The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-04-25


(From Saturdays Advertiser.)
Millionaire Claus SprecKels returned
yesterday to Honolulu after an absence
of more than twelve years from the is
lands, arriving on the Oceanic liner
Alameda. The sugar king stood the
voyage remarkably well, and his
health, according to Mr.. w. G. Irwin
and Captain Dowdell, was greatly i'm
proved on the journey.
why, during the worst of the storm
into whichiwe ran" said Captain Dow
dell, "Mr. Spreckels sat in my cabin
smoking a cigar as complacently as if
he were in his office in San Francisco
You can't get him seasick."
However, Claus Spreckels showed he
was a feeble man, partly because of
his years which are now nearly so. and
partly because of the paralytic shock
he suffered awhile back. At the dock
he was greeted by a number of his
friends. Curious eyes were turned in
his direction, for it was remembered
| that at one time he was the power
behind the Hawaiian throne. More than
llldl ne WIS lIlt ultlONlleu hlllb VI MAJ
wall.
The sugar king was driven out to
the home of Mr.. Irwin at Waikiki
beach. But the energetic impulses of
Mr.. Spreckels caused him to again
come down and look over the city
which he used to know so well.
He walked up and down the streets,
greeting oldtme friends kindly, FL
nally he decided to return to Mr.. Twins
home and ride in an electric car instead
of carriage. The old gentleman sat
in Chambers's Drug Store waiting for
the car. While seated there Mr. Spreck-
els was asked what he thought of the
changes in the city.
Honolulu is greatly improved since
l left" he replied, land there have been
buildings erected which would do credit
to large city on the mainland. Oh,
the city has been tremendously improv-
ed 1 can say"
'And now you are going to try the
new electric car SYSTEM" was asked.
Yes" was the answer, 81 think that
is a great improvement too, great
| Improvement over the mule car system
we used to have"
MT. SpTeChelS Sdlu we ike the Olu
kamaaina he is.
As he boarded the car with the as
sistance of Mr.. Irwin, Mr. Spreckels
was the cynosure of all eyes. Old
time hackmen, who probably have
cause to remember the sugar king
kindly, craned their necks to get
glimpse of him as he rode by.
Manuel Refs, the veteran hackman,
| who, in years gone by, drove him
scores of times, said: Il wish Mr..
Spreckels would have let me drive him
home. / would do it for nothing just
for old-time's sake
Mr. Spreckels states positively that
he has come to Honolulu for the bene-
fit of his health, only. He has no fl
nancial deals on, or in mind. and mere
ly wishes to rest. He thought the
change to the island climate would i'm
prove his health, and so came here as
being place he well knew.
He stated also with n smile that he
had no intention of buying up any
hotel. Claus Spreckels has an interest
ing history: He landed in Charleston,
$. c., fifty-two years ago coming from
Hanover, Germany. He was not edu-
Gated, and speeches. in English. He
worked in a grocery in Charleston. In
eighteen months he owned II, and in
1855 moved to New York. There he
sold butter and eggs for some months.
In 1856 he took his family to San
Francisco, and opened a grocery store.
Money was plentiful, gold was being
dug out of the earth in great masses,
and Spreckels was worth $4,000 in a
few wears. He might have retirsd. in