The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-09-18

and noble services in the rescue of the |
crews Of the boat clubs and your sub
sequent kind treatment of them. They
wish to express their best wishes by
presenting you with this token. And
with these words the spokesman hand
ed out a large pasteboard box, neatly
wrapped and labelled with the Com
modore's name. The recipient looked
flustered, and after clearing his
throat, spoke in a slow tone and with
dramatic effect to his hearers.
"You surprise me gentlemen. I hard
ly know what to say in reply said he
with his voice shaking just a little. Il
can assure you it was a great honor
to me to have the privilege of picking
up the boys. had the honor of seeing
the Healani boat swamped as we came
toward the harbor. The action to save
the boys was taken by the Superinten-
dent of the Wilder Steamship Com
pany. The vessel stopped sAt this
point the speech began to get exciting
| for the ringleaders. Il went out on
deck and called away the No. 2 boat.
My assistant, Mr.. Birmingham, came
to me and remarked a little later,
| Come out and see the boats I said,
| No, I'm busy. But at the same time
1 saw another boat swamped, and 1
ordered away boat and jumped into
it. l see it is my duty to rescue our
American boys. I thought it was my
duty, being a Hawaiian at sea for the
last forty years, and I feel proud that
1 jumped into that boat. I am a Ifa-
waiian. and a sailor. This little gift is
given to me by the boat clubs" said he
| mn prin vii of
my right side, it is great honor to
me. / can say this is a great honor
done me to-day. I hope you will be as
successful as I have been. 1 propose
for you all now to drink to this occa-
sion. 1t was a great surprise to me this
afternoon when l heard down town
that the boys intended presenting me
with a little gift. A little bird told it
to me. But this is what I always say
in my lucky protector He opened a
Hooker and drew from its depths piece
. of ava root as big as cocoanut This
aumakua (god) has carried me safely
through dangers for fifty-two years ]
always keep it on the vessel and with
me, and no danger has or can come to
ime. too have been swamped. I was
swamped once on the Like1ike, when
she was overloaded, but when she did
so, /, Beckley, was walking along her
keel. This aumakua, too, saved my life
from bullets once, and my friend
Jack" Atkinson, during the revolu-
ton, knows that I am telling the truth
for the bullet that was intended for me
did not come, and it was given me as
gift by Mr.. Atkinson and I still have il
in my possession. / now propose tha
you drink with me-drink to the little
gift"
The suspense was over. The present
alton crowd cheered for Beckley, ant
from second locker came forth a hal
dozen bots and Frank McIntyr
busted himself filling the glasses. Oh
the deck the Commodores health wa
< drunk and everybody was happy. Thel
the Commodore was prevailed upon t
open the box, and the ringleaders wen
$ down the gang-plank. He opened /
and gazed with expressions of mingle
Q pain and surprise upon its contents
The Commodores choler arose at sigh
e of the leathern gift. He protested tina
the boys had carried their joke too fan
: He had taken it SO seriously, but finall
s peace prevailed, and the Commodor
g was as clipper as the rest of the bows
G He kept the medal