Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-11-07
REAL L|VE ANER|CANk|NG.
Frederick Banks, Is Frederick |. of
the RaratOnga.
Stole Money and Ship-Discovered
the Island, and by Introducing
Electricity Became it's King Now
He Wants White Wife.

You read in this newspaper a few
weeks ago about Maori Princess who
wanted white husband.
You shall now read of a King who
is in need of wife, and will give her
everything that Kings wife should
enjoy. This man is Fred Banks, an
American, who is a crowned King, and
reigns over the people Of Raratonga
Islands.
Fred Banks, some years ago, was con-
nected with a prominent oil company
of San Francisco. Getting into diff
culties, he resolved to quit the country
and sail to parts unknown. Unknown
they were to him in every sense of the
word; for, when he started out he had
no idea where he was going. Even his
escape was blocked, and to get away
from San Francisco he found it neces-
sary to steal a schooner. This boat he
manned with a crew of strangers,
whom he selected for their ability to
sail a ship. Aboard he got with a fine
from the Golfers of the oil company.
After several days an Island was
sighted. Here they found an inexpress-
IDLY beautiful spot. The shores were
covered with velvety grass, which ran
down to beautiful beach, and a little
further back stood beautiful palms and
fruit-bearing trees.
While they were looking around in
m 10 yNyi,,
thanks at their safe landing, = strange,
dusky Being approached and babe
them welcome with smiles and bows.
At first they were alarmed, fearing that
they had landed among cannibals, but
soon these fears were dispelled, and at
a motion from the Being they followed
him UP the grassy slope along a palm
lined road, to beautiful level stretch
in the centre of which stood a marvel
lous palace made of Oriental wood.
That this was the palace Of the King
they all understood at once, for outside
stood many sentinels, each armed with
a spear, and each guarding a separate
entrance to the grounds, but at a mo-
ton from the Being the sentine,s lower
ed their spears, and Fred Banks. with
his party, passed on and entered the
palace. Here, they found, seated upon
a big throne in the reception room,
where he had gone to receive him.
dusky monarch, who, with a bow and
a smile, bade them welcome.
They soon found that they could con
verse with him in a language half
words. half signs. The monarch, who
turned out to be King Rauma. Of The
Raratonga. knew a little English,
which he had learned from some ship
wrecked sailors a year before, and Mr..
Banks. being a clever man, soon picked
I'D few words of the new language.
A FRIENDLY KING.
Thus a means of communication was
speedily found, and before the party If
Californians had been upon the Rara-
tonga Island twenty-four hours they
we're very friendly with the monarch.
He, dear Old fellow, was one of the
most amiable of kings. Progressive,
eager to learn and full of kindness for
all human beings, he eagerly grasped
the ideas brought forward by Mr..
Banks, and within a month was putting
them in operation upon the island
He had a telephone inserted between
his audience hall and the council
chamber and he put telephones be-
tween different rooms of the palace.
This Mr. Banks managed in a crude
though effective way by means of wires
and tin cups.
The King also considered the advis-
ability Of an electric plant. as exploited
by his white guest. for telegraph, light
ing and heat, and began with the crude
materials On hand to establish one.
All these took time erd while the
work was going on he became more
firmly cebtered in friendship TO hi~
American adviser. Finally hA would
take no refusal, but that Mr.. \Banks