The morning call., 1894-07-29
ROUGH TRIP.
How the Late j. w. Ladd
Got Home.
CLOSE SHAVE FROM DEATH.
He Would Go in an Old Schooner
ard Suffered Untold Agon;es by
Hunger and Seasickness.

a brief item in Tuesdays issue of this
journal called attention to lawsuit Of
unusual magnitude concerning the estate
of John Wesley Ladd. He was uroni-
nent man in business circles in this ci Y as
well as Of Portland, Or, where one OF his
brothers amassed one of the largest for
tunes on record as a banker
The mention of he name Of J. w. Ladd
brought to mind a brief incident OF aaven-
turein the Hawaiian I,lands, which was
shared in by him and the writer. Early
in the year 1868 made my first visit to the
kingdom of Hawaii Nei, when three happy
months passed among the peaceable sub
Jec.S ruled by the last Of the royal family
of Kane hameha. After Il weeks delay
in Honolulu owing to a fierce storm
found one morning the schooner kGna
Packet ready 10 slip cut for point only
sixty miles from he volcano. Captain
Marchant said if | would go there he
would see that l got guide ana horse to
make the trip in one day. | took his ad-
wee, and found the route easily tTaversed,
and saved three days hard riding by the
Uld way.
When the volcano was reached | heard
for the first time that party was expected
who came from California by steamer.
they we're reported 70 ne people of large
means and sruL kauaka Innuer from
kealakekaua Bay, I2J mle-, to the volcano
wIJh request 10 be provided with accom-
mOdatiun. [ mad been three DAYS alone
when one morning, IN the midst of a fuTi-
uus raIUSIurm, a lone hOTSeman dashed
iutu The corral near the Old thatched hut
thar was used as a hotel. and moment
later be was stripped Of his clothing and
was toastng himself before the wide open
hreplare OF that cCzV retreat. lie proved
io be John Wesley Ladd. He was man
Of SrIkiug appearance ana possessed d
charming manner, so in a few moments he
explained his presence and announced
tuat he was one of The expected party.
.AithOUEh he seemed to eX ,erie Ice no seri-
Gus injury IRON MS long ride. nor from his
thorough drenchBg, 1t was evident thar
Consumption had seized him in lis
fatal grasp. Three short years from that
time were all OF Life that remained Of him.
lie had wonderful power Of nervous force
and no one IN the whole party could endure
so well the fatigue incident on the long
triDs to and from the flow of the great
crater, which at mat period was at its
height just previous TO the awful scenes
enacted during the great eruption of May,
lo0o. Only one thing seemed to be against
Ladd'S Thorough enjoyment, that was the
absence from his wife. She cOuld not
stand the severe journey, so she stayed in
Honolulu, as sne thought, for only week
or en- days separation. But when we first
met more than two weeks we're gone and
quite another long delay was to prevent
him from seeing Honolulu again.
After long rest at the volcano, Ladd
asked ME If l wOuld join him In trip
to HilO. so as to catch some schooner for a
quick run to Honolulu. The rest of the
party could come by easy stages. was
ready tor such a trip, so early the next
morning we struck the old trail and by
welcome at the hosptable mansion OF
Thomas Spencer. But here again fate