Peter T Young

February 17, 2020 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 118 – February 17, 1820

February 17, 1820 – no entry. (Thaddeus Journal)

Feb. 17th.
Being confident that the most trifling or minute circumstance which interests us., will meet the feelings of maternal affection, I intend to give full scope to my pen in mentioning little particulars, which to others will probably appear insipid, and uninteresting. Were I by the side of my dear mother, I would tell her that we had new bread for tea this evening for the first time since we came on board. In addition to the enjoyment which we received in partaking of what seemed to us a rarity, it brought to mind, those tables we have been accustomed to surround in the dear family circle, and produced a familiar conversation upon the subject. Our entertainment ever has been, and still is good and comfortable; though very different from what we have teen accustomed to on land. May we hope that the time is coming when we shall be permitted to meet all the ransomed of the Lord and partake of that new wine, and living bread which Jesus has prepared for those who love him. – The mission family have not enjoyed as good health as they now do since they left America. Mr. R. observed last evening, that he has not felt like himself before since he came on board. The health which he now enjoys demands our gratitude and praise. May the afflictive hand of God, ever be laid gently upon us, and we be supported under it. Entered the trade winds this morning. The consideration that we are shortly to land on the heathen shores, covered with sin and pollution would be overwhelming, and cause us after all the advances we have made towards them, to think back, and exclaim, “who is sufficient for these things”, were it not that our help, is in the name of the Lord who made Heaven and earth.
“When through fiery trials thy path-way shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flames shall not hurt thee, I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine”.
No fearing or doubting, with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting, the Lord will provide”. (Nancy Ruggles)

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February 17, 2020 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Dunnottar Castle

This story is not about a castle, it’s about a sailing vessel named after a castle – Dunnottar Castle. First, a little about its name.

In the 5th Century, St Ninian brought Christianity to Scotland, and chose Dunnottar as a site for one of his chain of Churches. In the 12th Century Dunnottar Castle became a Catholic settlement with the first stone chapel being consecrated in 1276.

William Wallace (“Braveheart,”) Mary Queen of Scots, the Marquis of Montrose and the future King Charles II, all called the Castle home. Here a Scottish garrison once saved the Scottish Crown Jewels from destruction by Cromwell’s invading army.

In 1874, ‘Dunnottar Castle,’ a three-masted 258-foot British iron-hulled ship, was launched in Glasgow, Scotland.

She rests in the Pacific, lost at Kure Atoll on July 15th, 1886 while bound for Wilmington, California from Sydney, Australia with a cargo of coal.

A malfunctioning chronometer put the Dunnottar Castle off course and onto the reef. Though efforts were made to jettison the cargo and repair the damaged hull, the stricken vessel could not be refloated, and the crew abandoned ship for the nearby deserted island. The castaways would have to take charge of their own rescue. (PMNM)

Seven of the crew members, including its Chief Officer, took one of the surviving tender boats and sailed, for 52 days, to Kauaʻi. Upon being informed of the tragedy, the British Commissioner in Honolulu organized a rescue mission. (HawaiianAtolls)

Under the reign of King David Kalākaua, the Hawaiian Kingdom, suspecting that the British might use the occasion to annex the island, shared the expedition expenses and instructed Commissioner James Boyd to take formal possession of Kure. On September 20, 1886 he took possession of the island, then-called Moku Papapa, for the Hawaiian government. (PMNM)

The rescue mission came back to Honolulu with the same amount of people it had sailed out with. No survivors were found on the atoll, except for two fox terriers and a retriever. All of the survivors had been picked up earlier by a passing vessel and were on route to Chile. (HawaiianAtolls)

Before the mid-19th century, Kure Atoll was visited by several ships and given new names each time. Many crews were stranded on Kure Atoll after being shipwrecked on the surrounding reefs and had to survive on the local seals, turtles and birds.

The King ordered that a crude house be built on the island, with tanks for holding water and provisions for any other unfortunates who might be cast away there. But the provisions were stolen within a year, and the house soon fell into ruins.

Thus, the wreck of the Dunnottar Castle precipitated the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi’s official presence at Kure Atoll, Hawaiʻi’s most remote coral atoll at the northwestern extreme end of the entire archipelago. (PMNM)

The Kure Atoll refuge staff (State of Hawaiʻi DLNR-Division of Forestry and Wildlife) came across the wreckage by accident while transiting through the lagoon. Atoll staff radioed the NOAA archaeologists who were surveying two other locations at Kure (The New Bedford whaler Parker and the USS Saginaw), and a preliminary survey was initiated. (PMNM)

The Dunnottar Castle lies adjacent to a shoal area in the vicinity of the atoll reef, accessible only in calm weather. Many of the wooden components, loose materials, and organic fabrics have been swept away, but the heavier elements remain. No small or movable artifacts were encountered. (PMNM)

Large sections of iron hull plate, iron frames, rigging, masts, auxiliary steam boiler, keelson, anchors, windlasses, winches, capstans, davits, rudder and steering gear, cargo hatches, bow sprit, hawse pipes, chain locker, ballast stone, deadeyes, chains, stringers, bitts, ladders etc. are fixed in place on the sea bottom. (PMNM)

The site is approximately 250 feet in length, corresponding to the ship’s original size. The industrial nature of the artifacts and the general lack of coral cover makes the location well-suited for standing up to the power of the winter storms and seas which pound the atoll. (PMNM)

The wreck of the Dunnottar Castle is a nearly complete assemblage of a late-19th century commercial carrier, an incredible heritage resource from the days of the sailing ships like the Falls of Clyde (Honolulu,) Balcalutha (San Francisco Maritime Park) and Star of India (San Diego Maritime Museum) when our maritime commerce was driven by steel masts and canvas, wind power, and human hands. (PMNM)

Kure Atoll is the most northwestern island in the Hawaiian chain and occupies a singular position at the “Darwin Point:” the northern extent of coral reef development, beyond which coral growth cannot keep pace with the rate of geological subsidence. Kure’s coral is still growing slightly faster than the island is subsiding.

North of Kure, where reef growth rates are even slower, the drowned Emperor Seamounts foretell the future of Kure and all of the Hawaiian Archipelago. As Kure Atoll continues its slow migration atop the Pacific Plate, it too will eventually slip below the surface.

Kure is the northern-most coral atoll in the world. It consists of a 6-mile wide nearly circular barrier reef surrounding a shallow lagoon and several sand islets. The only land of significant size is called Green Island and is habitat for hundreds of thousands of seabirds.

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Dunnottar-Castle-Altmeier-(NOAA)-07-2006b

Dunnottar-Castle-Tilburg-(NOAA)-07-2006b

Large metal structures o the hull-(hawaiianatolls)

Dunnottar_Wreck-Preliminary_site_Sketch-(NOAA)

Dunnottar Castle in the 17th century - From Slezer's Theatrum Scotia (1693)

February 16, 2020 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Day 117 – February 16, 1820

February 16, 1820 – The hold has been opened and many articles put up by our friends for the mission examined. ‘Tis pleasant to have such testimonials of love to Christ and the heathen. Other testimonies of his love we desire to acknowledge and record, as comfortable health, a good measure of peace within and without and general properity. – Few changes of special note since doubling the Cape. (Thaddeus Journal)

Feb. 16th. This day our little comforts have been many. It was a pleasant morning. About the rising of the sun, the signal was given, on deck, immediately over our heads, for us to leave our berths, for free air above. The full-spread sails spoke our way prosperous, while the pleasant sun over the smooth waters, seemed to smile upon us. All were in motion. To use a seaman’s phrase, they had “broken out”,—that is, were drawing on deck, from the hold, a part of the various lading put in at the Wharf at Boston. This brought up a variety of things belonging to individuals and the Mission in general which none had seen before. Among them was a cask directed to Mr. B—, containing sundry articles, as a bundle for Sister R—, Dr. H—, etc. packed in Hartford. But what in that most interested me was a large bag of comfortable things from Bennington, put up with maternal feeling, and maternal kindness. Then Mr. B— could tell me of Mother and of home. Sweet names, and precious J There was dried beef, dried fruits of several kinds, something for medicine particularly desired on the voyage, etc. One trunk and box game heaped upon another, when the word was, “for the Mission, from Hopkins’ Academy that sound, I was over the lumber with as much life as i^ to meet a friend. My beloved Sophia presented herself, as it were, before me. The box was soon opened. The first thing taken hold of was a gown which I had seen her wear sufficiently to make her almost appear in it again. The little community all partook in my pleasure while none would lift up an article to be aired, but leave it for my hands; admiring the singular providence which had caused me, upon these distant waters of the Pacific, to be the one who should unpack what the hands of a dear sister and her pupils had, so recently, laid down for the dear Missionaries at Brainard. Their admiration was encreased when I told them of the remark made when they were put up.—After giving them the air we nailed the box up. And now, may the same gracious hand which inclined the hearts of my sister and her scholars, to provide these garments, incline the hearts of the wretched heathen to commit to us their now equally wretched children, to be clad in them; and, 0, may the day be at hand, when, from that distant land, those hearts which have been thus opened, shall be cheered with the glad tidings that the object of their benevolence are employing their tender voices in lisping the praises of Jesus, to whom the heathen are given for an inheritance. (Sybil Bingham)

Feb’y. 16th. We are now opposite the island of Juan Fernandes remarkable for having been the residence Robinson Crusoe. This has been a very busy and interesting day, have been employed in examining our trunks and boxes put up for the Mission. Opening a keg directed to Brother B., I discovered a bundle with a letter directed to me. I put out my hand to receive as it were fresh intelligence from my dear native land, after an absence of more than 16 weeks. On breaking the seal my heart was filled, with a grateful-sense of renewed obligations to friends, and to God as the author of all good, for this expression of kindness from dear sisters in Christ. Nothing short of an assimilation of feelings can make you realize my dear sisters, how closely you are entwined around my heart. Tears involuntarily burst from my eyes, when I saw your dear names, at the thought that I am to see you no more on earth. But if we are indeed the children of God our separation will be short, and our meeting endless and happy. May this consideration cheer our hearts while on the way and make us more watchful, prayerful, and useful in the world. The kindness of friends has already contributed much to my happiness, and I hope it will also promote my future usefulness among the heathen. I am confident after all you have done, you will not cease to present your devout supplications, in behalf of a far distant sister, who is now tossing upon the tumultuous ocean, with the prospect of becoming a stranger in a strange land, where all is moral darkness and desolation,
“But Jesus shall reign where e’er the sun,
Does his successive journies run,
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore
Till moons shall wax and wane no more”.
May this precious promise encourage and animate us, and God be glorified in the salvation of the heathen, which he will accomplish in his own time, and with the use of means of his own appointment. (Nancy Ruggles)

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February 16, 2020 by Peter T Young 3 Comments

Deaths in Wars

Estimates indicate that at least 618,000 men died in the American Civil War – 360,000 from the North and 258,000 from the South – the greatest loss of American lives in a war. (The 3-day Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest, approximately 50,000 Americans died.)

In the Islands, over the centuries, the islands weren’t unified under single rule. Leadership sometimes covered portions of an island, sometimes covered a whole island or groups of islands.

Island rulers, Aliʻi or Mōʻī, typically ascended to power through familial succession and warfare. In those wars, Hawaiians were killing Hawaiians; sometimes the rivalries pitted members of the same family against each other.

At the period of Captain Cook’s arrival (1778-1779), the Hawaiian Islands were divided into four kingdoms: (1) the island of Hawaiʻi under the rule of Kalaniʻōpuʻu, who also had possession of the Hāna district of east Maui; (2) Maui (except the Hāna district,) Molokai, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe, ruled by Kahekili; (3) Oʻahu, under the rule of Kahahana; and (4) Kauai and Niʻihau, Kamakahelei was ruler.

“At that time Kahekili was plotting for the downfall of Kahahana and the seizure of Oahu and Molokai, and the queen of Kauai was disposed to assist him in these enterprises.”

“The occupation of the Hana district of Maui by the kings of Hawaii had been the cause of many stubborn conflicts between the chivalry of the two islands, and when Captain Cook first landed on Hawaii …”

“… he found the king of that island absent on another warlike expedition to Maui, intent upon avenging his defeat of two years before, when his famous brigade of eight hundred nobles was hewn in pieces.” (Kalākaua)

Kamakahelei was the “queen of Kauai and Niihau, and her husband was a younger brother to Kahekili, while she was related to the royal family of Hawaii. Thus, it will be seen, the reigning families of the several islands of the group were all related to each other, as well by marriage as by blood.”

“So had it been for many generations. But their wars with each other were none the less vindictive because of their kinship, or attended with less of barbarity in their hours of triumph.” (Kalākaua)

“By this time nearly a generation of the race had passed away, subsequently to their discovery by Cook. How much of their strength had been exhausted by wars and the support of armies, and how much by new and terrible diseases, it is not easy to estimate. The population was greatly diminished, and the residue unimproved in morals.” (Bingham)

“Whether we contemplate the horrors or the glories of the rude warfare which wasted the nation, we are not to confine our views to the struggles of armed combatants – the wounds, the reproaches, and various evils inflicted on one another…”

“… but the burden of sustaining such armies deserves attention, and the indescribable misery of the unarmed and unresisting of the vanquished party or tribe, pursued and crushed, till all danger of further resistance disappeared, must not be forgotten.” (Bingham)

Fornander states that “It had been the custom since the days of Keawenui-a-Umi on the death of a Moi (King) and the accession of a new one, to redivide and distribute the land of the island between the chiefs and favorites of the new monarch.” This custom was repeatedly the occasion of a civil war. (Thrum)

Human and organic nature were, however, probably the same then as now, and wars and contentions may occasionally have disturbed the peace of the people, as eruptions and earthquakes may have destroyed and altered the face of the country. (Fornander)

“Before the conquest of Kamehameha, the several islands were ruled by independent kings, who were frequently at war with each other, but more often with their own subjects. As one chief acquired sufficient strength, he disputed the title of the reigning prince.”

“If successful, his chance of permanent power was quite as precarious as that of his predecessor. In some instances the title established by force of arms remained in the same family for several generations, disturbed, however, by frequent rebellions … war being a chief occupation …” (Jarves)

“It is supposed that some six thousand of the followers of this chieftain (Kamehameha,) and twice that number of his opposers, fell in battle during his career, and by famine and distress occasioned by his wars and devastations from 1780 to 1796.” (Bingham)

“However the greatest loss of life according to early writers was not from the battles, but from the starvation of the vanquished and consequential sickness due to destruction of food sources and supplies – a recognized part of Hawaiian warfare.” (Bingham)

Following Kalaniʻōpuʻu’s death in 1782, the kingship was inherited by his son Kīwalaʻō; Kamehameha (Kīwalaʻō’s cousin) was given guardianship of the Hawaiian god of war, Kūkaʻilimoku.

Dissatisfied with subsequent redistricting of the lands by district chiefs, civil war ensued between Kīwalaʻō’s forces and the various chiefs under the leadership of Kamehameha. At the Battle of Mokuʻōhai (just south of Kealakekua) Kīwalaʻō was killed and Kamehameha attained control of half the Island of Hawaiʻi.

The result of the battle of Mokuʻōhai was virtually to rend the island of Hawaii into three independent and hostile factions. The district of Kona, Kohala, and portions of Hāmākua acknowledged Kamehameha as their sovereign. (Fornander)

The remaining portion of Hāmākua, the district of Hilo, and a part of Puna, remained true to and acknowledged Keawemauhili as their Moi; while the lower part of Puna and the district of Kaʻū, the patrimonial estate of Kīwalaʻō, ungrudgingly and cheerfully supported Keōua Kuahuula against the mounting ambition of Kamehameha. (Fornander)

A later battle at ʻIao is described as, “They speak of the carnage as frightful, the din and uproar, the shouts of defiance among the fighters, the wailing of the women on the crests of the valley, as something to curdle the blood or madden the brain of the beholder. (Fornander)

The Maui troops were completely annihilated, and it is said that the corpses of the slain were so many as to choke up the waters of the stream of lao, and that hence one of the names of this battle was “Kepaniwai” (the damming of the waters). (Fornander)

Vancouver was appalled by the impoverished circumstances of the people and the barren and uncultivated appearance of their lands.

“The deplorable condition to which they had been reduced by an eleven years war” and the advent of “the half famished trading vessels” convinced him that he should pursue his peace negotiations for “the general happiness, of the inhabitants of all the islands.” (Vancouver, Voyage 2)

Then, a final battle of conquest took place on Oʻahu. Kamehameha landed his fleet and disembarked his army on Oʻahu, extending from Waialae to Waikiki. … he marched up the Nuʻuanu valley, where Kalanikūpule had posted his forces. (Fornander)

At Puiwa the hostile forces met, and for a while the victory was hotly contested; but the superiority of Kamehameha’s artillery, the number of his guns, and the better practice of his soldiers …

… soon turned the day in his favour, and the defeat of the Oahu forces became an accelerated rout and a promiscuous slaughter. (Fornander) Estimates for losses in the battle of Nuʻuanu (1795) ranged up to 10,000. (Schmitt)

In addition to deaths in wars, epidemics of infections added to the decline in Hawaiʻi’s population from approximately 300,000 at the time of Captain Cook’s arrival in 1778 to 135,000 in 1820 and 53,900 in 1876. (Images from Herb Kane.)

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