The sun., 1894-10-22
THE coRoNATIoN OF SMITH
The Outcome Of HIa Adventurous Cruise In
the schooner Golden Fleece.

the schooner Golden Fleece.
Prom 'hc san truncisco Chronicle.
The exploits of William Vermilyea Smith and
Dr Richard +. Duncan as traders in the South
Seas in the queer little schooner Golden Fleece
have been food for much gossip among the Sa-
moan, Caroline, and Marshall groups Of islands
In the South Pacific. The remarkable career of
these men. who for nearly twenty months were
supposed to be dead. and the voyage of the
Fleece. which was some time ago posted by ma
rine underwriters as missing. have been told by
Second Oftccr George Ewart OF the schooner
Caleb Curtis and Capt. Robert Quinton. the
quaintanccs In San Francisco.
n I,,a , ,,n ,Sunn.o,l, ,a i,h r W o,.e nd
shell bartering; recently arrived from Hong
has 20 long shrouded the voyage of the schooner,
unfolding narrative such as is not to be found
except in the pages of Robert Louis Stevenson's
The finding OF the Golden Fleece is in itself
news item of ONE importance. Columns were
devoted to / strange disappearance by publi-
cations all over the world. Fully as Interesting
Is the story Of the versatile Smith who. prior to
les. revelled in the distinction. according to his
method Of viewing life. OF being the many
mb n a"dSr aS ss TbdS bp Lay
simple savnges Of the group. and the usband OF
an island belle who has not yet breathed the
Nor must Dr. Duncan be forgotten. His home
Is or. was, in williamsport, Mass. II was there
InRt ne met SINFUL, Nno HoSStSNtu IHt uuhllleS
Of u scholar. a gentleman, and scientist OF
some pretentions. Capt Quinton. a bluff, hon
@ fsa r.s hs
for voyage To BOSTON 70 visit his relatives.
Among the retreats treat 6 Of the HUB Hui the Captain
wersed verse in S South M Sea navigation to pilot them In
reefs of that poetic section OF the universe. The
preliminaries Of the voyage of the Golden
cceded to charter a vessel for the trading voy-
nEc; finally securing the Golden Fleece from
seemed to be tho capitalist He settled all bills
and paid the charter money: Smith elected
himself nShygat9r master Gf and
Smith found time to court a pretty Oakland
posal she fitted away To Los Angeles, leaving
him to ponder over the first OF his defeats at
The Golden Fleece sailed from San Francisco
with the two queer characters on board and
went through To Samoa. She had in her cargo
the twain did not understand the art of trading.
They found more pleasure between decks daily
ing with refreshments than on shore bargaining
dream Of Incidence and enjoyment until sup
plies ran short. when voyage TO Hong Kong was
touching at the Orient he would return to the
Carolines, never to leave them again.
DIR. Duncan's coin was lavishly spent at Hong
Kong and quickly gave out, The authorities
inspected the Fleece and condemned her spars.
The result was that Duncan had to send 10 New
England for u fresh supply of money, which
the ha eipcs sG
set out with her prov headed toward the south.
Traders came and went from the south Seas;
steamers piled regularly between Samoa and
other ports, hut no tidings Of the Golden Fleece
were received, 1t was reported that she had
OWNERS OWN m but ali to ono no end, The Vessel had dropped
completely out Of existence. To all appearances.
Twenty months passed and the schooner
posted as lost. Smith and Duncan were sup
posed 10 he dead. All manner OF rumors were
as to 1e Ste 81 tee f.a STn
and the Fleece was figured by the assignees
a possible but doubtful asset.
When the Fleece left Hong Kong she did not
He had seen how matters were going. and left
Caroiincs The adventures had a scheme 10
kill fish with dynamite In the Pelew group, and
after leaving the Carolines. They voyaged
about there for while. and then suddenly took
notion to, abandon the outside world alto;
gether and live with the natives. Al an island
seldom IL ever visited by white men they an
chored their craft. and i1 short time the
frIna, clad in grass cloth and geestrinRs.
The tiolden Fleece voyaged no further than
anchor chain. She grew decrepit looking, and
seaweeds clung 10 her copper in great lunches
as as the Doctor and Smith had often wished Tor,
passei quickly. Duncan grew weary Of lotus
eainS ana one night, with two I, natives who had
canoe and put off for the next island. He turned
up in Paris n few months ago.
Smith laughed AT his companions desertiOn.
He calmly smoked his pipe with the chief OF the
island AMI assured that dignitary that he in
tended 10 stay right where he was for the rest OF
his natural life. The chief was delighted. and
decided Ia offer Smith his Youngest daughter In
marriage, which he did with due ceremony. at
the same time making the white man n big chief
with power TO rule over certain islands in the
immediate vicinity Of the one on which he
resided.
King" Smith was inaugurated one calm,
starry night before "A crowd Of natives. who had
gathered in large numbers from the neighhOr-
ing isles. The old King advanced intn an open
space, about which were grouped his naked sub
iects, leading his 0-year-Od daughter. SO the
child wife. The wedding festivities lasted until
daYbreak.
Another SIX months slipped bS Two half
breed sailors who had come from Hong Kong
with smith had remained on the island with
him, and these men he decided to send
TIVE natives as helpers, and loaded the Fleece
with "OcOanuts and what food could he spared
Imagine the surprise ~ the people OF Hong
Kong when, just before the trans Pacific steam
er Peru left port on her last trip toward san
Francisco, "A dilanidated schooner her sails torn
and ragged, her hull trailing with weeds, aud
her crew half starved dropped anchor in tho
harhoT. II was the long g-lOst Golden Fleece and
as soon as those who came with her could settle
mp their affairs they deserted leaving no one on
board the battered craft, which l. now without
any one 10 claim her,
The news nf the Fleecc's return suread ran
IDLY, and with II the story that smith is still a
king among the Pclews. satisfied tn live out his
days on a coral reef, where winter never comes
ana where nature makes II unnecessary for man
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