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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 1905)
44 THE OREGOT, PORTLAND. JU2E 11, 1K. YAURJD AND lDGEtMJJ ?Ip ttvXII "-v i! ' tVv ..iw - -mimimim . .ii vftirr - wn, wv HONOLULU, May 20. (Special Cor respondence of The Sunday Ore gonian.) Hawaii abounds In folk lore'and weird legends. The land Is be lieved to swarm -with gnomes and fair ies, and the -water with nymphs and monsters. The simple-minded native, whose grandfather would have backed away from a pair of pants like a mustang shying at new harness, tells us that the god of the air carries around the wind In a calabash. He solemnly relates that an immense bird once laid an egg In the ocean, which in time was hatched by the tropic winds, and thus the Hawaiian Islands were created. One of the prettiest legends Is that of the cocoanut tree. The story goes that a beautiful Princess was very much beloved by one of the chiefs who was a noted athlete. He tried to please her in every way, swimming the lakesrand bringing her rare flowers and choice fruits from the other side of the island, but sho would not listen to his suit Ho found life not worth living without her. and expired from the pain of his unrequited affectloo. Before- ho died he said to the Princess, "The time will surely come when you will kiss me of your own free will." Years afterward, while the Princess was walking one day by the beach, her attention was attracted to a beautiful towering tree of a new and strange variety. Its tufted head nodded proudly in the wind, and her eager gaze was centered upon its delicious fruit. An at tendant procured one of the great green nuts for her, and as she was in the act of raising it to her lips, to drink the milk, she heard a voice say, "Do you embrace roc with your own free will." The spirit of the Prince had taken the form of the cocoanut tree. The Valley of the Rain. Another legend concerns the fair val ley of Manoa, the place of daily rain. It was here, in the long ago, that a lovely Princess was murdered by her lover be cause ho thought she had betrayed him to a god. The maiden was really Inno cent of the charge and rather than take revenge for her murder the gods decreed that a gentle rain should fall daily in the place where she had died, the sparkling drops of moisture representing the tears of tho angels and the graces of the de parted maiden. This valley is one of the most fertllo in the region of Honolulu, all owing to the fact that the memory of the gentle Princess Is kept green by the constant fall of rain. Still another story deals with the cause of the reverence which is shown the hog. This animal was not always a lowly breast content to root in the mud and forage for the sake of its appetite. It once had the power to roam the posses sions of Kings and live upon the milk of the land. One bold ruler came to grief by sending his followers forth to give battle to the hog and destroy it. When approached the animal seemed docile enough and was led away an unresisting captive. "When the god for the hog was really that in those days Judged he had gone a proper distance, he suddenly turned and tore his captors to pieces. Af ter this he was treated like a hero and for centuries was regarded as one of the country's greatest warriors. This yarn about the hog's prowess as a fighter. If It takes a notion, has been handed down to posterity as a warning to all persons to approach this much-prized animal with caution. Why tho Volcano Cooled. Another pretty legend Is that con cerning the fire goddess, who lived in a volcano. She was the most beautiful woman on the 'earth, and yet she kept alive the blazing hell that smouldered In the belly of the mountain, threatening the lives of all the Inhabitants round about. One day she took a journey to a far-off mountain to rest herself. Soon after her arrival she was disturbed by the turn turn of a drum. She looked about and found that it was being beaten to keep time for a Prince who was dancing the hula. -She straightway took part in the gaiety by singing the refrain to words of her own composition. The Prince was naturally surprised and enchanted by the appearance of the beau tiful singer. "When the song was ended fee invited the fair stranger to the royal offering her Refreshments and (fSSr ' --F ' I Ij IRflrelli& food. After a short courtship they were I X'fy9f$'- 'MByf ,f '-;jKxtfiWr ' I ' IP ' jmWjfc , . J for some time the fire" EoddesJ informed No reference to the old order of things in Hawaii would be complete without mention of the kahuna, or native doctor. He was a sort of wizard or soothsayer, who was reverenced and feared by all the people. He was supposed to have the power -of life and death, and It was ac cepted as a matter of fact that he could pray one's life away. Next to the voodoo priests of Haytl, the Hawaiian kahuna is the most mysterious Individual of whom we have any account. They say It is not at all unusual for a man or woman to be prayed to death, and the explanation is the use of suggestion. When the idea of death becomes fully lodged in the mind of a patient the end is easy from the sheer force of Imagination. It has been charged that I'egetablc pois ons figure In these fatal prayings, but there seems to be no evidence to sub-1 stantlato this claim. The reader may scoff at -tho idea of a man being able to pray a person to death, but one has only to see the baneful light In the kahuna's eyes to recognize the presence of somo strange power. Once the Idea of death suggests Itself to a sick person medicine can do him no good. Thore are those who assert that the beautiful Princess Kalu lano was a victim of the kahunas. It is certain that the house was surrounded by them at the time of her death. Wh.cn her mother died she too was strongly influenced by the belief that the kahunas were praying her life away. She remarked to one of her white friends that it was no uso for her to try to live against the influence of the native wiz ards. The white physicians tried to force medicine down her throat, but she re sisted with all her strength. She asserted that her time had come and that she was ready to go. This is not generally spoken of, but it is known to bo true by many people in Honolulu. Soothsayers Dress Gnlly. Of course, the kahunas do not hare the same hold -upon the people that they had In days gone by. Tho belief in thorn is a superstition which really belongs to - tho old generation. They are now regarded as doctors who practice without a license and are treated accordingly. Sometimes an old inhabitant will Insist upon being treated by a kahuna, but if the native doctor falls, a white physician Is then called In. One of these soothsayers Is easily distinguished on the streets of Honolulu by the scarlet handkerchief he wears around his neck. When Indoors he is very gay In his dress, but on the street he only allows himself a trace of scarlet. There is onevcnerable wizard that is said to be over JO years of age, living in the hills near Honolulu, and who is noted for the wonderful power of his eye. Ho Is filthy, ragged and unkempt, but the strange light In his eye holds the natives In awe and attracts many curious white people who want to see what he is like. And now, leaving the legends and super stitions of the fair island behind, we come to what may be called Hawaii's skeleton in the closet. It is the leper settlement in the mountains of MolokaL It is located on a peninsula of somo 000 acres in ex tent. It is surrounded on three sides from the ocean, and on the remaining side by a steep precipice about 1500 feet In height. The settlement can only be ap proached by a email pathway, and two policemen are always on goard here to prevent anyone from entering. Only a Pew White Lepers. About 140 Lepers were sent here in 1S55, and the number has increased from time to time until there are now about 50 persons In the community. Nine-tenths of the afflicted inmates of the place are either Chinese or natives, white people being rarely susceptible to the disease. Little is known of this dreaded malady. It is a cureless but painless affliction, and , the theory is that It can only be taken from contact. 1he first symptoms are generally little snots behind the cars. One of its strangest features is - that children born of leprous parents are sel dom afflicted. AH children born' at Molo- kai are carefully watched until they are se von years of age, and if at that time i they are found to bo non-lepers they are taken to Honolulu and placed in an instl- tutlon provided for them. These children I are carefully sheltered and nurtured and ' The Personal C w-vROFESSOR" JOHN DONALDSON. Itcnown as the "Champion of the West," faced me in 1SS0 at Cin cinnati for a purse of $150. Think of mc fighting for such a bunch of chick en feed! After three rounds, tho "pro fessor" quit and pulled off the gloves. The audience hooted and said sarcastic things. "I am sick and out of condition," was the excuse the professor gave. But he was threatened and coaxed Into putting on the gloves again, and he went on for another round. T hammered him all over the ring, but by running and holding he managed to .slay. That was a big feather in my cap. which hadn't many plumes at the time. Just pin feathers, except for the one I collected from Joe Goss. Donaldson tried to get back his repu tation by challenging me to a battle with hard "gloves. "We met again on December 24. The professor was put out In ten rounds, lasting 21 minutes. Most of the time he hugged the floor or ran around the ring, but finally I got him placed right and the Job was done. We were arrested the next day (Christ mas) and as no evidence was brought out against us we were discharged. One fel low, when asked by the Judge if he had seen any fighting, replied: "No sir, it was a footrace." , "Who was ahead7" asked the Judge. "Donaldson. Sullivan was a dose sec ond, but could not catch him." After we were discharged and the case dosed, the Judge, the Prosecuting Attor ney, my lawyer, the witnesses and my self went to a saloon and celebrated In bubbling champagne during a very en joyable afternoon. Cuts Out Red Stuff. In sizing me up. sports make the mis take of putting me on the same level with has-beens who have passed out.of almost Invariably grow up to -be useful 1 little houses and all may have their gar cltizcns. J dens and their little fields. It seems horrible to be sent to an out- j They are permitted to mingle with each of-the-way island for life, but It is said j other socially, and may marry if they that few of those who have been com- choose. The state pays for all expenses mitted to Molokal would care to leave. i of living, and charitably inclined per There are schools, churches, musical so- j cietles and a good band. There is even J a racetrack where those of the lepers , who own horses can Indulge in speed con- t tests. The lepers live in rows of -pretty Recollections of the game. I duck that. Nearly all the fighters who went out quick failed to hold on because they got punished when trained to an edge, and they were too weakened to get back. I never was over trained but once, and I never received a bad beating from any man's fists. The fight has never been clouted out of me. and that's why I am able to "come back." though the guessers don't believe it. But I'll show them. I weigh today 269 pounds, and even If my hair Is white I'm going to make 230 and a new repu tation. In all my battles none of my opponents was able to get near enough to do me any harm with his fists. In the one case where I was done up it was owing to the fact that I bad to chase a dub 25 miles' around a ring. Fltz's hammering ended Corbett- Shar key disabled Kid McCoy so that he never got back, even If he did take five wives and Is able to reach for the sixth. Terry McGovem shows the effects of the pound ing he got in his winning as well as bis losing fights. There are many other such cases, but no man living has ever given me a beating with his fists that counted. I have yet to feel the experience of get ting a fair and square walloping, and it's because rre never had my courage brok en by defeat "under another man's blows that I can't be put but by comparing me with defeated and badly punished boxers. Gold and Diamond Belt Event. As the front goes down I am beginning to hope, that I may once more see myself as I was In the Summer of 1SS7, when the citizens of Boston gave me the cham pionship belt. ThU was presented to me in the Boston Theater, August 8 of that year, and there was more gold in It than was ever used In all the "gold cures," and more diamonds than there are In all the baseball leagues In this country. There were 97 diamonds In. it, and -250 of these were used to seell say name. It was a magnificent piece of workmanship, sons supply many comforts such as books, magazines, music and other luxuries, Once each year an entertainment Is given by the society people of Honolulu and all the proceeds are devoted to providing John L. Sullivan pronounced the finest ever made, costing between J3CC0 and Jl'J.OCO. and the largest piece of fiat gold ever seen in the country. It was 43 Inches In length and 12 Inches wide. It weighed 2S0O pennyweights and took three months to make. The sports In those days didn't have as much money as they have now, but they were willing to contribute hand somely for the real thing In sport. Think of the ceneroslty that made that belt, and comparo It" with the state ment of ISr. Jeffries that he retires from the ring because there's no money In fighting. Don't It prove what I said, that the American people have lost Interest and confidence in the wearers of fight titles, which are sup ported by vaudeville stunts Instead of fighting. Surest thing you know. "When fighters will get back to fight ing and give the stage managers and the press agents the. go by, the Ameri can people will pass out the coin by the. shovelful, and the diamond belts and things, with Just as free a hand as they did when the American ring fighter stood first In the world. Just as they gave up for Dewey when he won the belt In his style of scrapping. "Tainted" Money Where It Belongs. As to this "tainted money" business. I want to chip In with old John D long enough to eay that I think, some of these geysers who are spouting against it are Just making a grand-stand play. The money Rockefeller puts up will buy Just as many meal tickets for the missionaries as- if it had been handed out by some fellow who had never, smelled kerosene. Never heard of any body refusing to take my money, did you? Pv let go of a pile of It. and a lot of it went to churches and chari ties, but I can't remember that any Jbody sent any of it back because I'd 5S " comforts for the lepers. No Christmas or holiday is allowed to pass without sending gifts and goodies to the children on the Island. To be committed to Molokai Is really not such a great hardship upon any un married or unattached person, but when a husband or wife becomes afflicted the separation is, of course, a terrible ordeal. It, Is worse than If they were sent to prison for-Hfe. "Worse because the pris Ex-Champion Lets Loose 8 He Has Cut made It selling my kind of knockout drops to put fellows to sleep. Take Rockefeller's stuff, all you can get of it, for the same reason Ben Butler ujed to advise the Democrats in Massachusetts (when he happened to be a Democrat), to take Republican money to spoil the Egyptians. I wouldn't swap places with old Rock, but that wouldn't stop me from taking his coin, because what he has belongs to the rest of us as much as it does to him. He has to live on crackers and milk, and I'll bet he'd give all hl3 pile If he could eat and enjoy the dinner I had today of corned beef and cab bage. His money is not much use to him, and we'd be doing him and our selves a good turn by taking It. The money ought to bejkept right in this country, though. It belongs here, and the heathen are not perish ing for red flannel shirts. You don't find John D.'s sparring- partner. Rogers, who used to push a handcart around, the streets - of New Bedford, throwing his coin to the heathen. H's keeping it in the United States, where, some day it will come In handy when he nas let go of It. Coming Bantam Fracas. The "Job done by Owen Moran, the British bantam, on Monte Attell, in New York, ma'kes him fit to meet F rankle Neil, our champion In this class, and I understand they will meet In San Francisco In July. Attell Is en titled to another try with the Britisher, for he certainly made a game battle of it for the last ten rounds of the twenty, and was on his feet at the finish- My opinion Is that while the British are improving because they are learn ing our style, any American can" beat any Englishman of equal weight. Mo ran deserved the decision, over Attell, but the work Monte did should, result oner may be paraoned," but the leper has not the slightest hope of cure. One of the saddest sights in the world is when, a steamer is departing with a new lot of leper3 for Molokai. Husband and wife are often ruthlessly torn from each other and In most all instances those who are not afflicted, beg for permission to enter the colony with their loved ones. There have been instances where a husband would develop into a leper and be sent to the island, leaving his wife and chil dren with no means of support, and these cases are so pitiful that it seems the government should provide for all rather than see them suffer. At intervals a ship Is sent to Molokal upon which relatives and friends of the lepers may have free passage to pay a visit to the afflicted colonists. On tho arrival of this boat at the island the visitors are escorted Into an enclosure which Is guarded on every side by wire. They can talk through this fence, but there must be no contact. These visits mean much to the afflicted ones and their friends. Another sad feature of the island life is that all children born there must be taken away at the age of 7 years, unless they have become Inoculated in the meantime. Imagine the anguish it must mean to a father and mother to look upon their children when they are little and realize that they will soon be taken away from them, and that although they may re turn at intervals to talk to them, that they will never he permitted to touch them again. This is really the essence of tragedy. The sad case of one young wife who was sent to Molokai would cause the stoutest heart to bleed with pity. She had only been married a year and her first baby, was about to be born, when it was discovered that she was In the first stage of leprosy. Of course, the husband did everything within his power to save her from the Island, but the law was stern and they took her away. The case was so extremely pitiful that tjre authori ties agreed to break the rutes for 'once and allow the husband to remain with his wife until after the birth of their child. The baby did not live a day, and the guard in making his round3 found the unfortunate couple entwined in each others' arms, both in the last long sleep of death. An empty morphine bottle at the bedside told the silent story of de spair. Surely a merciful God will deal gently with souls so terribly tried a3 these! FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Opinions on "Tainted" Money Out the "Red Stuff." in him keeping the confidence of his friends. Perhaps, after Moran has tackled Franklo Nell, the Britisher will have lost some of his steam and At tell will be more in line for the work cut out for him. Tom O'Rourke thinks so well of Moran that he proposes to back him when he faces Neil, but Tom doesn't guess right .all the time. From what I can learn about Moran. the 20 rounds he will have to go against Neil Is too far a distance for him, and his punching ability will be pretty well used up under the treat ment the American champion will pro vide. It will be a nice trial, however, and I am going to make the effort to see It. Moran did not have the goods to put Attell out, and he will need more than he has shown up to date to take honors from Neil, who has con fidence; push and know-how to burn. Your truly, JOHN I. SULLIVAN. The Dollar's Confession. Washington Star. The solemn organ pealed in state. The chqlr melodious sang: Upon the contribution plate A silver dollar ranr The coin was thinking on its past. And sighed. "Were they acquainted-. "With me Td from their midst be cast. For I am surely tainted.' " The deacon listened as It spoke: "I've swelled the miser's hoard, rve fastened on the toiler's yoke And sharpened many & sword; Pve fed the proud and scorned distress ;. I've done, the gambler's mission; All this and more I do confess. With sorrow and contrition." The honest churchman said: "Sly fame Is scant for wit and learning. But 'tis my duty sure to claim A brand forth from the burning. Perhaps you'll' find aad conquer yet A nobler destination A dollar, like a man. should get- A chance at refo relation."".