The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-02-13
sharks, which abound in these

waters.
Rabbit Island next came into
view near the shore, looking
from the ship like a long bar
rem rock. This island is his
torically interesting as being
the place where the arms were
landed in January, 1895, when
the rebels attempted to over
throw the young republic. Ko-
ko Head, an extinct volcano,
was passed and beyond Dia-
mond Head lay in plain view.
We were told that when we had
passed that we would be able
to see the bay of Honolulu.
Diamond Head is also an ex-
tinct volcano. It has a crater
or hollow basin, and projects
out to sea in a way that makes
it a valuable point to fortifiy.
Properly entrenched, Dia-
mond Head would be impreg-
nable. This mountain also has
historic interest. In January,
1895, the rebels, having been
driven from the valley below,
took a position in this strong
hold, which they held until
forced out by the soldiers OF
the republic, From there they
fled to the mountains.
At last our vessel glided
around Diamond Head, and the
Pearl of the Pacific burst on
our view,-Honolulu, the capt.
tai of the Hawaiian Islands.
What Havana is to the West
Indies and New York is to the
United States, Honolulu is to
the little republic of the Paci-
fic At last this city of which
l had read so much but had
never seen save in my dreams,
lay before me. Smuggling at
the foot of wondrously pic
turesque hills, which rise alb
ruptly into a continuous range
of dark blue background, Tapped
by the waves of a perpetual
summer sea, the city, as seen
from outside the reef, is very
beautiful IN it's setting. Dia-
mond Head or Leahi seems
like some mighty sphinx or
lion couchant, guarding in
grim silence the approach to
an earthly paradise. The
balmy air, the dark outlying
hills, the abundant vegetation,
the emerald green at the har-
Dor bar, the softness and depth
of the blue skies, and the gor-
geous sunshine bathing all the
landscape, greeted us with a
tropical welcome. Palms waved
before us, and the air was fra
grant with magnolia and ste
thanOtis.
The long, low shore, extend
ing from Diamond Head to the
city, lay on our right. Tall CO
coanuts and waving palms,
date trees and banana planta-
tons with the far receding
hills of fadeless green, formed
an enchanting scene. The pi-
lot boat, a mere speck at first
was coming toward us, and
growing larger each moment
In addition to the pilot ii
brought DR.. Wood, of the Board
of Health. Since the cholera
in September last, the Board
of Health has been more than
usually careful about incoming
ships. 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 lanc
a single passenger or any par
of her cargo.
With the pilot boat came
several gentlemen to meet thei1
wives and children on the Aus
tralia, and there were numerous
happy greetings.
"Ah, papa! There is my pa
pa" cried the voice of a happy
child on the light.
"How are you Charlie?"
"Have you all been well?"
What sort of a voyage have
you had?
"Choppy and Rough!'
A hundred like greetings
rang out over the ships side
while those who had friends
and relatives in the pilot boa
were dancing with joy. There
were others who were dissa
pointed. ALI the husbands anC
fathers could not meet thei1
wives and children, and
| heard one little cur1v-heade(