The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-04-09
ADMIRAL JACKSON
DIES MISERAbLY

Admiral jackson. the only Hawaiian
naval commander % modern times.
died In San Francisco on March Is.
Ills end was miserable, ~ win be seen
from the facts given below, and n
sorry one for a man who had undoubt-
ed ability and early In life held n COM
mission in the British navy. lie was
known In Honolulu before the Samoan
fiasco as Captain Jackson and had
made surveys OF harbors on the Island
coasts.
In the year 1886 Captain jackson
was made superintendent Of the Re-
form School to change Its character.
as events proved. from that of an In
stitution giving agricultural and me-
chanical training. besides ordinary
schooling, to a sort OF naval academy.
This was in preparation for King Ka-
lakaua's project OF founding a Poly
nesian empire. The school taro lands
at Palama were sold. After a few
months the steamer Kaimiloa was sent
to Samoa in command of Jackson.
commissioned as admiral. with the lar
ger Reform School boys enrolled as
cadets. A creditable school band
trained by Bandmaster Berger, added
to the style of the expedition. The late
John Z. Bush, commissioned as Min
lister Plenipotentiary to the courts of
the South Sea monarchs, had gone
ahead to Apia in a mail steamer. 1t
is unnecessary to relate the story of
the Samoan mission, other than to re-
call its ridiculous ending. Ship and
embassy were recalled In the first half
of 1887, after they had been largely
contributory to the movement that re-
suited in the revolution Of that year.
Admiral jackson and family remov-
ed to San Francisco. Two of the sons,
Nigel and Sydney. returned to Homo
lulu and have lived here, OF and on.
most of the time since. One son lives
in San Francisco and is employed on
a street car line. Admiral jackson was
a man of fine physique and military
bearing. When met on a friendly
basis he displayed the blandness and
cordially of gentleman born and
bred, yet quick and nervous temper
was SO much a part of his address that
nobody courted an encounter of pur-
poses with him. All who knew him in
these islands will regret his melan-
choly fate as described in the follow
ing accounts from San Francisco pa
pers of March q and 28:
George Edward Gresley Jackson,
scion of an old Scottish family and
once a lieutenant in the British navy,
was found dead yesterday morning in
an old Polk-street car which has been
standing for some time at Cough and
McAllister streets. The body was dis
covered by Maurice Kelley. Death was
due to heart and liver trouble, accen-
tuated by privation. The Coroner has
taken charge of the remains.
Papers in his pockets showed that
jackson had formerly lived at % By
ington avenue. and that he had been
collector for a laundry. OF late he had
no occupation.
A letter in his possession signed
your affectionate sister, Louisa
Leish," spoke of desire to aid him,
and also seemed to indicate that the
writer and her family lived at 1.-THE
Manse," at Crawford, in Scotland. A
picture postal card, evidently from the
same sender, bore a representation of
a picturesque and beautiful old-coun-
try parsonage, one window marked as
that of 'Annie's ROOM" Letter and
postal were alike addressed "Lieuten-
ant G. f. Gresley Jackson, r. N"
There was also found Masonic certi-
flcate showing that Jackson had been
initiated into the order at Sydney,
Australia, on December 6, 1867.
'ihe body of G.. T.. Gresley Jackson,
one-time Lieutenant in the British
navy, who died destitute in an old car
Monday night, was taken in charge
yesterday by a son who lives in this |
city. The young man said that his
father could have had good home |
with him, but that his propensity to |
drink caused him at times to wander |
about the streets.