Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-29
Miseellaneous &eading.
A TALE OF SOUTH SEAS.
Pretty Romance From Island Of Sa-
n1oa.

Pretty Romance From Island of Sa-
moa.
Strange as 1t may seem there was In
this city recently a prince Of the is
land Of Samoa. and while here he re-
ceived a photograph Of a 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 to be delight
ed that his old-time girl had forgot
ten the love Of the past and had chos-
en- one Of her own station to share
with her the joys and sorrows Of life
on their little island in these summer
seas.
The prince in point was Mr.. B. w.
Cole. hospital steward, United States
navy, who was here with the navy re-
cruiting party, No. 4, and who has
now gone to Hartford, Conn.,, where
he will continue to aid his Uncle SAM
uel in getting recruits for service on
the big battleships and cruisers that
are necessary in his business. When
called on by representative of this
paper, who was in search Of big
black man with a turban. 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 he ought to see
this scion Of a noble race, he had not
been able to scare him I'D. Mr.. Cole
reached over to his desk and produced
picture which has been told OF
above. When asked for the story he
did not hesitate to give it as repro
duced below.
It was in the summer Of 1899 that
the United States gunboat Aberanda
was sent to the little island Of Samoa,
which lies asleep In its beauty In the
far south seas for the purpose of es-
tablishing Uncle Sans government on
the island and for the further purpose
Of assisting Gov. B. F. Tilly in secur-
ing to the government at Washington
the allegiance Of the brown-skinned
people who inhabit these enchanted re-
gions. The ship steamed into the
harbor Of Tutuila. one Of the finest IN
the world, and the officers and men
landed in the city Of Pago-Pago. The
news Of the fighters arrival had be-
come known, and even before the men
had landed, great numbers Of the ma
tives had gathered along the shore to
give them welcome, for they are proud
to believe that they were about to
become a part of that great country
across the water, whose big ship even
then Law at anchor in their slendid
harbor.
There was no difficulty in regard to
the official part Of the visit, and as
the months slipped away the natives
and the men Of the Aberanda became
more and more friendly, Steward Cole
being especially popular and In much
demand. On this beautiful island,
whose tropic breezes, laden with per-
fume, blew across a sea OF gorgeous
blossoms, radiant in their blushing
beauty, all thoughts Of strenuous life
in the past was forgotten, and the
erstwhile stern men of war gave them
selves up to the spell Of the lotus flow
er.
Friendly from the first the natives
became affectionate and as the days
passed grew more so. or all the men
of the ship Steward Cole was among
the most popular. Welcome from the
beginning in the royal family, he be-
came a favorite of the natives. who
had nothing too good for this young
sailor, whom they had learned to ad-
mire and to love. At that time. and
indeed at the present, 1t is said that
the most beautiful woman In that
small country was Princess Leoto Le-
lei, who was known as the Princess
Fungasa of Tutuila. This royal little
lady had just reached the age OF
sweet sixteen, the age at which Sa-
moan women of her rank usually mar
ry, though the children Of the COM
mon people generally wed at or before
reaching the age Of twelve. In addi-
ton to the charms Of her face and
form this princess possessed gifts OF
intellect and character, and was with
al as charming and as refreshing as
the perfumed breezes Of her little king
dom in the far off southern seas. This
daughter of an hundred kings and the
humble representative Of a great Re-
public were thrown together frequent
ly. and mischievous Cupid, hiding In
the branches of some nearby waving
palm, strung his bow for the chase.
He fired, and at least one heart was
pierced.
AS is the prerogative Of the royal
ladies' as soon as Princess Leoto Lelei
realized that her heart had been CIV
en- into the keeping of the fair-skin-
ned visitor. she at once told her faith
err, the king, of the state Of affairs
in order that in her behalf he might
confer with the governor Of the is
land, Steward Coles's chief, for the
hand of that young man. Such affairs
being a matter Of state the popula-
tion of the city was in attendance
when the formal call on Governor
Tilly was made for the purpose Of max
ing known the royal love, and the