The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-30
POWER OF AN
INTERESTING LADY.
How Governor Ruth Once stopped
Mauna Loa's Lava Flow.

watch with keen interest the prog
rcss OF the river OF lava again issuing
from the foarsome rent in the side
Of that troubled mountain.
Does such power rest to-day in n
human will? Has tho change in po-
litical conditions taken away control
over nature aroused to its angriest ?
That such control was exercised by
Governor Ruth Is susceptible OF proof
which a be questioned only by those
petty of min or bound to outworn
crceds of competency OF evidence.
Before recalling the astonishing. the
superhuman deed of Governor Ruth
"A little something should he old about
that estlmable lady. She was a
descendant of the mighty warrior and
King Kamehameha l.. he who Chris
tianiZed tho Hawaiian Islands after
observing the superiority of the mus
ket over the war club or the spears
OF his soldiers. Because" observed
that astute monarch, "a religion that
invents an arm which Kills my war
riors while they are out of striking
distance Of tho enemy ~ n better re-
lig!on than mine Personally I shall
knock in the heads Of all subjects
who have not embraced this excellent
religion when this my decree shall
have been heraldCd."
Ruth was n hereditary chief. and
Governor of Hawaii by appointment
of her distinguished kinsman King
Kalakaua. She had m ample per-
sonal fortune and figure. weighing
about 600 pounds IN her kimono. or
~ ,.,4,.. ..,tYy,.,I,.. 80 ,hat ay,,,n
Her official residence was lilo. on the
Island oc Hawaii. hut preferrinC the
~livelier society Of Honolulu she dwelt
there in n state becoming her recog-
nized hereditary. political and financial
importance.
Her Honolulu residence was the art
triumph of n Boston architect and
sawmill, revealing in every foot OF its
-four broad fronts every fanciful
touch which tho Jlg and scroll saws
could devise. The ship which carried
this mansion, knocked down" TO Hon
o.ulu also carried a cargo Of furni-
ture. sofas. whatnots, four post beds,
carpets. l~amhreGuins glorious IN color,
stately IN design.
Il WAS said that her Excellency
lNAAl lA'N'A FAtlA WI 81 ~ W bh -
bedroom. hut this was. in part Mt
least. denied 10y one OF her girls n
member ~ rcr numerous troupe OF
hula-hula dancers. She told N" story
TO queen Dowagcr Emma tpol ,lcal.y
opposed TO Ruth, an iucorrie.b!c gos-
SIP who spread tho story Of ItLth's
weight as we'll as the dancers story
that one night Ruth ala retire 20 the
! handspmeS. bedroom OF her mansion
and WAS awakened there the next
morning. but was found sleeping on
the floor. the bed undisturhcd. Her
ROYAL ~li.SNrcss The Queen Dowager
in repeating this story would ONE
times accnuut for the Governors
/ avoidance IT the he'd 10y her weight.
Ht other times hy her reluctance 20
. observe a christian ceremony. for
such she de, med sleeping on n bod.
Ruth. II must be told. was n stout
pagan. ~" slept thereafter. r- be-
fore. on tho floor ~ her open sdcd
summer house. or lanai.
Thus living VIII her troupe OF
dancers. her score ~ other r~c:aiucis,
always pleased - havo her house
keeper srow visitors through the
mansion. dc'iEh'iug IN having Wis.,
tors comments translated To her, tho
Governor received Il supplicating 20
t!t!on from her loyal subjects IN Hilo
to 20 to them and stop the Of
lava whose flow threatened their
homes and karo tpo.l patches
Her Exccl,cncy. ever thoughtful 81
the welfare ~ her subjects, at once
prepared TO depart. and In less than
n months time embarked or an .ntor-
island steamer. accompanied hv her
dancers. hor domcs'!cs. h"r official
suite and the royal hand.
The party duly arrived n Hlo, all
well after a stormy passage. for Z
MAS none other than Ruth who made
the happy discovery that wien tray
Giving a. sea e yog s,os-p IN deck
and cat plenty = pc! washed down by
a goo champaign" you may laugh SEA
sickness to scorn. ~ least Queen
Lmma used 70 say that e was the
Governor who discovered and used
ttis admirable preventive
There was instant need 81 Ruth's
mighty power. During her brief
months preparation the fiery river
burning IT, own path through for
csts, nlling lakes. damnl'rg rivers,
Nad approached ga horr!d mouth TO
tn" very edge OF lilo.
Ruth ard her company d.scm-
harkcd. her proscnc" Quoted the
wai,inE natives. they dancod 10 tho
music Of tho hand partnok plont!fully
o. q beach luau Of Ash, pork and pot,
and Ruth proceeded t. enter the We
hic,e prepared for her short Journey.
This vehicle was n l!ttle sugar cane
Fart draw by "A very mail donkey
into the rear end Of tho cart tho Gov
ernor entered by steps Of solid logs,
Then n most lamcntahlo thing hap
poucd ns Ruth stepped into the cart.
tho donkey, stOu''v fastened between
the shafts, rose clear of the ground,
kicking fut!lcly, The CONFERENCE.-THE
which SO Handicapped and Inundated
tho little animal was soon overcome
by willing arms bearing down on tho
shafts, permitting the donkey 10 re-
gain accustomed footing.
Soon the devastating mouth OF the
lava river was rcachcd. tnfortu-
natcly there is lack Of fun and pre-
cise evidence az to tho exact means
her ENCcllencV used to accomplish her
suporhuman feat. II Is known that
IA she rebukcd II she threw into the
menacing furnace n live pig. n plug
of tobacco and "A gin bottle. Precision
taboo. According 10 general report II