbert Islands. In
those days trading was carried on
to a considerable extent by whale
ships among the islands of the
Pacific ocean, and in September
Capt. Hussey and young Paddock
were landed on Morgan Island, the
northernmost one of the Gilbert
group, which lies ia latitude 3 80
north, 173 east, and remained there
three months for the purpose of
arranging with King Amannook
for the purchase of all the cocoanut
oil then on hand or which might
be manufactured for the period of
three years. This oil was a profit
able commercial article, and
found ready sale in England,
where it was largely used in the
manufacture of scented soaps and
hair-oil. The Planter, while Capt.
Hussey and young Paddock were
on shore, cruised among the islands
after whales, and landed two men
each on four other islands for the
purpose of purchasing cocoanut oil
and arranging for future supplies.
Capt. Hussey and young Pad
dack were informed by the king,
who was an old man at that time,
that they were the first white men
who ever landed on the islands.
AS may be surmised, they were
objects of great curiosity to the
islanders, who assembled from
near and far to see them. The
situation was not in all respects an
agreeable one, for the natives, like
those of many other Pacific ISL
ands, were of cannibalistic propen-
sites, and some of them looked as
if they thought white flesh would
furnish satisfactory menu. Capt.
Hussey and young Paddock, al
though under royal protection,
kept bright lookout, and muskets
were their constant companions by
day and night. 1t was while they
were on shore that occurred the
incident of hoisting the American
flag on Morgan Island. This was
not done, however, with any idea
of claiming any rights of sover-
eighty in the land or of establish
ing a protectorate, but for the pur-
pose of communicating with the
Planter, when she stood in near
enough for the signal to be seen.
When the captain and men re-
Joined the ship she put away fol
Sydney, Australia, where she was
re-coppered and fitted for trading
voyage, while the men were giver
shore liberty. The articles for trade
consisted principally of pipes anc
tobacco, and iron-hoop trinkets
saws, bits and the like. After re
naming at Sydney a month the
Planter sailed and was soon amons
various groups of islands, dividing
the time in whaling and trading
1t was on this trip that a mutinI
occurred on the vessel. Some o
the men threw overheard cask o
beef, and Capt. Hussey announced
until the party or parties who com
mitted the act were made known nj
more beef would be served. He ad
hered to his word, and the men, or
portion of them, became ugly and re
fused duty. The time when thi
occurred was a critical one, TO
there were then upwards of 80
natives on board, and no one kneN
but they would turn to and massa
ii ~