The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-09-16
HOW THE ADVERTISER WAS
STARTED BY HON. III. VI.
WHITNEY.
The Story OF the wanderiDgs of One
OF the Oldest Printers In
Hawaii.

Alexander Bolster was born Sep
tember 8, 1881, in county Kerry, Ire
land. His mother belonged to the
Duckett family Of Greenlane, Kerry,
and many relatives bearing that
name are at the present time in New
York, American born. His father
abraham Bolster) died here few
years ago at the age of 81; he was a
native of Mallah, near Cork, aud
many of that name are at present
living in Mailah. Came to county
Cork In 1886 with his father and
mother, together with a sister and
brother (Abe); his sister died in
Cork at the age of Z years. Re
mained in Cork for about three
years, where he went to Saint Bar
ry'z school.
During his stay IL that county
Queen Victoria gave birth to her
first child, and in honor of the occa
sion every house in the city was illu
minated. Another memorable event
occurred during his time in Cork,
was the election Of Dan. O'Connell
as representative for county Glare,
defeating Colonel Chatterton (Pro
testant) The celebrated Dan, he
til; ks, was the first Roman Catholic
elected under the Emancipation act.
After the defeat OF Colonel Chatter
ton, the victorious party got mp an
efligy of the colonel, carried IL around
the city, and in the evening made
bonfires and cast the effigies into
them.
The family left Cork for Plymouth
with the intention of going to Amer
lea, but on arrival there the ship
Royal Saxon had gone to America.
In the meantime another vessel (the
Bolivar) was on the berth for Tas
mania, Van Diemeu's Land. The
family took passage by that vessel
and arrived at Launceston In 1910. In
1916 was bound apprentice to the
printing business for five years at
the Cornwall Chronicle Office, Cap
tain W. l.. Goodwin, proprietor.
In 1S49 the news of the great
discovery of gold in California was
announced in Launceston, and every
available vessel was laid on for the
gold coast. Daring the gold fever
his father caught the infection and
took passage in the brig Swan for
California in the latter part of 40,
arriving at Honolulu the same year.
Having suffered so severely from
sea sickness as he said Gail the gold
In California would not induce him
to 60 any further than Honolulu"
where he remained until death.
Alick Bolster arrived at Honolulu
latter part of 1850, at the age of 20,
and celebrated his 2lst birthday in
this city, under the reign of Kane
hameha III the ministry being Il.
c.. Wylie, minister of foreign affairs;
DIR. Judd, finance; Keoni Ana (John
YouDg), interior; chief justice, Lee.
His first employment in Honolulu
WAS at the mission Office, then under
the management of Mr.. Rodgers
He was engaged on Micronesian
work under the supervision of Rev.
III. Bingham. During this year the
first missionary vessel Morning Star
arrived, staying some time here.
Eventually she took her departure
for Micronesia together with mission
ary families, taking with them the
printed work, in the Micronesian
dialect, such as testaments, hymn
books, primers, etc, on most OF which
Alick Bolster was engaged as the
compositor. This work being COM
pleted, his next engagement was at
the Polynesian office, under the man
agement of Mr.. H d. Whitney; h.
.. Hall. editor.
He worked In that Office for about
one year. During this year the news
of the great discovery of gold IN
Australia was announced, and many
vessels were laid on at San Francisco
for Sydney, n. S. w. Alick caught
the gold fever, and in 1851 took his
departure, with his brother Abe, for
sydney. After arriving at Sydney
he went to work at the Empire
office-a morning paper, and worked
in that office for some months; Sir
Henry Parkes, proprietor and editor:
He next fell in with company OF
miners, of which he became part
ner. and started for the Ovens dig
gipgs together with his brother Abe
Then IL years old). Some few years
since these mines gave out, and the
place is now the well known inland
city of Beechwortb, distant about 25O
TO 800 miles from Melbourne.
After working at the mines, he
returned to Sydney with about 1O9
ounces of gold (S210O. He there
met his father and mother, who came
after them to his old home in Laun-
castor, Tasmania, he came back to
SYDNEY, where he was married in
1854. His father ana mother being
anxious to return to Honolulu, Alic!1
Bolster, with his wife and one child
1Abraham), and arrived here in 1853,
his son being one year old on the