The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-15

II ~ there lives a queer old man VINO
sst has many thrilling tale to tell.
His name is Kekela, and he is over
seventy-five years Old He has many
treasure, each with a story of its
own. but most dearly priced among
them is a beautiful gold watch and
chain which the gray haired old gen.
tleman often exhibits with great pride.
1t was given him by President Lincoln
for saving an, American citizen from
being eaten by cannibals. Here is the
story: s.trsy - assf
In the little Sunday school conducted
by the father of Rev. Mr.. Parker many
years ago over. beyond the Nuuanu
pail, there was a very devout little Ha-
waiian boy. His name was James Ke-
kela, and he grew up with a great de-
sire to spread the tidings of the gospel
among the people Of his own islands
and the benighted ones further south,
thousands Of miles away. ~
He studied hard and preached among
his brothers, finally, with Reverend
tackled to his name, going out over the
sea on the hazardous task of carrying
the gospel to the canniba1 natives Of
the Marquesan group.
Attempts had repeatedly been made
by white missionaries to institute
friendly relations, but without avail,
and the task had been given UP. At
last an aged chief, drawing near to
death sent to Hawaii for some one
to come and explain the strange theory
he had heard about, and Kekeia went.
He was received with courtesy by a
few of the islanders, but there were
those who resented and were unfriend-
ly.
For years Kekela struggled to found
a little church among them, and when
he had succeeded the hostile ones threw
StnnaC thrn11ph hic urindawS nj a.
peatedly burned down his buildings.
At one time they made an attack on
his stone house, and killed nearly all
Of his little band of followers. These
Kekela learned had been tortured TO
death and their bodies cooked and eat
en- by the enemies of his church, and
the horror of it nearly drove him away
but he struggled on and finally came
to be Of some influence among them.
Those who did not believe ceased to
torment, at least, and tolerated his lit
tie church, but they were cannibals
still, and were continually warning
among themselves. Kekela and his
flock were always in danger from the
warning factions, but they remained
and labcred.
One day strange ship came to the
islands, and some of her crew landed.
From afar the natives had seen the
ship, and they waited, hidden among
the rocks and brush. The men were
caught in ambush, but they all escaped
was the American whaler Congress,
and the captive was William Whalen,
first officer. aga
The ship went out to a safe distance
and waited, for she could do nothing
more. On the beach they saw the
preparations for the horrible doom of
their comrade. All night fire was
10y nd Ny,-1
performed. The captive, bound hand
and foot, was cruelty tortured, the
savages pulling his ears and nose,
bending back his thumbs, brandishing
their knives over him, and committing
all manner of atrocities. The poor man
cried out in his agony and prayed for
death, but this was not to be until
the sun had risen. He was compelled
to see them carry the wood and pre-
pare the fire upon which his body was
to be roasted alive, and to see the
savage children dancing in glee over
the coming feast.
Just at dawn, when everything was
| ready, the missionary Kekela arrived
He had heard and had come to protest.
His pleading did no good, and he offer
ed a ransom, but the cannibals were
memorable. Kekela fastened away,
and among his flock gathered up all
the articles of value he could, among
them his own boat and all that he
possessed. With these he finally made
a bargain for the life of the American
though the chief Of the cannibal fac
ton was surly, and treachery was
| feared. Nekela borrowed a boat, and
unblnding the dazed captive took him
out to his ship. The officers begged him
TO go away with them, but to all their
invitations he shook his head, and said
MS mission was among the people OF
the islands. They had to let him re-
| turn. What he suffered in the years
that followed only Kekela knows, but
| ne stayed at MS post, and nearly a
year after he had saved the life of
the American another ship cautiously
approached the Marquesan islands