The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-01-15
What New York Paper
Says About Him,
is A LATTtRDAY HERO
Romantic Rot About HawaiI's First
and OILY Delegate to
Congress,

hlEhHllt VI SNbNul't 0mblNl1 VI Fhllli
accomplished of manner, martial In
carriage, romantic and lmpulsive OF
temperament is Robert w. Wilcox, the
native Hawaiian who has just been
elected as the first delegate to Congress
from that Territory, says the New York
World.
His titles are as numerous as the
names of Spanish baby. First 1t was
Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery of
Italy; later 1t was Sublieutenant in the
Italian navy. Further on in his career
we find him a Major in King Kala-
kaua's army, and after that monarch
was dethroned he still held his commits
sion under Queen Liliuokalani. Still
later the title of Prince Vincochi was
conferred upon him.
, When the monarchial Government
was overthrown Wilcox became the
first Governor. Each party he has fol-
lowed, or led, has seemed most propiti-
Gus. The latest honor conferred upon
him is seat in the United States Con-
gress.
1t is a significant fact that Wilcox
should be victorious in this fight when
it is well known that he had been
bitter opponent of the annexation of
Hawaii.
Wilcox was born February Is, 1855,
Maui, one of the Islands of Hawaii.
His father, William S. Wilcox, of New
port r. l., was ship carpenter His
mother was a black kanaka-a native
Hawaiian.
He attended an American missionary
school on the Island. Here he formed
an intimate friendship with James
Kaneola Booth, the illegitimate son of
King David Kalakaua The boys grew
up to early manhood together and
while treachery and intrigue We're COM
mon in the Kings court, they walked
on the sandy beach and dreamed of
future when they could lead the army
and strengthen the throne.
Then Wilccs conceived an idea. At
his suggestion Booth pleaded with his
unacknowledged father that the two
boys be sent to some European mill
tary school to prepare for great flu
ture. King Kalakaua acquiesced and
appointed his Prime Minister, Don Gaze
sar Celso Moreno, as his Ambassador
to Italy and placed the two lads un-
der his charge. In 1881 Moreno placed
them in the Royal Military Academy
at Turin. In 1882 the boys obtained adj
mission to the military college and in
1885 were graduated and received the
commission of Sublieutenants in the
navy
While serving as an Italian officer
Wilcox developed a romantic "affaire
de occur" He met and loved the beau
tiful Princess Gina Sobrero di Stiglia-
no, niece of Prince Ferdinand Marco
Colcnna di Stigliano, who is now the
son-in-law Of Mrs. ]. w. Mackay.
He knew that the Princess would
never give her hand to plebeian by
birth, If not by education and rank.
Pride was her strongest characters
tic. and to her pride he appealed.
Princess Gina had youth, beauty,
wealth. ambition and love of romance.
The daShing officer. in his strength and
youth. fulfilled her ideas of Il chevalier.
one thing was lacking, and this void
Wilcox found a means of filing.
Prince he would be! A. royal scion
from Hawaii! He was stationed at
Naples. Minister Moreno was in Tur-
in. Young Booth was on the sea. Who
was to dispute the word of the officer
he of the noble mien and prinCely ac-
complishments.
Wilcox wooed and won the royal
beauty and with pride and confidence
sailed with her for his native land.
\ bloodless revolution had taken
place in Honolulu. The missionary
party had overpowered the King and
taken charge of the administration. 1t
Was then that Wilcox was recalled.
He was the idol of his people. Those
who did not admire him feared him.
All came beneath the spell of his inhu-
ence save Gina, the fair Princess. She
dropped beneath the weight of shame
when she discovered that she had not
married Prince, but the son of a
white carpenter and black woman.
Wilcox had IA court of admirers, but
she whose love he Craved above all
steeled her heart. In 1889 Princess Gina
deserted Wilcox and came to America !
Wilcox traced his fair consort to San
Francisco. She would have nothing to
do with him. Surrounded by her SER
wants, she withdrew from the world.
She occupied apartments in the Grand
Central Hotel and rarely was her love
ly face seen by the crowds who watch
ed for n glimpse of the Princess.
There she gave birth to a daughter
the only child OF the union. For
days the mothers life was despalred
Of, When she grew stronger, at her
urgent request the baby was brought
to her The child, as often happens,
had harked back TO the type OF its
Hrandmother, Negro blood showed I'm
Enthusiastically, The Princess almost |
3 ed In delirium when she discovered |
p, She begged that the child be |
tasrn from her sight forever, Death |
clai Il the tiny biz OF humanity, and |
the uEg mother, more relieved than |
grieygl fled TO Italy.
I'm 1898 Pope Leo annullcd the mar
rlage. However, no divorce was grant
ed until last August, when the Count !
OF Turin rendered TO the Princess a le-
gal separation from Wilcox on the |
ground OF polygamy, Tor In 1896 he had |
the Princess Theresa Owana
Koahelelanl. descendant ~ the house