The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-08-31

have since been all monopolized By
steamers. and Il became necessary for
her 10 do business in other waters
She Eas noble-looking craft and
had Outsailed everything along this
coast IN her time She loaded coal at
New Castle, New South Wales. for
/ Hongkong, and sailed for that port
/ March :. 1883 Upon her arrival at
/ HOngkong she was TO have foaded gen
eraI cargo for Philadelphia or New
/ York
She never reached Hongkong. for on
1 the morning Of April 9. when in lati-
/ ture 7-5 north. longitude 1871 east.
[ gale was encountered. which drove
/ her ashore on Susanne Reef. near
I PoZeat Island. one of the Caroline
4 group. in the South Pacific. In one
OF the ships boats all hands. after
much difficulty. reached an islet to the
/ northward.
There they remained until the
storm had spent its force. and then
made for the Island OF Pozeat. which
they found upon arrival was inhabit-
ed by race OF fierce savages. As
their boat approached the Island CT
POzeat swaTms OF islanders put on in
canoes TO intercept them
There were at least 80 canoes, each
containing 10 savages and more
apiece. who were armed with knives
and spears. which they nourished ia
their excitement TO overtake the
strangers. Some Of the savages. with
knives between their teeth. jumped
overheard from their canoes and swan
for the boat containing the ship
wrecked seamen
The savages clambered in. almost
swamping the boat, and then began
to strip the shipwrecked sailors oil
their coats and outer garments By
this time all hands had reached the
shore and the unfortunate sailors were
surrounded on every side.
In the middle of the crowd of saw
ages a handsome looking man, clad
Ike the others, only in ioin cloths
approached and. pushing aside the
savages. addressed Captain Goodinl
in English To the utter astonish-
ment of the Yankee skipper, to whom
the man addressed himself. he proved
TO be Charles Irons. an Englishman
and assured the captain that he ant
his crew would suffer no narm. Late
on Captain GOoding learned the his
tory of Irons.
II appears that Irons was left a
Pozeat Island in 1856 by a tradinj
8 vessel. his business being to represen
, the traders in the cocoanut oil trade
The vessel failed to return for him
and gradually he assumed the habit
Of the natives and became so mucl
like them in appearance and name
: that he could not be distinguishes
from the people with whom he lived
, He had seven wives. and was regard
1 ed by the natives as a man of i'm
portance. second only to the chief o
the tribe.
Irons, by reason of his years OF as
Z sociation with the natives, had fol
: gotten many of the common laws G
g c.vi ization. He had forgotten not onl
I the day Of the week and month @
a The year. but also what year II was
: He interested himself in behalf OF tn
q shipw-ecked men to a degree ths
4 savd their Ives. and through his in
: strumentality a canoe was secured
I which Captain Gooding. Second Mat
h Harrison and one of the crew sale
= ten days after their arrival. leavin
. the balance of the crew at Pozeat
Captain Gooding made his way /
. the canoe. finally arriving at Rul
: where a missionary is stationed
\ There they were cared for by the mis-
n sionaries and obtained the use Of
9 beat belonging to the station.
s In the missionary boat they mad
! sail for Pozeat direct. and. taking th
other members of the crew. returne
TO the missionary island.
After residing among the mission
u aries for two months the auxiliaT
e barkentine Morning Star. owned b
:. the American Missionary Society. too
h the men on board and landed them &
r Honolulu. Through the publication {
d interviews with Captain Gooding
y was afterward learned that the rels
y tives Of Irons in England. who Ion
o since had believed him dead. learne
y Of his existence and made an attemI
s through the British government I
e rescue him from his life of exile
ie Whether they succeeded or not hs
: never been learned.-Philadel
v Press.