The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-22
POET OF THE SIERRAS
CHARGED WITH LEAVING A BE-
TRAYED GIRL IN HONOLULU.
Joaquin Miller Passed Her Off as His
Child and Left Her an Outcast-
Scandal at 'sThe Heights

HONOLULU, April Is, Via San Francisco,
April 2.-When Joaquin Miller, the Poet
of the Sierras," left the islands there re-
manned behind a girl who had passed as
his daughter. That girl is about to become
a mother, and she charges the white-haired
poet with being the cause of her trouble.
Miller came here just before the last out
break and brought this girl with him. Her
home is said to be in Oakland, Cal. She
is a pretty creature and only seventeen
years old. The name she bears is Aroba
Miller Oliver.
Shortly after Miller arrived he hired
rooms in private house and occupied them
with this girl. announcing that she was
his daughter. When he left few weeks
ago those rooms were given up and quar-
ters were secured for the girl with a fam
lily on Nunam street. No explanation was
given by Joaquin why he should return to
the United States without his supposed
daughter, and the girl kept her secret until
concealment was longer possible. The
girl is simple-minded and guileless, and
with very little urging told the story of her
relations with the poet. Her confession
was put in the form of an affidavit as were
also the statements of others who had
knowledge of the circumstances. The girls
story puts Miller in a particularly bad
light He had not only wronged her, she
alleges, but made no adequate provision for
her when he left the islands Her board
was paid for a few weeks. but that was
all. The people supposed he had left money
with the girl, but. according to her state
ments she is now absolutely without
charitably inclined people.
An effort will be made to communicate
with her friends in Oakland. If any one there
will care for her money for her passage
will be raised and she will be sent back
to California. Unless help is extended it is
probable she will be added to the long list
of outcasts.
A dispatch from San Francisco saws: The
story from Honolulu does not greatly sur
prise those here who know the old poet
and his mode of life on 1.-The Heights as
The neighbors have long talked of the
doings at Miller's house 1t was openly
said that the place ought to be suppressed.
One man went so far as to say: THAT free
love community there ought to be burned
down. 1t is disgrace to the neighbor-
hood.
Miller has many female visitors at 1.-THE
Heights 1t is his habit to write in bed
every day until nearly noon. When visi-
tors come the poet opens the door in his
night robes.
The Honolulu story recalls the case of
the poets son. The boy is now in
long term for stage robbery. He was COM
mitted two years ago, and was then only
eighteen years old.
refused, from his infancy, to allow him to
attend school, had made him feel that
had finally driven him from the place for
apparently no reason except that he Ibid
not want him around
The bog worked a ranch hand for sew
eral months. but, having a delicate consti-
tuition could not stand the hard labor. He
looked for lighter work, but tramped around
ate robbed stage in Colusa county. After
his arrest friends appealed to his father
to help him. but the old poet refused any
aid whatever, and the boy was sent TO
prison.