The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-02-04
Veteran Of Fremont Expedition Dead on Maui
Owned First American Flag Raised On Coast
John Cook Remembered Death Of
King George " and California
Annexation

world tmpC. taneei who remembered the
firing of the death salute on the pass
ing Of King George Nv Of England,
June 2S, 1890, when Cook was six years
old, and who travelled all over the
world; who was the possessor of the
first American Flag raised in Califor-
MIA when Fremont took the country
from Mexico aud added &c to Uncle
Sam s Oeean-to-ocean dominion, and
who far more than seventy years was a
resident Of Hawaii, is dead.
This kamaaina, who left Honolulu
last year for Maui to enter the Fred
Baldwin Memorial Home in Paia, died
in that institution last Monday, accord.
ing to mail advices received yesterday
in the Mauna Kea from the Valley Isl.
and. ~
Engiishman BY Birth
Cook was born on June ID, 1924, in
Plymouth, England, his father being a
superior officer in the British NAVY anil
distinguishing himself during the wars
Of Napoleon. Cook was ninety-oue
years, seven months and seventeen
days old. He arrived in Honolulu on
September 10, 1914, and, with the ex
'eption Of several months away in Cal.
fornia, spent the rest o. his life in
hese Islands. He was carpenter and
builder Of ability and known to all as
! law-a"iding and useful citizen dur
ng his long sojourn in Hawaii. When
ne left Honolulu last year, to spend the
rest of his long life in the Fred Bald.
vim Memorial Home, he was accompan.
led by an orphaned grandson. Two
IONS, both carpenters, survive him.
They are John ami Felix Cook.
Remembered Death Of George Nv |
When the news Of the death of King
George ~ reached Plymouth rort, |
England, on the evening Of June 2s,
1880, John Cook, then lad of but six !
years, stood upon the deck of the line.
rf-battle ship BOMBAY Castle, on which !
ais father was an officer Heg heard !
he minute guns fred from Mount Wise, |
davenport. With his father, Cook on |
he following day heard the proclaim
ng of William ~ as King of England, !
;he proclamation being read in the
town hall by the mayor of Plymouth. !
He also remembered the coronation fas- I
tivities of this king and his royal
spouse, Queen Adelaide. '.H
Cook was an apprentice in Bridport, |
Victoria was crowned. The date was
that day, June 2S, 1888. he being four
teen years old, little sister arrived
in the Cook household. At very re.
cent date this sister was reported still
living in England.
Travelled Around World Vs.. .
Five years later Cook left England !
in a tro6pship bound for South Africa. !,
As the Cape Of Good Hope was neaTsI
information was received from two
East Indiamen Of Kaffr uprising and
The troopship then made port at Ho.
bart Town, where the troops were land.
ID. The ship sailed for Australia and
Cook went with her, remaining at Sgd
ney, from where he shipped later In,
4 whaler and landed in Honolulu on
september Is, 1874. .e.
He lived in Hawaii ever since, with
the exception Of few months spent
n California, where he participated in
some Of the most exciting incidents Of
San Franciseo's early career. He car
led to the grave the mark of bullet,
which was Embedded in his neck when
he was shot by one of the famous band
IT outlaws called the Hounds
Cook went to San Francisco from
Honolulu in 1S49 and helped build the
hrst wharf ever constructed in the bay,
The 7" Hounds were then terrorizing
the community and had committed ali
manner of depredations, and murders
were not infreq~en On July 4, 1919,
he "Hounds" attacked a Mexican
amp burned the place, killed men, wo-
men and children and then stole away.
Went To Freemont's Meeting N ri.
A meeting of the law ami order men
vas called for the noon hour, July 9,
~ General Fremont at the alcade 3
oalace. Nearly thousand men, among
hem Cook, assembled in front of the
Ilcade's residence. Hardly had they
begun discussing plans for exterminat-
ing the Hounds" when a body of
about 200 of those worthless swooped
Down upon the law and order meeting,
but determined show of resistance
aused them to scatter. 't, Il
General Fremont then made a speech
md called for volunteers to pursue the
lesperadOes. Cook was the third man
% offer himself, and he was assigned
% a company of ten men. Two hundred \
were selected Fremont gave orders
that the outlaws should be taken dead
or alive. Cook knew where several of
the "Hounds" were to be found. and
led the way to the house. The door was
battered in and Cook was about TO
lead the way in when one of the fellows
inside shot him, the bullet cuttihgt
through his neck handkerchief anil
lodging in his neck, making an ugly
wound. ..- ,..T.Tl
Cook kept on with his command,
however, and took several prisoners,
Who surrendered to the sloop war
Warren. His wound began to trouble
aim and he asked to be relieved from
further duty, to which General Ere
mont assented.' Cook formed the ac-
uaintanee Of Benjamin Stark, one of
his band of ten, who took him aboard
is bark, the Madonna. Stark after.
Yards became senator from Oregon
They went north, secured a cargo of
lumber, ami returned. .,..I
3ecame Owner Of Historic Flag SD.
BY this > time Cook 5 neck was
N frightGl shape, and he
vent ashore again at San Fran
'iseo. Here he found among the
and hills another acquaintance,
Who had been a scout under Fremont.
'oOk nuTsed h m through his illness.