When King Met King

A 5 7-Years’-old Memory of an i . , r .

Incident in Frisco

BY F. T. GOEDICKE-VAN ASTEN OF TONGA

HERE is a story which began as a comedy, but ended in a tragedy.

I had just arrived in San Francisco in 1891, as supercargo of a copra vessel be longing to the firm of A. Crawford & Co., San Francisco, from Jaluit, Marshall Islands, when another copra vessel from the same firm arrived from Butaritari, in the Gilbert Islands. On board of this vessel was “King Dick,” a petty chief of Butaritari, a friend of the captain, who had persuaded the king to take a trip to Frisco. He said he would only stay there for a few days, and return to Butaritari for another load. When the Captain introduced the king to Mr. Craw ford, Crawford knew that he should do something for the king, so as to gain his goodwill.

Mr. Crawford sent for me and said: “Look here, you know all about natives.

Take charge of this king and show him San Francisco. I will pay expenses.”

My landlady had a spare room, so I took the king home with me. When I intro duced him to my landlady, she said: “Another king! One arrived only yester day from Honolulu, and he is staying at the Palast Hotel. There is to be a military review at the Mechanics Pavilion to-night in honour of the king from Honolulu.”

I went with “King Dick” to the pavilion.

There was a big crowd and, on a plat form, decorated with American and Hawaiian flags, stood His Majesty Kala kaua, King of the Sandwich Islands, in full uniform, decorated with many Hawaiian and foreign orders, surrounded by officers and other notabilities.

When the show was over my king in sisted that I should take him and intro duce him to the other king.

I told him I could not do this, but that I would take him in the morning to the Palast Hotel, and see what could be done.

“What for?" inquired King Dick. “Me king alasame him."

Next morning I went with “King Dick” to the Palast Hotel and asked for the hotel clerk who was in charge of King Kalakaua. I was told that a Colonel McFarlane was acting ADC to the king.

The clerk fetched the Colonel, a very kind old gentleman.

I introduced mv king to the Colonel and told him that King Dick of Butaritari would like to pay his respects to King Kalakaua of Honolulu.

The Colonel hesitated for a minute and then said: “I am afraid His Majesty took a cold last night. He is up, sitting in a chair, covered with blankets —but I will go and see.”

THE Colonel left and returned to say that His Majesty would be pleased to make the acquaintance of the King of Butaritari. We went upstairs, and were shown to the room where we found the Hawaiian King seated in a chair, covered with blankets. Colonel McFarlane introduced us to Kalakaua who shook hands with us. This conver sation ensued: — Kalakaua (to “King Dick”): When did you arrive?

King Dick: Me, one-two-three days be fore me come.

Kalakaua: And when do you expect to leave again?

King Dick: Spose Coala belong me, him finish, me go back home belong me.

Kalakaua: Can I offer you any refresh ment?

King Dick: Spose you like shout belong me, me like lum plenty much.

Rum was ordered, and a large tumbler full was handed to King Dick.

“King Dick” went over to Kalakaua, put the tumbler close to Kalakaua’s nose, and said; “Now you look me like drink your belly good luck.”

“Drink hearty!” said Kalakaua.

“King Dick” drank, coughed and spat most of the rum out on the blankets with which Kalakaua was covered.

I noticed Colonel McFarlane blinking his eyes and I understood the signal, I

stood up and said: “Your Majesty, I feel very sorry that you are indisposed, but I hope you will be soon your own self again and, with your permission, we will wish you goodbye.”

We left the hotel—and, three days later, His Majesty Kalakaua of the Sandwich Islands was dead.

He received a military funeral, from the hotel to the wharf, where his body was placed on board the United States cruiser “Charleston,” for Honolulu.

“King Dick" and I paid our respects to the memory of the departed king by going to his funeral. He was king from 1874 to 1891.

Six weeks later, while in Honolulu, I told this story to Queen Lilinokalani, with whom I formed a warm friendship. She was deposed by revolution in 1893.