The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-04-01
A TALE OF SOUTH SEAS.
Pretty Romance From Island of Sa-
1noe.
News and Courier.

News and Courier.
Strange as it may seen? ;hcrc was in
this city recently prince o: the is
land OF Samoa. and while here he re-
ceived a photograph OF princess Of
that island. and the announcement
that the royal beauty had married the
man OF her choice some months ago.
and the prince. who at one time was
considering a proposal from the same
princess. was by no means cast down
when he received the picture and the
announcement OF his former sweet
hearts break from the path OF single
blessednesS, but seemed 10 be delight
ed that his old-tiIne girl had forgot
ten the love OF the past and had choS-
en- one OF her own station 70 share
with her the Joys and sorrows OF lie
on their little island il, these summer
seas
The prince in point was Mr.. B. ".
Cole. hospital steward. United States
navy. who was here with the navy re-
cruiting party. No. !. and who has
Row gone t. Hartford. Conn.,. where
he will continue 10 aid his Uncle Sam
rel in getting recruits :or service on
the big battleSiips and cruisers that
are necessary in his business. When
called on by representative OF this
paper. who was il? search OF = big
black man with turbar. and asked
to be shown the chest in which this
curiosity was kept. for. although the
reporter had been told many times
during the week that ne ought TO see
this scion OF a noble race. he had not
been able to scare him up. MIR. Cole
reached over to his desk and produced
a picture which has been told Of
above. When asked for the story he
did not hesitate to give il as repro
duced below.
Ii was in the summer OF 1899 that
the United States gu:1boat :Aberanda
was sent TO the little island OF Samoa
which lies asleep IN its beauty in the
Jar south seas. for the purpose OF es-
tablishing Uncle Sans government
on the island and for the further pur-
pose OF assisting Gov. B. F. Tilly in
scuring to the government at Wash
ington the allegiance OF the brown
skinned people who inhabir these en-
chanted regions The ship steamed
into the harbor OF Tut,,ila. one OF the
finest in the world. and the officers
and men landed in the city of Pago-
Pago. The news OF the fighters arriv-
al had become known and even before
the men had landed. great numbers OF
the natives had gathered along the
shores to give them welcome, Tor they
are proud to believe that they were
about to become a part q! that great
country across the water. whose big
ship then lay at anchor in their
splendid harbor.
There was no difficulty in regard to
the. official part OF the visit, and as
:hc months slipped away the ;oa'ives
and the men Of the .Abe7anda became
more and more friendly. Steward Cole
being especially popular and in much
demand On this beautiful island.
whose tropic breezeS, laden with per-
furne, blew across the sea Of gorgeous
blossoms, radiant in their blushing
beauty, all thoughts OF strenuous life
in the past were forgotten, and the
erstwhile stern men OF war gave
themselves up to- the spell of the
lotus flower. 90
Friendly from the first the natives
became affectionate and as the. days
passed grew more so. OF all the men
of the ship Steward Cole was among
the most popular. Welcome from the
beginning in the royal family, he be-
came; q. fsofite Of the natives, who
had >nothing too good for this young
sailor, whom they had learned to ad-
mire and to dove At that time. and
indeed at, the present, it is said that
the most. beautiful woman in that
small country was Princess Leote