Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1912-01-27

by JOHN NJ. GILES.

SlNlI-SlN years ago captain JOnn 4.
Fremont was engaged in the cxpora.
ton of the state of California. After
receiving permission from Gen. Castro
commander of the Mexican forces to
continue his work the order was sud.
denly countcrmanded and Fremont or
dcrCd to leave the country. Fremont's
replied that the order was an insult
TO his country, the United States, and
AS an answer he erected fort with
his small force and patiently waited an
attack from Castro's forces. Flying
above the fort was an American flag
Seeing nothing of the enemy Fremont
marched away and few days later
hearing of the taking of Monterey by
Commodore Sloat, went to, Suffers
Fort, near Sacramento and on July H.
1916 again hoistcd the flag and with a
salute of twenty.one guns proclaimed
TO the world that the state of Caifor
MIA belonged to the United States.
This identical flag that marked the
birth of California will, IL the tenta.
tive arrangements now being carried
on are brought to successful finish.
also mark the opening of the greatest
exposition that the world has ever seen
the Panama Pacific Exposition to he
held here In 1915. The tattered and
torn old flag with its fifteen stars.
with the romance of siXty.siX years
and its associations in connection with
California will tell the assembled thou
sands that the baby state whhh it
brought into the world has grown into
strong virile manhood and welcomes
them within the gates of its capital
city.
History Of Flag.
The history of the present owner Of
the relic brings back to mind all that
has ever been told of the good old
days" before and after the discovery
of gold in the state. John Cook Is the
man to whom II belongs and who has
through all these years preserved the
flag intact. he is carpenter by trade
and although eighty-seven years ola
still works at his bench in Honolulu,
Hawaii.
The old man was born in Dcptford, u
borough in the south part of london
England, on June II, 1924 and when
nineteen years of age went to New
Zealand as a ships carpenter on a
transport in the service of the British
navy His father was a naval officer in
the British fleet and was wounded at
the bombardment of Algicrs by the
British fleet under Lord Admiral EX-
mouth in 1916.
Leaving New Zealand, jain Cook
went to Sydney, Australia, and there
shipped on an American whaler for a
northwest cruise. When his ship came
south again as far as lahaina on the
Island of Maui, Hawaii, and which
used to be the rendezvous of the whal.
ers at that time, John stayed ashore
and opened mp business in the islands
AS a carpenter. This was in Scptcm-
Der of 1884 and carpenters being scarce
he did well at the trade.
In May, 1919, however, the Califor-
mia gold fever was just beginning to
take hold and John with a number of
other restless spirits left on one OF
the small sailing vessels that were
ldhlnB dtTOSS lOON supplies NJ lne time
and landed in California. Every man
was law unto himself in those days
and robbing and murder were common.
The merchants for their own prOtoC.
ton were Obliged to band themselves
together for defence against the bad
men who poured in from the eastern
states and, in fact, from all parts OF
the world.
"Bad Men" Active.
OldtimcrS still remember the fam
Gus band of bad men who became 10,
Cally khown as the Hooks. They lived
in an adobe building and from there
waged war on all and sundry. On the
night of July Il, lS49, 1t was decide
to either eXterminate them or to driy,
them out of the city. John Cook was
one of the party selected to make tho
assault on the house and he was also
the first one to break in the door. Fol
his trouble he received a bullet in the
neck from one of the Hooks and the
scar he carries to this day.
Just before this fight with the lIool,