The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1899-10-17
DEATH OF MINISTER KING.
A Faithful Public Servant Suddenly
Summoned to Resign.

AS mentioned in yesterdays is-
sue the sad news of the death by
drowning of Captain James A.
King, Minister of Interior, reached
Honolulu yesterday afternoon.
His death appears to have been
due to an apoplectic stroke, or
failure of the heart, while bathing
near Mokapu Point with his six
year-old son.
James A. King was a man
whose sterling and manly char
acteristics had earned for him the
heartiest esteem and respect Of
the community, and of his employ
ers, throughout the progressive
stages of his honest career in
these Islands.
Captain King, as he was ever
familiarly addressed, was born in
Scotland 81 years ago last month
and was a seafaring man. His
first connection with these Is
lands began some thirty odd years
ago through schooner trading
with our northern and Oriental
neighbors. Subsequently he be-
came more closely identified with
our local shipping interests
through his command of the Kona
packet, owned by Williams & Co.
of Honolulu. In this he voyaged
to Alaska, Kamschatka and the
Japan Sea. He then took the Do
sition of first officer of the Wilder
). ). Co.'s steamer Likelike. A
notable piece of work under his
control was the experimenting of
the wrecking operations of the
bark Eskbank, which had a ma
terial effect upon the fortunes of
the Wilder family, and gave to.
their beautiful home it's name. As
captain of the steamer Kinau he
was a general favorite with all
travellers and many pleasant
and beneficial "chat" in those old
days are pleasantly remembered
by his friends. His executive abil-
tiles induced the Wilder Co. to
promote him to the superinten-
dency of their shipping with other
positions of trust and confidence.
The overthrow of the Monarchy
with the influence of the firm,
combined with implicit reliability
IN his courage and integrity,
marked him out as a fit man for
Minister of Interior under the
Provisional Government, which
dfifted into the Republic. He was
fortunate enough to retain the
services of Major j. A. Hassinger,
as chief clerk, with other expert
enced clerks. His administration
OF that high Office ana his infiu-
ence in the Cabinet at critical
times as a man of liberal yet con-
servative views has been com
mendable. 1t might have been in
less conscientious hands infinitely
much more open to criticism. 1t
being the natural and human
nature like policy of every gov
ernment to first favor its own
friends, the administration of the
Department of the Interior is not
exempt from those charges.
Captain King was a high and
nOn0red member of the, Masonic
fraternity and in the death of
King and Phillips the order has
sustained a great loss. Undoubt-
edly over-exerti0n at the funeral
on Sunday of his late Masonic
brother expedited his end. 1t is a
curious item for the superstitious
that on the Sunday afternoon,
during the funeral he remarked to
a lady friend: "Ah, three funerals
III one day; that means another
prominent death tomorrow" I'm
Willingly, perchance, he had
prophesied his own departure.
The remains of the dead Min
lister of the Interior were brought
to town yesterday afternoon by
Henry Williams, being met on the
way by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, the Attorney General,
Marshal Brown and an escort Of
police and Major Hassinger and
members of Pacific Lodge Of
Masons.
The arrangements for the fun
ILL 4 -