The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-10-22
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Annals Of Kauai, the Garden
Island, 200 In Silver.


bought for a song and singers
were in voice.
Out of the many stories called to
my attention I selected one that
came to me through Mr.. Eric Knud-
sen, born in Kauai sixty odd years
ago, eldest son of Valdemar Knud-
sen, one of the earliest settlers.
Mr.. Knudsen's method of record
ing the dramatic past involves the
use Of mountains, from which he
may survey the land and sea of his
beloved island. Kawaikini peak,
5,170 feet above sea level and To-
Gated almost in the center of Kauai,
is his favorite elevation when dis
cussing panoramic beauty.
The spot of green few miles off
shore to the southwest" said Eric,
waving a brown arm over the whole
of Christendom, sis Niihau island,
where my mother once lived. She
was the youngest daughter of Mrs.
Eliza Sinclair, who brought her
whole family from New Zealand in
1868, two sons, two sons in law,
three daughters, six grandchildren,
and settled there.
"About seventy-two square miles
of rich pasturage for sheep, cattle,
other domestic stock and honey
bees, its highest elevation rose 1900
feet above sea level. 1t was like the
arrival of another nation, this fam
lily from New Zealand.
Father Suggests a Way.
However, if I am to get on with
the story of how my father, Valde-
mar Knudsen, found bride among
the Sinclairs, you must turn your
thoughts back to Niihau, small, but
important in my own affairs. After
taking over the property, Mrs. Sim
clair discovered there a Hawaiian
born settler who had long occupied
a small strip of the island and who
held in fee simple a royal grant
that interfered with her plans for
development. She offered to buy
the parcel. No, the native would
not sell at any price. Both he and
his wife wished to remain until
death. They were cold to all pro-
posals; a sentimental blockade, as
it were.
''My father, a Norwegian who had
come to Kauai in the early SOS and
set up stock ranch and orchard at
Waimea, enjoyed no little distinc-
ton as one familiar and friendly
with the Hawaiian people. To him
Mrs. Sinclair came with her prob
lem, authorizing the purchase of the
controversial strip at whatever fig
ure Valdemar Knudsen considered
| fair to all concerned. Give me
LOCO trade dollars he said, 'and
! leave the rest to me-
Upon receipt of the coin, much
of which was furnished, he devoted
three full days to putting bright
polish on the sinews of war, which
he loaded into canvas bag and
logged after dark to the straw hut
of the Hawaiian couple, where he
was welcomed both as a visitor and
an old friend.
Silver Flood Descends.
Casting the silver burden on the
center table, he mopped his brow
and straightaway launched into a
flood of gossip along general lines.
| In the midst of the babble, he
opened the canvas sack and began
to stack shimmering trade dollars,
ten in pile, all over the table top,
commenting the while on what each
tower of silver would buy in the
open market.
"Under the light of a coal oil
lamp, shedding it's golden rays on
the white metal monuments scat
tered about, Valdemar Knudsen,
lingering the coin as he talked, de-
scribed red-topped boots, brooches,
bracelets, clothing, silk bodices,
axes, sewing machines, bureaus, in
laid bedsteads, cooking utensils,
saddles, grandfather clocks, dinner
dishes and rocking chairs that
could be bought and delivered at the
humble domicile of the old couple,
now huddled over more purchasing
power than they had ever beheld
in their whole lives. All of this for
your land said my father. Yours
to have and to hold; enough to last
all of this life
Natives Won Over.
"Hypnotized, the aged couple, al
ternating between chilled indiffer-
ence and melting acceptance, held
their breath, the man battling with
resistance, the woman yearning for
speech. Flat upon that table, midst
the piles of money, lay the canvas
bag, empty of all temptation. The
Hawaiian, immobile as stone, made
no sign. With quick movement,
my father, encircling the hoard
with his arm, began to draw the
$1,000 in silver into the sack. Paul
ct is ended) he said. No, no,
Kannuka,' exclaimed the woman.
We will sell 1t is enough.
). Leave the money there. Where
is the paper?' Turning to her hus-
band, she smothered him with an
appeal to close the transaction. He
nodded, burying his hands in the
silver flood.
Mrs. Sinclair allowed the couple
to remain until they passed away.
Evidently, the Norwegian's business
tactics made profound impression
upon the Scotch woman, as my ia
Their became her son-in-law."