The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-02
CAPT. WHITING, U. S. A.
Who Married a ChinawOman to
Have a BrOther-in- Law.
Girl's Father Reputed to Be
Worth S4O,OOO,OOO.

San Francisco, June 2.-June IS the
date set for a most notable event in
Hawaiian society circles, nothing else
than the marriage of the lovely daugh-
ter of the famous Chinese merchant,
All FOng, once Feputed to be one of the
most wealthy, if not the very richest,
man in the island republic.
The fact that the millionaire father of
the bride is a full bloOded Monaghan,
and the grOOm-tO-be is a young man of
pure Saxon stock, particularly Wen
known in this city and vicinity, nat
urally adds interest to the announce
ment.
The further circumstance that a sis
ter of the bride is already the wife of a
distinguished officer of the United
States navy, who saw nothing in the
fact of her fathers Asiatic blood to
keep him apart from the woman he
loved, also tends to add further tinge
of romance to the union now so soon to
take place.
There are other notable circumstances
also to be mentioned in connection with
the coming event, one of especial i'm
pOrtance to those who know or are in
terested in the groom in this city being
the fact that the first steamer sailing
for San Francisco after the ceremony
viii bring the happy couple to this port
on the extended bridal tour already ar
ranged for.
The bride that is to be is Miss Helen
G. AhfOns-it is so the name is now
written in s0ciety-as already stated
daughter of All FOng, whose wealth
was once estimated at all the way from
$4,000. GOO to $4,000, 900, and whose chill
dren IN spite OF their strangely mlAeu
blood-fOr their mother was of entirely
different race from their father-haVe
always had distinct standing in Ha-
Waiian society.
Whatever doubt may have previously
existed as to the children'S rights in
bhis particular were definitely set at
rest few years since when that dis
tinguiShed officer of the American navy,
Captain Whiting, led one of the daugh-
tiers, sister of the bride now TO be, TO
the altar.
The groom is William A. HenshaH, a
young attorney, who formerly had Off
ces in the Croker building in this city,
and also at one time in the san iran
cisco Savings Union structure on Cali
fOrnia street. AT the former place he
was associated with Attorney c. L. Til
den, and on California street with
AIessrs. Miller & Sweeney.
He left the city for Honolulu a year
ago TO accept an offer made MIN by
Hon. Alfred s Hartwell, attorney gen
eral of the island republic, and now of
4he firm of ThurstOn, HartWeu & Stan
ley, probably the first among the legal
concerns of Hawaii.
Occupying such d position in a bust
ness way, and being possessed for his
own part of pleasing person and adj
dress, 1t was only natural that young
Mr.. Henshan should BE- welcomed to
the circles of Hawaiian society. His
meeting with the lovely daughters of
Ehe All Fong family follow ed, and be
tween himself and Miss IEelen speedily
sprung up that mutual sentiment Ct
which the wedding on the 4th OF this
month is to be the natural and proper
result.
Mr.. Henshan is a man of between "A
and 25 years, and his bride that is to
be is understood to have just entered
her goth summer. AS a portrait which
her proud fiance has sent to relatives in
this city makes evident, there is very
AttIe IN her phySlO&uomy 70 indicate the
presence of Chinese blood, unless it be
a certain fairness Of feature not seldom
seen,for that matter, in people of SaxUR
descent.
On her mothers side she is Of mixed
PORTUGUESE and Hawaiian blood, her
grandfather having come from Alcan-
tara, while her grandmother was a ma
1ive Of the Hawaiian Islands.
Like all her sisters, of whom there are
a round dozen or more, Miss Helen
dresses in European fashion, and her
education has been that usual to the
daughters of wealthy English or Amer
lean families. She is a musician and
TO a certain extent. Hngufst, and is
described as being in every way a
charming companion.
Young Mr.. HenshaH is the son of the
Dew. DR. HenShall. Church of England
clergyman, who resided for some time
in Los Angeles. but who three years ago
returned to the 'OId country" His
children remained here, however, and
two of his sons are now students at the
state university. Another, Herbert, is
a salesman for a local commission
house. and a married daughter also lives
here.
There have been some interesting
stories tod OF the An EOng family IN
Honolulu, particularly since the date
of the marriage of one of the daughters
TO Captain Whiting of the navy. It was
shortly after that event that the father
packed up his personal belongings, re-
allied on a large portion of his property
in Hawaii and returned to China for
good. Since that time the mother has
been the head of the family in the is
lands, her chief place of residence being
Honolulu, where she has a beautiful
and costly home, fitted and furnished
a1r,1,
fashion. half interest in a very large
plantation the island of Hawaii
formerly her husbands. is now under
stood to be her own exclusively but as
to how much or how little property she
has in addition there seems to be con-
siderable doubt.
The explanation given out by All
Fong himself of his act in returning to
China was that he had been recalled by
the emperor, but there are other state
ments made in regard to the circum-
stance.
one is that All Fong did not personal
~ gam IN happiness through the social
lift which his family received through
She marriage OF one of the daughters to
Captain Whiting. There are those who
say that thereafter some at least of his
children came to look down upon their
Chinese father and did not hesitate to
make their feelings known
Stories which are not a little pathetic
are told of guylng to which the poor
old man subjected, even at his own
table, by his cruel offspring the result
in many instances being that he was
compelled to arise and flee, even in the
presence of guests.
To her credit be it said that Miss
Helen is acquitted of having had anv
snare IN actions such as these In eve
lOvable girl.
She writes her fance in an enthusiast
tic letter ately sent to his brother Herbert
which concludes with a suggestion that
the latter come himself to HonOl1llT
since there are eleven more of the girls,