The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-12-28
BACK FROM
SOUTH SEAS
Globe Trotters Relate
Their Experiences.
QUEEN WHO ATE HUSBAND
Lord Albert Osborne and Douglass
Hall Were Here a Month
Ago.

Lord Albert Osborne and MIR. Doug
lass Hall, two Britishers who were
here a few weeks ago, have been tell
ing of the sights they saw in the South
Seas. The following is a dispatch con-
corning them from Victoria:
VICTORIA, Il. g., Dec. Among
the passengers who arrived here on
the X. NJ. S. Warrimoo this week were
Lord Robert Osborne and Mr. Douglas
Hall, two Britishers who are returning
to London from an extended tour
through the Polynesian group. They
are spending n few days in Vancouver
shooting and will then start home by
way OF New York. They came out to
San Francisco ten months ago and
sailed thence for the southern Pacific
in the barkentine Tropic Bird, which
took thirty days on the voyage to the
paradise of the Pacific.
Lord Albert Osborne and Mr.. Hall
bring back tale of a war scare from
Tahiti 1t dates back to the Fashoda
episode and the consequent murmur-
ings of war between France and Brit
ain. Great preparations were made by
the British at Esquimalt about that
time. The warskips We're hurriedly put
in shape provisioned and equipped for
a cruise somewhere and Frenchmen
Immediately suggested that 1t was to
Tahiti that the Pheasant. Leander and
Phaeton and perhaps the flagship War
spite were TO go. The news was tele-
graphed to the San Francisco papers
and to sydney in Australia, and sail
ing vessels in due course carried the
dread news of prospective invasion to
Tahiti
There was CONSERVATION on the is
land, but the "honneur de la belle
France" was not to be allowed to sur
fer. The Frenchmen there were but
two companies and the gendarmes who
Tolfce the islands of the group sharp
ened their swords and made ready for
defense "as long as life should last
they declared. They marched about
the streets crying "vive Marchand,"
and "A has rAnglais." The tri-colpr
was flung to the breeze and the band
was prepared to be martyred for
France in their defense of the South
ern Isle. fort was built in the high
est attitudes of the mountains in the
center of the island, which rises 1000
feet above the level of the sea. 1t was
a natural fort. with picturesquely
medieval appearance, with draw
bridge etc. To this all the guns that
could be obtained We're carried and
mounted, Buggies and traps CARRIED
ammunition and preparations We're
made to fight to the finish when the
warships came from Esquimalt or sgd
ney. The French transport Aube, which
was lying in the harbor, was brought
in to the wharf and the guns We're taxi
en- out Of her and carried to the fort
of the Forlorn Hope. Then prepare
tions were made to sink the Aube and
the soldery gathered in the fort.
When the first day or two of the ter
ror passed business began to he re-
sumed and the drawbridge was left
down, ready for the sons of France to
make their retreat when the warships
came. It was not until the day follow
ing the departure of the Australian
mail steamer which brought the news
of prospective fighting that the prepa-
rations were begun, in order that no
word should be carried away by the
steamer of the plans of defense. But
day after day passed and the warships
did not come. The tri-color was still
waving and things We're normal Then
came the day of the big scare. Out in
the dimness of the night the sentries
espied the coming of the warships
The enemy had come at last. 1t was
war.
out on the horizon the excited group
which surrounded the sentry saw four
twinkling lights BY the logic born of
expectation these became warships to
the feverish minds of the French and
there was a sauVe qui peut for the fort
1t was a curious picture as described
by those who saw It, Frenchmen rush
cd HAa1l oil 70 In lot Co. 4,
bundles If their belongings. Carriages
and carts carried the household goods
out of the reach of perfdlous Albion,
and when OF last the drawbridge was
crossed and breath regained they cried
"NiVe In France" and took their posts
The night dragged on and the lights
came no nearer But surely the enc
my was awaiting daylight for the land
ing Of troops To invade frances Pa
citc island. The scntrles peered out
into the night ana scarcely a soul slept.
At last morning came and with II the
supposed warships They were four ma
tive boats, eaCh holding "A native fisher
man who had been fishing by tho light
~ torch-the first scare was over
There was, however second scare
The Australian mail steamer was late
Several days passed beyond her usual
date nud sim there was no sign, New
er before had she heen lnir Surely
this means thai ut last there was war
Again French Tahiti miRrutpl with lts
wife and belongings lp The fort hul
hardly had they taken The ruyurlpsa
from their Fune ana pIalat tln 1liiNes
when in camH ihr steamer anl lhe Hn7
al spnrr was over rho martial auns NJ
France received HiYlfpH uf ulH bnrF
dawn nf their country AMI ihr da}H ~
hdh s,tg sun rimans nni Is an ub
1901 ~ interest 90 uaNpIlfu NhN hlsii
tho southern lRlanlh Il iH pallHi Va
Hhaaa PM a4d en- pans minaa hash