The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-05-31
SHE PROUDLY WAVES.
ruE BANNER on HAWAII - own
NECKER ISLAND.
His Address signs Of Human HRb-
itation-Curios. Etc.

itation-turios, Etc.
Thursday evening. about o'clock
the lwalani locked at the l. |. s & n
Co.'S wharf two days from Necker Isl
and. President Dole met Minister King
at the wharf and the two officials helC
a brief consultation.
Nothing of extraordinary interest
transpired during the voyage, though
the important nature of the expedition
/ the unusual circumstances necessitatinp
Immediate action at Necker Island and
the obscurity of the island and deartl1
of authentic information regarding it,
combined to make the cruise of the
| Iwalani one of more than ordinary in.
terest.
Necker Island was found to be almost
a sterile heap of volcanic rocks, nearly
300 feet high, with but few patches of
coarse grass on its surface. Upon it.
however, distinct traces of human hab-
itation were found. Broken images in
stone, sections of stone walls or monu.
ments and the fragments of six well
formed idols were discovered. The
idols were brought to Honolulu, set mp
and placed on exhibition in the win
dows of the Golden Rule Bazaar, where
they may be seen to-day. How long
these heather gods have been on Necker
Island, or how long the barren rock was
inhabited by man, are problems which
must remain unsolved. 1t would seem
plausible, however, that Necker Island
was never inhabited for any great length
of time. In its sterility but little means
of sustenance are offered even to the
Polynesian. 1t is probable some party
of natives drifted in the past to Necker
Island in open boats, taking these idols
with them.
Birds, fish and turtles were found in
abundance, and few hair seal hang
around Necker island, though these are
of little commercial value. Captain
Freeman succeeded in taking one of
these seals, large turtle and few fish.
The lwalani's log is about as follows:
Left Honolulu at 5:l0p. IN. on the 25th
OF May, bound for Necker island, lati-
tude % deg. 80 min. Is sec. north, longi-
tude l64 deg. 30 min. west. Made Kauai
at a. m, bearing west northwest. At
7 p. III. passed Bird island to the north
east, distance three miles, and hauled
ship up for Necl;er island. Sighted the
island at 9 a. m, reached it at l. a. III. -,
and dropped anchor in eighteen fathoms
OF water. Lowered boat and proceeded
to land with Minister King, Captain
Freeman, c. b. Norton (engineer), and
nine sailors, leaving vessel in charge of
second officers. After considerable dii-
iiculty landing was made. A hard
climb up a rugged cliff 260 feet high
was made, when Minister j. A. King
hoisted the Hawaiian flag, read the
proclamation and took possession of the
island in the name of the Hawaiian
Government.
The island is large lava rock and
was at one time inhabited, as there are
walls 8 feet high, 4 feet wide and 30 to
40 feet long. 1t was first thought that
some shlpwrecked crew had landed here.
But careful search revealed nothing to
verify the opinion. Captain Freeman
found several images and idols in a good
state of preservation, except for weather
marks. One great curiosity found
looked like a piece of stone, but, on
closer examination, seemed to be petri-
fled flesh. 1t was placed on stone
alter and must have been sacrificial
offering to the ancient gods Birds and
fish abounded.
Remaining nearly four hours on the
island we departed at p, m. Sunday
for home, steering f. by s., and reached
Honolulu at Tuesday evening""
The proclamation read by Minister
King was as follows:
l, James A. King, Minister of the In
terror of the Provisional Government of
the Hawaiian Islands, in pursuance of a
commission granted to me by His Excel
lency Sanford B. Dole, President of the
Provisional Government of the Hawaii
an Islands, do hereby, in the name of
the Provisional Government of the
Hawaiian Islands, take possession of this
island, known as Necker Island, as a
part of Hawaiian territory; the same
lying within the Hawaiian archipelago:
in lat 90 70, So, IS" n. and long. 1d4 , e.,
30, W., and having been claimed by the
Hawaiian Government as Hawaiian
territory since the year 1916, when an
exreditian under Capt. Patty was sent to
survey said island.
Done at Necker Island this eth day
of May, in the year of our Lord one
thousand, eight hundred and ninety
four.
j. A. KING.
Now, for the first time in history, the
Hawaiian Government is in inquest on
able possession of Necker Island, com
pleting the chain to Ocean Island, with
the possible exception of the Midway
group.
ARRESTED FOR FORGERY.