West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-01-16


i volcano. Ii has crater or hollow
basin, aud projects out to sea in d
way that makes IL "a Valuable point
Ia iortlfy. Properly entrenched
! Diamond Head wonld be impregna-
! bile. This mountain also has his
! torlc interest. In Jsnury, 1895,
the rebels having been driven from
the valley below, took position in
tbIs stronghold, which they held
until forced out by the soldiers of
the republic. From there they fled
to the mountains.
At last our vessel gliied around
Diamond Head, aud the Pearl of
the Pacific burst on our view
Honolulu, the capital of the Ha-
waiian islands. What Havana is
TO the West Indies, aud New York
is to the United States. Honolulu
is to the little republic in the Pa
citio. AT last this city OF which
had read so much but had never
seen save in my dreams, lay before
me. Smuggling at the foot OF won.
drously picturesque hills. which rise
abruptly into n continuous range of
dark blue background, Tapped by
the waves of perpetual summer
sen. the city. as seen from outside
the reef, is very beautiful in its set
ting. Diamond Head or Leah
seems like some mighty sphinx or
lion couchaat. guarding in grim
silence the approach TO an earthly
paradise. The balmy air, the dark
outlying hills, the obundant vege-
tation. the emerald green at the
harbor bar, the softness and depth
OF the blue skies, and the gorgeous
sunshine bathing all the landscape,
greeted US with tropical welcome.
Palms waved before us, ana the air
was fragrant with magnolia aud
stephanotis.
The long, low shore, extending
from Diamond Head to tue city,
lay on our right. Tall cocoanuts
and waving palms. date trees and
banana plantations, with the far
receding hills OF fadless green, form
cd an enchanting seen. The pilot
boat, mere speck at first, was
coming toward us, and growing
larger each moment. In. addition
to the pilot, 1t brought DR.. Wood,
Of the Board of Health. Since the
cholera in September last, the board
of Health has been more than usu-
ally careful about incoming saIps.
Great caution is taken with vessels
from China and Japan especially.
One ship from Japan was detained
forty eight hours IN quarantine be
fore she was permitted to land a
single passenger or any part OF her
cargo.
With tho pilot boat came several
gentlemen to meet their wives and
children on the Australia, and there
were numerous happy greetings.
"Ah. papal There is my papaH"
cried the voice Of happy child on
the right
GLOW are you, Oharley?"
"Have you all been weIl?"
What sort of u voyage have you
had?"
'.Choppy aud roughp'
A hundred like greetings rang
out over the ships side, while those
who had friends and relatives IN the
pilot boat were dancing with Joy.
There we're others who were disap-
pointed. All the husbands and
fathers could not meet wives aud
children, and | heard one little
curly headed boy Of six who had
strained his eyes to make out n
W. beloved form remark with a
sigh
"Everybody's papa come but
mine. He don't love me.
The United States man Of war
Bennington lay in tie barbor. A.
the time the only warship 1T the
islands. There were nun Der Of
Othor vessels, however. which gave
to the city quite the appearances Of
seaport town. Native canoes were
darting all over the harbor. These
canoes are long slender boats with
a small runner like keel attached TO
! the side 10 balance them, the two
connected by strips Of wood or iron.
Many Of the natives we're amusing
themselves with toy ships, which,
with sails set, we're gliding over the
harbor. while their proud owners
watched them from their little
boats,
The Australia is an old acquain-
tance in Honolulu, AMI her advent
was greeted with glad cheers aud
shouts Of JOY. Some Of the little
boats Of the Kanaka boys ran along
side Of us, their owners giving cheer
after cheer The simple fellows
often leaped from their canoes TO
the ladder suspended over u YES
sells SIDE, and came on board.
At last we came along side the
dock, aud it seemed az If the whole
town hal turned out TO meet us.
the dock Was literally lined with
people; d sen Of faces. most Of them
Of the DARK skinned Kanska. we're
upturned towards us. Continuous
shouts and yells came from below.
and Whon fho ouno ,.I..L