The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-01

of Mauna Kea comes down close to the
waters edge Through the tangled growth
of tropical verdure on the low lands the
pursuers went, finding here and there
trace of the fugitives-at one place
few shreds of cloth torn away in pushing
through the dense tropical underground;
at another a plainly marked footprint
where the ground was soft and yielding;
at another broken twigs and misplaced
stones showed where they had passed. In
a short time the posse was laborously
picking its way among the huge bouders
that centuries before had been strewn
there in the great volcanic and seismic
eruptions and commissions that had torn
and rent the mountain asunder Then UP
through a deep chasm they went where
stream was rushing, tumblng and foam
ing over the lava rocks to the sea.
mile further on the gorge apparently ter
minated against the mountain side, and
the trail led across the precipice, a long
narrow ledge that nature had heWn in the
frowning cliff. Night came on, and the
leper hunters had to bivouac half way up
the side of the mountain where an uneasy
roll in deep slumber would precipitate
them to the valley below upon the sharp
jagged rocks. The next morning early
they We're following the trail again. The
path became more difficult to follow At
times it was necessary for the pursuers to
swing from point TO point Of jutting rock,
where a misstep or a loose stone would
hurl them into eternity and into the lit
tie stream roaring on its way far below
them.
How Kipula managed to make his way
up this dangerous path with his family is
a mystery that win never be answered.
The many days spent by him in the pur-
suit of the wild goats infesting the island
doubtless stood him i'm good stead and
enabled him to safely carry at times his
family over the perilous parts of the jour
ney TO the rocky fastness Of the summit
of the cliff which he had discovered in the
hunting days of his youth.
About mile beyond the point where the
trail took a sharp turn the narrow gorge
opened out and formed a deep circular ba-
sin similar to a small crater. Around the
circular side of the chasm the path led for
three -fourths of its circumference and ter
minated in a narrow crevasse cut deep in
the side of the wall through which mar
row stream of water jetted out and tum-
bed IN thin misty spray in the shadows
of the palms far down at the bottom OF the
precipice
Here Kfpula determined to make a stand.
on a ledge of rock oVeThanging the water
fan stood Kipula, rife in hand and motion
ing his pursueTs to return. The officers
called on him to surrender and return
peaceabiy with them 10 Molokai The only
answer was a warning to return and leave
him and his family in peace or he would
fire on them. Thinking the punishment
that awaited him If he fired on the officers
of the law would deter Kipula from put
ding his threat into execution, the officers
advanced, when, crack, a thin stream Of
fire had shot forth from Kipula's leveled
rifle and the foremost officer, emitting
scream and throwing up his hands, tum-
bled headlong over the precipice and was
dashed TO fragments on the rocks below
Go back" shouted the outlaw, as he
placed another cartridge In his rifle, and
again raised the gun TO his shoulder, Go
back" Then his words assumed pleading
form. Leave me here with my babies
Here will / remain until the end and the
world will know of Kipula and his family
no more"
He had them at his mercy, and they all
knew 1t. Back over the trail they trem-
blingy went, fearful that they would be
sent over the cliff 10 join their dead com
rade. Their courage, however, returned rs
soon as they got out of range of the leper's
| rife and they decided to make another at
tempt to capture him at night after the
moon had sunk behind a spur of the noun
tain AS soon as it was completely dark
they made another attempt creeping
around the edge of the precipiee and CROP
ing forward. They had gone about half
way around the circular trail overhanging
the chasm, when one of the officers loosen
ed stone in the path, and down 1t crash
| ed in the darkness with a roar and an echo
that seemed TO the startled pursuers to
! shake the mountain side. An instant later
there was the fash and crack Of rifle
lust over the cascade and another member
| of the party fell downward to join the
comrade who had preceded him that morn
| ing. There was a hurried scramble of The
four remaining leper hunters for safety
and In the darkness one Of the remaining
members lost his footing and toppled over
the edge of the cliff. The loss Of half the
party utterly discouraged them, and the