The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-01-30
OHIO MAN CLAIMED TO HAVE
BEEN KING.
Strange Tale From Pen of a Preacher
in ColoraGo-Hero of story May Have
Been a Court Favorite.

Rev. G. NJ Rupe, pastor of the First
Baptist church of Greeley, Colorado,
has written Governor Dole, inQuiring
the history OF an Ohio boy who was
once King of Hawaii. The story is a
romantic one, but of course is not true
i'm every particular, as every king Of
Hawaii since the first Kameharneha
was full blooded Hawaiian. 1t is not
impossible that the hero of the story
was a favOrite or something of that
sort. The exploit has the flavor of
some of the experiences of Walter
Murray Gibson, but the antecedents of
that dignitary are clearly established
in South Carolina. 1t has been sug-
gcsted that the man may have been
known here as Abe Russell, or Abea-
hama, as such a haole was really a
favorite in the early days and some Of
the facts stated correspond to his his
tory. The following is the letter in full.
1t is dated, Greeley Colorado, Decen-
ber11, 1900, and is addressed to His EX-
cellency, Sanford b. Dole, Honolulu,
Hawaii
The following little narrative WILL I
hope, be of interest to you and justify
me in addressing you. If true it is an
interesting bit of Hawaiian history,
and q romantic fact in the history of
a part of Ohio in which l spent several
years. | have il from very RESPONSE
Dlt people JLltI an kAlltIltdu DON WAS
adopted into the royal family 20 or IS
years ago, and afterwards came to the
throne. A youth by the name of Ben
Badgely grew up in one of TIE neigh
borhoodS of Southwestern Ohio left
home when sixteen or seventeen years
of age went to New Orleans, shipped
on a vessel bound for the Sandwich
Islands, working his passage, and ar.
rived in Honolulu. Standing about on
the streets lonesome and curious, he
attracted the attention of an official of
the royal household because of his
striking resemblance to the kings son
who had recently died. He was sum
mOned into The royal presence, won the
favor of the king, was finally adopted
as his son, and, on the death of the
king succeed him on the throne.
When the king of the Islands visited
this country about the year 1870 Mr..
Derrick BaTkalCw, who had lived in the
neghborlood with young Badgley, but
was then resident of Iowa, went to
Chicago for the purpose of gratifying
his desire to see an actual crowned
head The king was arrested by his
cOuntenance in the crowd and sent for
him to the latter's surprise and dis
may. Mr. Barkalow, in TIE first en-
barrasment of the meeting, Ventured
the commonplace question, was your
majesty ever in this country before
His majesty replied, IF you will keep
my secret until after l have returned
to my own country | will tell you who
| am" On the promise being given he
said, Il am nobody but Ben Badely.'
Mr. Barkalow kept his promise, and
sometime after the royal visitors de
parture told the story to some of
his relatives. 1 had it from one OF
these. The Barkalows and their rela-
tiVes are strong and thrifty, but plain
families. Why Mr.. Barkalow never
gave the story wider publication do
not know
came to the knowledge of it several
years after his death, and could not
verify it from his own mouth.
1t is quite romantic and there are
improbabilties on it's face. But the
character of the parties responsible for
it leads me to believe that there is
some foundation for it in fact l have
ventured to write it to you knowing
your exceptional opportunities, by your
long residence in the islands in official
service, for knowing the history of the
royal households, and would be very
glead to know if there are any facts to
furnish a basis for the story. Is there
any evidence that an American ever
came into any such close relation with
the royal family in the Islands? Any
information you may have leisure or
inclination to give ME with regard to
the matter would be highly appreciate
ed.
Governor Dole has replied in effect
that the man described could not pos
sibly have been king of Hawaii but
that he may have been a prominent
officers of the government IN the early
days.