The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-08-22

to take command of the expedition
sent out to observe the transit of
Venus. His vessel, the Endeavor,
was a small craft, too small, it was
thought, for so long voyage, but
the young captain sailed away with
high hopes.
The voyage proved the first of
three which were to immortalize
his name in the annals of discover:
les. In the little Endeavor he Wis
tied the islands of the South Seas,
among them Otaheite, where he
took full observations of the transit
and gave report which stands to-
day among the most complete of
the kind in existence.
Captain Cook was charmed by
the scenery of that part of the
world. 1t was a vast paradise,
where everything was beautiful.
He was the first white man to set
foot on the shores of New Zealand,
and he proceeded to take posses
sion of it in the name of King
George III, our old enemy during
the war for independence.
The hand and brain of Cook
were always busy. He neglected
nothing that would increase his
knowledge of navigation and of the
sea. He drew maps of the chan
nels in unknown parts of the
world, and brought home with him
a fund Of information which aston
ished the whole world. The York
shire boy was beginning to make
himself felt, and little Marion, ly-
ing sleepily in the sun near the
banks of the Tees, suddenly dis
covered that one of her boys had
become famous.
Cooks first voyage, so fruitful in
results, brought him his command
er's commission. The King order
ed him out on a second expedition,
which still further extended his
fame and placed him at the head
of the navigators of his days. On
his voyage Captain Cook sailed
over $4,000 leagues of the ocean,
and the results of the cruise added
greatly to the treasury of science
and navigation.
He came back, intending to rest
awhile, to make the most of the
scientific discoveries, and to fur
ther this work he was advanced to
the rank Of Post Captain and made
one of the Captains of Greenwich
Hospital. This would give him
just the opportunities he sought,
but he was not to enjoy them long.
A third expedition was determined
on and Captain Cook was asked to
command it. He obeyed it, and in
1776 sailed on his last and fatal
The daring discoverer steered his
course in honor of the Earl of |
Sandwich. He cruised around |
making a map Of its coves |
and coasts, and on several occa-
sions had intercourse with the ma
lives.
During one of these interviews a
arose between Captain
Cook and the Chief of the island, |
and the brave navigator lost his
life at the hands of the savages. 1t
vas a most unfortunate affair for
for when Cook fell the
whole world was called to mourn
he loss Of one of its greatest cap
aims and discoveries.
The Yorkshire boy had covered
himself with fame. The fishermen
along the banks of the Tees re-
,alled with pride and wonder the
ad who used to come to their boats
md drink in their stories of the
,cean and its wonders. Little did
hey dream in those times that his
anne should become worldwide,
nd that 100 years after his death
monument should be unveiled to
i'm in the beautiful park which
verlooks the magnificent harbor of
ydney, Captain Cooks vessels
'ere the first to anchor in that
arbor, and over the waters beyond
he was the first sailor to float the
anners of his native land.-T. C.
Iarbaugh, in Cleveland Herald.