Images of Old Hawaiʻi

  • Home
  • About
  • Categories
    • Ali’i / Chiefs / Governance
    • American Protestant Mission
    • Buildings
    • Collections
    • Economy
    • Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings
    • General
    • Hawaiian Traditions
    • Other Summaries
    • Mayflower Summaries
    • Mayflower Full Summaries
    • Military
    • Place Names
    • Prominent People
    • Schools
    • Sailing, Shipping & Shipwrecks
    • Voyage of the Thaddeus
  • Collections
  • Contact
  • Follow

August 20, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Robert Wilcox’s Quest for Statehood

In 1890, Robert Wilcox was elected to the Legislature in the Islands. Following the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893, the Committee of Safety established the Provisional Government of Hawaiʻi as a temporary government until annexation by the United States.

The Provisional Government convened a constitutional convention and established the Republic of Hawaiʻi on July 4, 1894. The Republic continued to govern the Islands.

From January 6 to January 9, 1895, in a “Counter-Revolution,” patriots of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and the forces that had overthrown the constitutional Hawaiian monarchy were engaged in a war that consisted of battles on the island of Oʻahu.

It has also been called the Second Wilcox Rebellion of 1895, the Revolution of 1895, the Hawaiian Counter-revolution of 1895, the 1895 Uprising in Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian Civil War, the 1895 Uprising Against the Provisional Government or the Uprising of 1895.

In their attempt to return Queen Liliʻuokalani to the throne, it was the last major military operation by royalists who opposed the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. The goal of the rebellion failed.

Wilcox was court-martialed and sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted to thirty-five years. While in prison in 1895, Pope Leo XIII granted an annulment of their marriage. The Italian Consul and the Catholic Bishop at Honolulu confirmed this action.

In January, 1896, he was given a conditional pardon and became a free man; later that year, Wilcox married again, this time to Mrs. Theresa Cartwright. In 1898, President Dole gave him a full pardon.

With the establishment of Territorial status in the Islands, Hawaiʻi was eligible to have a non-voting delegate in the US House of Representatives.

Wilcox and others formed the Independent “Home Rule” Party and Wilcox ran as a candidate for the Delegate position (against Republican Samuel Parker and Democrat Prince David Kawānanakoa.) Wilcox won, and served as the first delegate and representative of Hawaiʻi in the US Congress.

Robert W Wilcox – the man who figured so prominently and conspicuously noted, related to the overthrow, “Queen Lili‘uokalani brought these evils upon herself and the country both by her personal corruption, and that of her Government.”

“She surrounded herself with bad advisers, and seemed determined to drive the nation to destruction. Good people had no influence over her whatever, for she indignantly refused to listen to them.”

“I believe that if we can be annexed to the United States, the rights of all of our citizens, and especially those of the native Hawaiians, will be protected more carefully than they have ever been under the monarchy.”

“My countrymen, with the exception of the most intelligent among them, do not understand much about these things. They need to be educated. They have so often been told by designing men that the United States was their enemy that they are naturally suspicious.”

“Politicians who have sought to use the natives simply as so many tools have deceived them. When they understand from the lips of disinterested men and patriots what annexation means, and become acquainted with the benefits that it will bring them, they will be as much in favor of the movement as any of our other classes of citizens.”

“They are naturally somewhat prejudiced against (the Provisional Government), as monarchy is the only form of Government with which they are familiar, but this feeling will quickly wear away as the Hawaiians are led to see that the Government is friendly to them and their interests. They already have confidence in the integrity and patriotism of President Dole.”

“I have repeatedly (advocated annexation to the United States) in public meetings held in this city. … but I am compelled to move cautiously or I shall lose my influence over them. I believe I am doing a good work by constantly conversing with them on the subject.

“I have told my countrymen that the monarchy is gone forever, and when they ask me what is the best thing to follow it I tell them annexation, and I firmly believe that in a very short time every Hawaiian will be in favor of that step.” (Wilcox interview with Hoes; Reports of Committees of the Senate of the United States, 1893-1894)

“Washington. July 3 (1901). Delegate Wilcox, of Hawaii, announces here that at the very opening of the next session of Congress in December he will introduce a bill granting statehood to the territory of Hawaii. Mr. Wilcox says that he does not fully expect that the bill will become a law next winter, but he predicts early statehood for the territory.”

“‘Of course I realize,’ says Mr. Wilcox, ‘that this proposition will meet with opposition on the ground that we have but recently been incorporated Into a territory and that we should wait, but I shall Introduce the bill just the same and commence working upon it.’”

“Mr. Wilcox also says that he is going to introduce a bill to provide for the laying of a cable between Honolulu and San Francisco as soon as Congress meets. There are several bills of that sort already on tap, but another will do little harm.”

“The statehood bill that Mr. Wilcox says he is going to bring forward will result In nothing but a discussion of the political conditions In Hawaii. There is no chance whatever that during the term for which Mr. Wilcox has been elected to sit in Congress he can get a statehood bill through for the territory.”

“Arizona and New Mexico have for years been trying for statehood, and they are today apparently as far from it as ever, although the Congressional committees have again and again recommended the passage of the bills.”

“In the case of Hawaii more objections than Mr. Wilcox has mentioned will be raised. I remember that before the Hawaiian annexation resolution was passed Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, went to the White House one day and told the President that he would let that resolution go through if it could be understood that Hawaii should not be admitted into the Union as a State.”

“Hoar wanted that incorporated into the annexation resolution. This could not be done, because It would have been unconstitutional. But the promise was then and there given that if Hawaii should apply for statehood she would be refused for years to come, and that is the general understanding of the matter In Washington.”

“Expansion would not have taken place on so broad a scale if it had been understood that an application would so soon come from one of the island possessions for Statehood. Porto Rico is almost possibly not quite as well qualified for statehood as is Hawaii.”

“The island of Luzon with the city of Manila, is about as well qualified from the standpoint of general civilization and enlightenment as is Hawaii. The bars will not be let down for a long time to come to any of these territories.”

“It will take a very long probationary period to qualify the Territory of Hawaii for statehood in the minds of the American government officials. The recent political dildoes that have been cut there do not help the case.”

“Dole and his outfit have put Hawaii fifty years further from statehood than it was on the day that Congress finally passed a resolution annexing the Islands to the United States. Their continuation in office there for a few years more will put Hawaii everlastingly outside the pale of American political civilization.”

“The Administration thought when It annexed Hawaii, that it had got an asset: it finds that with Dole thrown in, Hawaii is a political liability. E. S. L.” (Honolulu Republican, July 17, 1901)

“What we are all looking forward to is Statehood and anything that will lead toward that end must be helped along by us. We will not mind much about the Governor then for it will be the people who will be paramount.” (Delegate Wilcox’s Impassioned Address to Hawaiians, The Independent, July 10, 1902)

Wilcox ran for re-election, but lost to Republican Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Piʻikoi (Prince Kūhiō served from 1903 until his death in 1922.)

Wilcox returned to Washington to finish out his term (November 6, 1900 to March 3, 1903,) but was very ill. He came back to Hawaiʻi in 1903, and died October 26, 1903. He is buried in the Catholic cemetery on King Street.

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2018 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Robert_William_Wilcox_1900
Robert_William_Wilcox_1900

Filed Under: Economy, General, Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance, Prominent People Tagged With: Hawaii, Robert Wilcox, Annexation, Statehood

August 19, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

‘A City in a Grove’

“When the whalers began to frequent (Honolulu Harbor) place in numbers, a town soon sprung up, and by the year 1820, Honolulu contained some six or seven thousand inhabitants.”

“To-day its population is reckoned at 17,000, a larger number than the capital of the important British Colony of New Zealand could recently boast.”

“The First view of Honolulu, on approaching it from the sea, has been variously described by visitors, some of whom have expressed great disappointment, whilst others have gone into raptures over the scene.”

“Unless, however, from exaggerated descriptions the traveler has been led to expect something extremely wonderful and unusual, I do not understand how anyone can fail to be charmed with the view of Honolulu …”

“… and its surrounding scenery as seen from the deck of an approaching vessel, especially after many days’ confinement on shipboard, with nothing but the waste of waters around him.”

“It is true that the hills of Oahu have not the same luxurious clothing of vegetation that is common in many of the island groups of the Southern Pacific. It is true also that the town has no characteristic buildings of a striking nature to arrest attention.”

“Nevertheless, Honolulu is a prettier place to look at from the sea than nineteen out of twenty port tropics or elsewhere. It has rightly been called ‘a city in a grove.’”

“Until trees were planted it cannot have been an inviting-looking place. No visitor of former days, up to five and twenty years ago, has anything to say in praise of the city, however delighted with the surrounding scenery.”

“Dusty streets, insignificant houses irregularly built and located, with hardly a tree to be seen anywhere, presented no feature worth a second thought.”

“All this is now changed, and by nothing more so than by the growth of the trees, now universally to be found throughout town and suburbs.”

“A few of the more important building tower above the trees; but for the most part the houses and stores are completely hidden by rich evergreen foliage.”

“This alone gives a character of its own to Honolulu which, charming as seen from the sea, is still more delightful when its cool shade is experienced in the streets and gardens of the town.”

“The first evidence of the commercial activity of the port to which the visitor is introduced is the large and substantial wharf or dock, as (according to an imported custom) it is usually called.”

“Here the large steamers of the Mail Service can lie alongside with ease. On the wharf is a huge landing shed, and behind this a large building of stone, occupied as a warehouse for bonded goods.”

“Facing the Esplanade Wharf are the Custom-house buildings, the entrance to the Custom-house itself is on Fort street. The department occupies half the upper floor of one of the buildings. They are all solid-looking erections of stone, and form a block by themselves, having open ground around them on three sides and a wide street on the other.”

“Of these the first was built in 1860, a two-story, fireproof building, sixty feet by sixty. It is here that Customs Department are located, and hence the building is usually known as the Custom-house’”

“Immediately alongside of this a similar warehouse was erected in 1867, and quite lately, in 1878, it has been found necessary to add another large bonding store, 200 feet in length by a width of 50 feet. This latter building has, however, but one story.”

“The isolated position of these warehouses and the substantial manner in which they have been built of stone, with slate or corrugated iron for roofing, renders them the safest stores in the town, and they are recognized as such by all the insurance companies, who take risks on their contents at lower rates than on any other stores.”

“Outside the shed I found quite a crowd of vehicles with their chattering Kanaka drivers looking for a fare. I chartered one, and I and my belongings were quickly bowled over the level streets to my destination.”

“Of course, I went to the Hawaiian Hotel, that pride of all the white inhabitants of Honolulu. It used, I hear, not to be so highly esteemed by a dissatisfied section of the natives, because it was built by the Government and cost a considerable sum of money, ($120,000 or so), to raise which the Government of the day ran the country into debt.”

“Next day I undertook a voyage of discovery through the town and found out the Government Buildings, and the King’s palace, and many other places of more or less interest. A new palace is in course of erection, and it is estimated that it will be completed before the beginning of 1881.”

“From the palace I went to the Government buildings. This is a plain structure, but of handsome proportions, and a decided credit to the Kingdom.”

“The great central hall and staircase of the buildings is lighted by a lantern tower, which is one of the most conspicuous objects in any view of the town from sea or shore, and is a relieving feature in a design otherwise rather homely in its character.”

“The Library is a highly creditable one. As might naturally have been expected, it is particularly rich in works upon the Hawaiian Islands or in which descriptions of the Islands, their people, language, fauna and flora, or anything relating to their history, are to be found.”

“I closed my afternoon’s excursion with a visit to the O‘ahu Prison. This is situated at the west side of the town and immediately at the mouth of the Nu‘uanu Valley. Its position for healthiness cannot be surpassed, subject as it is to every breath of the trade winds.”

“Built in 1857 of coral stone, cut from the various reefs by the prisoners themselves, and modeled after the Charlestown prison, near Boston, it so far has proved large enough for the criminal population of the country.”

“All prisoners whose sentences are over three months are sent here; also prisoners committed for trial to the various terms of the Supreme and Circuit Courts. There is cell accommodation for 170, and the usual average of prisoners is 150 to 155, one half of whom are natives, the other half foreigners and Chinese…”

“Prisoners are employed making roads, wharves, bridges, in fact any public work which may be going on at the time. In consequence of prisoners being thus employed, with the exception of such as are kept inside as servants, or on the sick list, or awaiting trial …”

“… no one, to look at the prison in the day time, would suspect that at night every cell was occupied, as from 6 A.M. to 5:50 P.M. all that can work are at work.”

“Looking seaward from the prison I noticed a building which had been erected upon the reef, and on enquiry found it to be a Quarantine Station. This building had been erected by the Government in the anticipation of its being required for purposes of quarantine, but it was not until the 28th of March, this year, that occasion occurred to put it to use for its proper purposes.”

“On the next day, on which I had leisure to pursue my examination of the town, I visited some of its educational establishments. There are plenty of native schools everywhere in this Kingdom.”

“Is it not the proud boast of the Kanaka race and of its teachers that it is ahead of all those nations which pride themselves on their advances in what we call western civilization in the proportion to the total population of those who can read and write their own language …”

“I never saw any theatrical representation in Honolulu. Neither tragedy nor comedy, burlesque nor opera can be said to be naturalized here yet. Nevertheless there is a theatre Royal, where occasionally a passing company angles for a few dollars with various results.”

“There is another public institution in Honolulu which does credit to the country, but which I did not visit. This is known as Queen Emma’s Hospital, having been named after his Queen by Kamehameha IV.”

“There is in Merchant Street another valuable public institution not supported by Government. This is the Sailors’ Home, which is maintained by a society organized in 1853, called the Sailors’ Home Society.”

“There is one public institution which every town ought to be able to boast of, more especially every tropical town, which I miss in Honolulu. There is no public park in or about the town.”

“The only open spaces in the town are Emma Square and the ground around the Government buildings. Emma Square is of no great extent.”

“The last, perhaps the most important place I have to mention is the bank. Messrs. Bishop & Co.’s premises are of stone, and handsome building at the corner of Merchant and Kaahumanu streets. This is the only bank on the islands.”

“On the first Saturday afternoon after my arrival in Honolulu I went, as every stranger does, and as a very large number of the residents do also, to the fish market. The place is on Queen street, just beyond Messrs. Brewer & Co.’s premises, and covers a considerable area between that place and the wharf which goes by its name.”

“This is the market of Honolulu. Not only fish, but fruit and vegetables and butchers’ meat, are to be purchased here. On Saturday all the country people come into town who can, and on the afternoon of that day the place is so crowded by pedestrians, that it is almost impossible to move about in it.”

“And now, before quitting Honolulu, I must not forget to mention two facts which do credit to the paternal Government which takes its municipal affairs under its wing. Water is laid on over almost all the town, and the streets are lighted with gas.” (Bowser, 1880)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2018 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Honolulu_Harbor_in_1881
Honolulu_Harbor_in_1881
Iolani_Palace-early 1880s
Iolani_Palace-early 1880s
Aliiolani_Hale-PPWD-1-7-017-1888-400
Aliiolani_Hale-PPWD-1-7-017-1888-400
Fort St near makai-Waikiki corner with Queen St-King St crossing in distance-1880s
Fort St near makai-Waikiki corner with Queen St-King St crossing in distance-1880s
Fort Street looking across King Street-early 1889
Fort Street looking across King Street-early 1889
Honolulu_the_Pele-PPWD-9-4-014-1888
Honolulu_the_Pele-PPWD-9-4-014-1888
Hotel Street looking toward Waikiki at corner with Fort St-1882
Hotel Street looking toward Waikiki at corner with Fort St-1882
Kaahumanu_Street-1880
Kaahumanu_Street-1880
Kalakaua Hale - Police Station 1886
Kalakaua Hale – Police Station 1886
Kawaiahao Church in 1885-Look towards Diamond Head
Kawaiahao Church in 1885-Look towards Diamond Head
Looking-mauka-on-Fort-Street-on-corner-of-Fort-and-Merchant-Streets-1881.jpg
Looking-mauka-on-Fort-Street-on-corner-of-Fort-and-Merchant-Streets-1881.jpg
Looking mauka on lower Fort Street-1885
Looking mauka on lower Fort Street-1885
Washington_Place,_Honolulu,_Hawaii,_1886
Washington_Place,_Honolulu,_Hawaii,_1886
'Entrance_to_Honolulu_Harbor'-William_Alexander_Coulter-1882
‘Entrance_to_Honolulu_Harbor’-William_Alexander_Coulter-1882

Filed Under: Economy, General, Buildings, Place Names Tagged With: Oahu, Downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, Honolulu

August 17, 2018 by Peter T Young 2 Comments

Young America

Manifest Destiny was the widely held belief that American settlers were destined to expand throughout the continent. In part, the stage was first set in 1803 when President Thomas Jefferson negotiated the 828,000-square mile Louisiana Purchase from France.

Journalist John L O’Sullivan wrote an article in 1839 and predicted a “divine destiny” for the US, “This is our high destiny, and in nature’s eternal, inevitable decree of cause and effect we must accomplish it. All this will be our future history, to establish on earth the moral dignity and salvation of man.”

Later, ‘Young America’ was the name adopted by the liberal, expansionist movement within the Democratic party that was sympathetic to nationalist and republican movements in Europe. (LOC)

The phrase ‘Young America’ connoted territorial and commercial expansion of the US. During the years leading up to the Civil War, it permeated various parts of the Democratic party, producing new perspectives in the realms of economics, foreign policy, and constitutionalism.

“Historians have used the catchphrase “Young America” in several murky contexts, generating confusion about whether the name refers to a faction or a movement, a fad or a rhetorical device, or a general label for the times. The term “Young America” in fact stood for all of these things.” (Eyal)

Loosely united by a generational affiliation, New Democrats referred to themselves as “young Democrats,” “progressive Democrats,” or simply as “Young America.”

Led by figures such as Senator Stephen A Douglas of Illinois and editor John L O’Sullivan of New York, Young America Democrats gained power during the late 1840s and early 1850s.

They challenged a variety of orthodox Jacksonian assumptions, influencing both the nation’s foreign policy and its domestic politics. (Eyal)

Franklin Pierce, US President from 1853-1857, was in line with the Young America agenda, emphasizing expansion. He signed the Gadsden Purchase in December 30 1853, adding about 30,000-acres of land (of what is now the southern boundary of Arizona). (Berkin, Miller & Cherny)

By one means or another, Pierce also sought to acquire Hawaii, Santo Domingo, and Alaska. (NPS) Young America and Pierce’s expansion thought came to the Islands. It was a time other countries were causing concern of takeover in the Islands.

In February 6, 1854, an order of the King to Wyllie noted, “that plans are on foot inimical (unfavorable) to the peace of Our Kingdom and the welfare of our people, and such as if carried out would be wholly subversive of Our Sovereignty, and would reduce Us to the most deplorable of all states, a state of anarchy …”

“Whereas, exigencies (emergencies) may arise of such a nature as to render it imperative upon Us, for the security of the just rights of Our chiefs and people, that We should seek the alliance of the United States of America.”

“We Do Hereby command you, Our Minister of Foreign Relations, to take such immediate steps as may be necessary and proper, by negotiation or otherwise, to ascertain the views of the United States in relation to the Annexation thereto of these Islands …”

“… and also the terms and conditions upon which the same can be affected, with the object of being fully prepared to meet any sudden danger that may arise, threatening the existence or independence of Our Kingdom.” (Signed by the King and Keoni Ana (Kuhina Nui))

Subsequent instructions from the King to Wyllie (February 21, 1854) noted, “You will immediately enter upon a negotiation ad referendum with the Commissioners of the United States of America, in case of necessity, and which shall fully secure Our rights and the rights of Our chiefs and people …”

“When the treaty ad referendum as aforesaid, is completed, you will submit the same to Us, which will be subject to Our approval, modification or rejection; and in case We shall deem it wise and necessary, to submit it to the Representatives of Our people, subject also to their approval.” (Signed by King Kamehameha III, and approved by Prince Liholiho, Keoni Ana and all the Ministers)

“On the 4th of July, 1854, the foreign community expressed their hopes of annexation by a grand celebration of the day. A car, decorated with evergreens, in which were seated thirty-two girls of American parentage, dressed in white, wreathed in flowers, each bearing the name of a State on her sash, in large gold letters, was drawn by a power unseen.”

“Next followed ‘Young America,’ a company of very young men in uniform, with another triumphal chariot, on which was placed a beautiful boy, the very personification of health, strength, and beauty. ‘Young Hawaii’ was in tow, and represented by a boat gaily trimmed, in which were eight young native lads, fancifully dressed, and carelessly eating sugar-cane.”

“The procession marched through the principal streets to the stone church, where an eloquent address was delivered by the American Commissioner, in which it was more than hinted that a new star was about to be added to the glorious constellation.” (Judd)

As noted above, “a Treaty is about concluded … (for Hawaiʻi’s) annexation to the United States … The only unsettled question in relation to the annexation is, whether the Islands shall come in as a Territory or a State.” (New York Daily Tribune, July 20, 1854)

The Annexation Treaty was never finalized, “The signatures were yet wanting; His Majesty (Kamehameha III) more determined and impatient than ever, when he was taken suddenly ill, and died in three weeks (December 15, 1854.)” (Judd)

His adopted son and heir, Alexander Liholiho, was immediately proclaimed king, under the title of Kamehameha IV. Soon afterwards he expressed his wish that the negotiations that had been begun with Mr Gregg should be broken off, which was done. (Alexander)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2018 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Franklin_Pierce-WC
Franklin_Pierce-WC

Filed Under: General, Economy Tagged With: Hawaii, Annexation, Manifest Destiny, Young America, President Franklin Pierce

August 15, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Panama Canal

When US independence closed the colonial trade routes within the British empire, the merchantmen and whalers of New England swarmed around the Horn, in search of new markets and sources of supply.

As trade grew, European and East Coast continental commerce continued to round Cape Horn of South America to get to the Pacific (although the Arctic northern route was shorter and sometimes used, it could mean passage in cold and stormy seas, and in many cases the shorter distance might take longer and cost more than the southern route.)

As trade and commerce expanded across the Pacific, numerous countries were looking for faster passage and many looked to Nicaragua and Panama in Central America for possible dredging of a canal as a shorter, safer passage between the two Oceans.

In 1881, France started construction of a canal through the Panama isthmus. By 1899, after thousands of deaths (primarily due to yellow fever) and millions of dollars, they abandoned the project and sold their interest to the United States.

After Panamanian independence from Columbia in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt announced that the US would complete a canal across the Isthmus of Panama, begun years earlier by a French company.

For a while, starting in 1907, some ships took their freight via the Tehuantepee route, where ships called at Coatzacoalcos in the southern area of the Gulf of Mexico, where their cargo was taken across this narrow part of Mexico via rail to Salina Cruz on the Pacific.

“It is interesting in this connection to compare the gradual movement of freight from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast, across the Isthmus of Panama and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in the six years previous to the opening of the canal.”

“In this period coast to coast tonnage increased 446 per cent. In 1907 the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company inaugurated its coast to coast service via the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.”

“In 1911 the California Atlantic Steamship Company inaugurated a line via Panama. Though the distance from San Francisco to New York by the Isthmus routes is over 2,000 miles longer than by rail, the shipments have steadily increased with the advance of each new steamship line.” (Bennet)

Before the Panama Canal was ‘officially’ opened for commerce, “The first commercial business handled by the canal was a shipload of sugar from Hawaii.”

“The American-Hawaiian steam ship Alaskan could not use the Tehuantepec route for the transfer of its cargo, on account of the war in Mexico, so it went to Balboa instead.”

“There it was met by the tug Mariner, with several barges in tow. The tug and its tow left Cristobal at 6 am on May 19th (1914), reaching Balboa at 6:40 that evening.”

“This was the first continuous ocean-to-ocean trip through the Panama Canal by any vessel. The entire 12,300-ton cargo of the Alaskan was thereupon lightered through the canal by the Mariner.”

“On August 15, 1914, the canal officially opened for commerce. On that day at 7:10 am, according to a prearranged schedule, the Ancon, one of the big cement-carrying steamers of construction days, left her berth at Cristobal with about 200 distinguished guests aboard, and in nine hours and forty minutes completed the passage from sea to sea.” (Bennett)

“The first cargo ship passing westward through the Panama Canal to call at Honolulu was the American Hawaiian Steamship Company’s SS Missourian commanded by Captain Wm. Lyons, on September 16, 1914.” (Schmitt)

The Panama Canal is a 51-mile ship canal in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean.

The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. The American Society of Civil Engineers named the Panama Canal one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

The canal would cut 8,000 miles off the distance ships had to travel from the east coast to the west. No canal of this scale had been built before, and many said it could not be done.

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2018 Hoʻokuleana LLC

SS_Alaskan_(1902)
SS_Alaskan_(1902)
125-French_method_of_excavation_in_Culebra_Cut
125-French_method_of_excavation_in_Culebra_Cut
1886_bas_obispo
1886_bas_obispo
Panama_Canal_Lock_Forms
Panama_Canal_Lock_Forms
PanamaCanal1913a
PanamaCanal1913a
Panama_Canal_under_construction,_1907
Panama_Canal_under_construction,_1907
Before_Photograph_of_the_Panama_Canal-WC
Before_Photograph_of_the_Panama_Canal-WC
After_Photograph_of_the_Panama_Canal
After_Photograph_of_the_Panama_Canal
USSMinnesotaPanamaCanal
USSMinnesotaPanamaCanal
panama-canal-history
panama-canal-history
SS_Ancon_entering_west_chamber_cph.3b17471u
SS_Ancon_entering_west_chamber_cph.3b17471u
US Trade-Panama-canal
US Trade-Panama-canal
panama-canal-map
panama-canal-map

Filed Under: Sailing, Shipping & Shipwrecks, Economy, General Tagged With: Hawaii, Panama Canal, Alaskan, Tehuantepee

August 5, 2018 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Wreck of the Bering

“Russians – or explorers hired by Russians – were curious about northeastern Asia and the American continent, wanting to know if the two were connected.”

“As early as 1648 Simeyon Dezhnev had passed through what would become known as Bering Strait ad into the Bering Sea. Dezhnev had discovered there was no land connection between Asia and America”.

“In 1728 Vitus Bering, a Dane in the service of Russia, sailed the same area, but at no time coming or going did he sight the American continent through the fogs and mists.”

“In June 1741 Vitius Bering tried again in the ship St Peter. On this terribly trying trip he did see the American mainland, but did not go ashore. On his way south Bering was shipwrecked a d died of scurvy.”

“Those who survived constructed a small boat from the wreckage of the St Peter. James Cook later used some of Bering’s charts in searching for the Northwest Passage.”

“The greatest commotion involving Bering’s second voyage did not result from the American continent, but rather from a book published by a German, George Steller, who was a naturalist aboard the St Peter.”

“In his book Steller gave the first descriptions of four previously unknown marine mammals – the fur seal, the sea otter, the sea lion and the sea cow.”

“The revelation of the existence of these creatures in large numbers brought Russian trappers, hunters and adventurers to the Aleutian Islands, to Alaska and down the Northwest Coast of America. Because of the profitable trade involved, the Russian American Company was founded.”

“In 1790 Alexander Baranov was named manager of the Russian American Company and was appointed governor of Russian America. … “

“The Russians would have preferred to keep the fur trade to themselves, but that was impossible … they could not guard the extensive coast … (and) the Russians received supplies on an irregular basis from ports far away. … The first Russian ships to visit Hawaii came in 1804.” (Joesting)

“From American and British traders who visited both the Russian settlements and Hawaii, the governor of the Russian company, Alexander Baranov, learned something about the resources and convenient location of the islands, and Kamehameha learned something about the needs of the Russians.”

“The general situation was obviously favorable to a useful commerce between the two places. Russian ships first visited the islands in 1804. but were not seen by Kamehameha.”

“A year or two afterwards. the latter made known to Baranov that he would “gladly send a ship every year with swine, salt. batatas [sweet potatoes], and other articles of food, if [the Russians] would in exchange let him have sea-otter skins at a fair price.” (Kuykendall)

“Shortly after, Baranov sent out (two) expeditions, American and British traders became embroiled in the War of 1812. With American and British ships pitted against one another, Baranov saw an opportunity for profit. Several American traders chose to sell their ships to Baranov at reduced prices rather than face the possibility that their ships would be captured or sunk.”

“Baranov had few available navigators, however, so American captains often continued to sail the vessels under contact to the RAC.”

“Baranov bought the Atahualpa and another ship, the Lydia, in exchange for twenty thousand sealskins in December 1813. The Atahualpa was renamed the Bering, after the leader of the first Russian expedition to reach Alaska. Its American captain, James Bennett, remained in command and sailed to Okhotsk to pick up the furs that were being used to buy the ship.” (Mills)

“The Bering sailed to Hawaii in late 1814 for a load of provisions destined for the North American colonies. After making stops at Kauai, Maui and Oahu, the ill-fated vessel made one land stop at Waimea, Kauai, on January 30, 1815.”

“At 3 am the next morning, the ship ran aground in Waimea Bay during a gale. The shipwrecked men were stranded on Kauai for more than two months, eventually receiving passage off the island on April 11, 1815 … Kauai islanders, under the rule of paramount chief Kaumuali‘i, retained the ship’s goods, including its cargo of furs”.

“It appears that Captain Bennett was livid about the whole affair. He proceeded to Sitka and advised Baranov to use force to retrieve the cargo. Baranov, however, chose diplomacy over force, sending Georg Anton Schäffer to Hawai’i on the American ship Isabella to resolve the situation.” (Mills)

Later that year, Schäffer arrived in Honolulu. Schäffer began building a fort and raised the Russian flag. When Kamehameha discovered this, he sent several of his men to remove the Russians from O‘ahu, by force, if necessary. The Russians judiciously chose to sail for Kaua‘i, instead of risking bloodshed.

Once on Kauai, Schäffer gained the confidence of King Kaumuali‘i, when he promised the king that the Russian Tsar would help him to break free of Kamehameha’s rule.

In 1817, however, it was discovered that Schäffer did not have the support of the Russian Tsar. He was forced to leave Hawai‘i, and Captain Alexander Adams, a Scotsman who served in the navy of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i, raised the Kingdom of Hawai‘i flag over the fort in October 1817.

Eventually, over-hunting greatly diminished the number of sea otters and fur seals in the North Pacific. By the 1850s, New Archangel, which once owed its existence to the fur trade depended instead on a shipyard, a fish saltery, sawmills and an ice-exporting business.

The RAC and the Russian government no longer profited from the colony, instead focusing their main commercial activities on tea importing. The Crimean War highlighted Russian America’s vulnerability to attack by other European nations.

The Tsar decided to sell in 1867 rather than lose the territory in another war. The US States bought Alaska for $7.2 million, or approximately 2 cents per acre, and Russia ended its 126-year-old North American enterprise. (NPS)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2018 Hoʻokuleana LLC

atahualpa-bering
atahualpa-bering

Filed Under: Economy, General, Prominent People, Sailing, Shipping & Shipwrecks Tagged With: Kauai, Waimea, Russians in Hawaii, Schaffer, Alexander Baranov, Bering, Russian American Company, Hawaii

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 146
  • 147
  • 148
  • 149
  • 150
  • …
  • 238
  • Next Page »

Images of Old Hawaiʻi

People, places, and events in Hawaiʻi’s past come alive through text and media in “Images of Old Hawaiʻi.” These posts are informal historic summaries presented for personal, non-commercial, and educational purposes.

Info@Hookuleana.com

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Kuahewa
  • Adventures of a University Lecturer
  • 250 Years Ago … Continental Navy
  • Wī
  • Anthony Lee Ahlo
  • Women Warriors
  • Rainbow Plan

Categories

  • Mayflower Summaries
  • American Revolution
  • General
  • Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance
  • Buildings
  • Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings
  • Hawaiian Traditions
  • Military
  • Place Names
  • Prominent People
  • Schools
  • Sailing, Shipping & Shipwrecks
  • Economy
  • Voyage of the Thaddeus

Tags

Albatross Al Capone Ane Keohokalole Archibald Campbell Bernice Pauahi Bishop Charles Reed Bishop Downtown Honolulu Eruption Founder's Day George Patton Great Wall of Kuakini Green Sea Turtle Hawaii Hawaii Island Hermes Hilo Holoikauaua Honolulu Isaac Davis James Robinson Kamae Kamaeokalani Kamanawa Kameeiamoku Kamehameha Schools Lalani Village Lava Flow Lelia Byrd Liliuokalani Mao Math Mauna Loa Midway Monk Seal Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Oahu Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Pearl Pualani Mossman Queen Liliuokalani Thomas Jaggar Volcano Waikiki Wake Wisdom

Hoʻokuleana LLC

Hoʻokuleana LLC is a Planning and Consulting firm assisting property owners with Land Use Planning efforts, including Environmental Review, Entitlement Process, Permitting, Community Outreach, etc. We are uniquely positioned to assist you in a variety of needs.

Info@Hookuleana.com

Copyright © 2012-2024 Peter T Young, Hoʻokuleana LLC

 

Loading Comments...