CHAPTER VII

FROM 1853 TO 1861

NATHANIEL SAVORY, citizen of the United States, is now the "Chief Magistrate" on the Bonin Islands and, in virtue of the office he holds as the agent of the U.S. Squadron, the Stars and Stripes and not the Union Jack is the flag that he runs up on his flagstaff. We have nothing but goodwill towards Nathaniel, but somehow, where the Union Jack had once been flying, we do not like to see it dismissed in a cavalier way by an American officer and told that its services are no longer required.

But Commodore Perry was after all not to have a quiet walk-over. Our old friend Mr. Alexander Simpson--the stout defender of British interests, whether now retired from the Consular Service or not I cannot say--got wind of what had been happening, and from Scotland had the courage to write a brief letter to Lord Clarendon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In it he practically put three questions to his lordship: whether he was aware that there were certain islands known as the Bonin Islands which belonged to Great Britain? Secondly, whether he was aware of their importance? Thirdly, whether he was aware of the fact that the officer commanding the United States' expedition to Japan had made purchase on the main island of land for a Government Coal Depot?

As a result of that letter, when Commodore Perry was refitting at Hong-Kong in the winter of 1853 on his return from his first visit to Japan, he was not too well pleased when the Governor, Sir George Bonham, called on him one day and informed him that there was a little matter in connexion with the Bonin Islands that he had been instructed by his Government to inquire about. No doubt the Commodore would be obliging enough to tell him what he had done there and just with what intention he had made purchase of a site of land on the harbour. I say that the Commodore was not too well pleased at being thus unexpectedly called on to render an account of his actions to a British Governor, the more so because he had been coming to a conclusion in his own mind that whatever warrant there was for England to claim rights over the central island of the Bonin group, she had no warrant whatever to extend her claim over the South Island. That island, though he had taken upon himself to name it Bailey Island, had never been visited by Captain Beechey, and undoubtedly had been previously named Coffin Island by Captain Coffin of an American whaler. The outcome of these reflections was that when the Commodore had come on to Hong-Kong from Japan he had told off Captain Kelly of the Plymouth to call at the Bonin Islands and to formally take possession of the S. Island in the name of the United States. This, I may say, Captain Kelly did, and following Captain Beechey's example had a copper plate announcing the fact fixed to a sycamore tree near the landing stage. The Commodore said nothing about this further little move of his in the letter of explanation that he wrote to Sir George Bonham. For the rest, he put as simple a construction on his actions as they could bear: The question of the ownership of the island, he contended, was not one for him to enter into: the British Government must, if necessary, satisfy the United States Government of Great Britain's right to them: the purchase of the land had been a private purchase, but designed to facilitate the securing of a good position for a coal depot in the event of the Bonin port becoming a port of refuge and supply for steamers plying between California and China; he further contended that it was practically in the common interests alike of Great Britain and the United States to work together for the securing of such a port and for the making it as convenient and as serviceable a port as possible. This, as far as we know, was the end of the matter. It might not have been, had the port scheme come to anything, but it did not, and the Commodore's investment in land proved, I am afraid, of no advantage either to himself or to his country.

The stay of the Plymouth at the Bonin Islands was marked by an untoward accident. One of her cutters with fourteen men on board had gone outside the harbour in the face of a somewhat rough sea and was never more heard of, there being no doubt that she capsized with all hands, not one of whom ever reached shore.

It fell to the Plymouth to contribute to the Bonin colony one of its not least notable recruits. This was a man called George Horton, formerly an English seaman who had fought under Lord Nelson at Trafalgar and the Nile. Somehow he had come to be serving on the Plymouth as Quartermaster, and by his own request, his term having expired, he was discharged and forthwith threw in his lot with the settlers. In 1862, when he was an old man of eighty he was involved in a serious quarrel with the captain of a Japanese whaler. It was over a chest which Horton had undertaken to fetch in a boat from the whaler and bring on shore for the presumable owner. He was challenged by the captain, but neither of them being able to speak the language of the other, and neither of them being in a civil mood, it came to this, that Horton was determined to take the chest away and the captain was equally determined that he should not. It is quite possible that the captain may have had good grounds for not allowing the chest to be taken away, but his Japanese blood was up and, the whaler being on the point of sailing, he ruthlessly made the old man a prisoner and took him bound with a rope to Yokohama where he was charged in the United States' Consular Court with making a "piratical attempt" (!) on the vessel. The fact that Horton at the time happened to have an old gun with him was cited in support of the absurd charge, but he was, of course, acquitted, and the Japanese were called upon either to replace him in possession of his house and clearing on the island, or to deposit a thousand dollars with the American Consul to be applied to his support in Yokohama. The latter course was agreed to, and Horton was thus supported till his death, which took place about two years later. A tombstone was erected to his memory which may be seen to-day in the cemetery at Yokohama.

In 1854 a squadron of Russian ships entered Port Lloyd. Here was an opportunity for further complications to have arisen but, having had her look at them, Russia apparently came to the conclusion that she had no use for the islands and left them unmolested. Following close on this visit came the Macedonian, another ship of the Commodore's squadron, under Captain Abbot, and on her way from Japan to Formosa with a view of ascertaining what coal supply there was on that island. Captain Abbot was the bearer of a letter from the Commodore to his Bonin agent. It is the last we have of his, and reads as follows:

“U.S. Flagship Powhatan.

"YEDO BAY, JAPAN,"

“April 10th, 1854."

“SIR,

"As I expect soon to return to the United States I have directed Captain Abbot in command of the Frigate Macedonia to pay to you the compensation allowed for your services to the Squadron up to the last day of this month (April).

"Meanwhile I shall be glad if you will continue to give your best attention to the interests with which you have been charged, and will suggest to the Government on my return to Washington the propriety of making you some future allowance. It is to be hoped that steps may ere long be taken to give greater importance to Port Lloyd, and that the condition of the settlers may be improved, and I can only recommend the observance of temperance, good order and industry to all those who have determined to spend their lives upon the Island. Captain Abbot has been requested to purchase for the use of the Squadron whatever of refreshments the settlers can conveniently spare without stinting themselves.

"I hope you have taken good care of the stock I left upon the Islands and that the animals have all multiplied.

"Orders will be given by Captain Abbot forbidding the destruction of any of either description, or the goats on the adjacent Islands. It must be understood that the sovereignty of the Bonin Islands has not yet been settled, and the interest taken by me in the welfare and prosperity of the settlement has solely in view the advantage of commerce generally.

"Respectfully,

“Your obedient servant,

"M. C. PERRY.

“MR. NATHANIEL SAVORY,

"Port Lloyd,

"Peel Island.

"Bonin Groups."

It amuses us to see in that cautious reference to the sovereignty of the island how a certain letter written by a Mr. Simpson in Scotland had not been without its effects.

Commodore Perry having been primarily responsible for re-opening the long closed doors of Japan, we are now passing on to the first attempt made by the Japanese to re-establish themselves on the island. This was in the year 1861. First, however, place must be given to two interesting letters, respectively dated 1855 and 1859, from Nathaniel Savory's trading friends in Honolulu, and to a remarkable document concerning a consignment of new inhabitants from the master of a whaler.

Copy of a letter from JAMES ABRAHAM to

NATHANIEL SAVORY.

“HONOLULU,

“Jan. 23rd, 1855.

"MR. NATHANIEL SAVORY.

"SIR,

"I send by Mr. Mutley these few lines with a few late papers hoping that you will avail yourself of the contents. It is the first opportunity that has come to me to write to you in that remote part of the world and the first time that I have heard from you direct since I saw Michael Gilley in California and there wrote a letter to you for him, but Mutley tells me it never reached you so I will give you the contents as near as I can remember. He wished you to oversee the affairs of the Farm and requested you to see that Fanny did not want, also to take care of George if he came back and he would settle all accounts. Mutley tells me you are quite anxious about Mike. All that I know about him is that he was still living about 2 years ago and keeping a stores in the mines in California but what part I could not learn because Fanny says she saw him since I was there, but for particulars you must ask her about it. George has been here 2 or 3 times but I could not persuade him to go home and see his mother. He seems to like this place so much; also Lucy she is wavering still whether she will go there or stay where she is. Little Victoria Hazavia is still under the care of Mr. Reynolds. She has grown quite fat and makes a good appearance among the natives. She is better here. Times in Honolulu are not what they were when you was here. We have steamboats and Steam Mill Foundry etc. The natives are getting wide awake for money. We have had a sad loss in the death of King Kamahameha 3rd but is succeeded by Prince Alexander who I think will rule despotic. Trade at the Sandwich Islands is increasing fast, the market is overstocked with goods and things are cheap, the exports are in demand on the coast, sugar molasses and other Island produce fetch a good price. The Whaling Fleet has not done much last season--some without a whale--but still they go ahead; still we have had a great many men of war of different nations in port all the season which has kept the money market brisk. There are three at anchor now, one French frigate, one American sloop of war and the Trincomalee [?] English. There has been great talk about annexation to U. States, but I don't think it will take place yet. There is strong opposition but sooner or later it will fall into the hands of the Americans though I don't know what they will gain by it. I hope, Mr. Savory that you are doing well and in good health. I hear you have a commission from Commodore Perry and am glad to hear of it. Mutley tells me that things stand the same as usual. Remember me to all the residents on the Island. I have some thoughts to settle there myself sometime or other. I hope you will gain some news by the papers that I have sent. They are the latest we have received by the last mail and will be interesting to you. We have a mail about every 3 weeks from the coast [or " court "] and the smoke from the guns at Sebastopul has hardly cleared away before we know the result. Although Death is scattered around and war is sweeping with destruction amongst the mighty nations of the earth we are quiet here on the Isle of the Ocean and I pray God that peace may remain,

“I remain, Sir,

"Yours respectfully,

"JAMES ABRAHAM.

"P.S.--If you have an opportunity of sending me a few lines I should like it very much, direct to me Honolulu.

"Copy of a letter to NATHANIEL SAVORY from

SHERMAN PECK.

“HONOLULU SAND ISLANDS.

"November 12th, 1859.

"MR. N. SAVORY.

"SIR,

"Years have elapsed since I had the pleasure of meeting you and perhaps you have forgotten me after so long a time has elapsed. At the time of your misfortune in losing a part of your hand in firing a salute, I was a resident of these Islands and saw you off on the schooner fitted out by Mr. Charleston and A. B. Thompson and have always kept you in remembrance and made frequent inquiries of your welfare. I was doing business at Lahuina Mani from 1840 to 1847 and put up many little orders for you handed me by ship masters. I was doing business under the firm of Peck & Co. I am now located at this place and connected in business with Mr. C. Brewer a nephew of Capt. Charles Brewer which you recollect at these Islands in 1830 who was afterwards connected with Henry A. Pierce who took the business off Mr. Honniwell. We are under the name of C. Brewer & Co. My friend Capt. Nye informs me that goats have become very abundant on the Bonin Islands, and you may not be aware of the value of the skins. They have been for many years a great article of export from these Islands. The price ranges from 15 cts. to 35 cts. each according to size and will average 28 cts. each. Capt. Nye informs us that salt for curing skins is scarce with you. We can furnish any quantity here for one dollar per bbl (barrel ?). Any orders you may have for goods of any description forwarded by masters of ships will be promptly attended to and skins received in payment at the market value. As to our old acquaintances most of them are dead; Mr. Hunniwell, Mr. Pierce and Capt. Brewer I saw in Boston in June. Capt. John Meek is here and Thos. Cummings and Robinson Ship Carpenter, Dutch Harry, Boyd and a few others are alive, Dr. Rooke, Capt. Little, Carter, Reynolds, Dominis, Fench, Charleton are dead. John C. Jones is in Boston and A. B. Thompson is in California. Honolulu has become a large place. You would not recollect it. There is but few houses now standing that you ever saw, I should think you would like to take a trip here for a few months. We should like to see you. I forward a few newspapers which you may find interesting, and remain,

“Yours very truly,

"SHERMAN PECK

of

“The Firm of C. Brewer and Co., Honolulu,

"Sandwich Islands. CERTIFICATION

“BARQUE HELEN SNOW.

"June 9th, 1860.

"This will certify that I have brought to this Port from Wellington Island at their own request 3 women 1 man and a child and give them their passage free and they are at perfect liberty to go where they please and stop with whom they please and no one I hope will take advantage of them or misuse them in any respect.

"EBENEZER F. NYE,

"Master of Bark Helen Snow."

In the earlier of the two letters given above, reference is made to a man called Mutley, or James Moitley as he figures in Commodore Perry's narrative. This James Moitley who, according td the inscription on his gravestone, was a native of London and came to the Bonins about the year 1846, was closely concerned in a tragic affair which took place on the South Island in the year 1860. An account of it may with chronological fitness bring the present chapter to a close.

There was an Englishman, George Robinson, who had arrived at Port Lloyd in the whaler Howard some time in 1847, and had taken up his residence with Thomas Webb. He did not, however, remain long at Port Lloyd but removed to the South Island, where he spent about eight years with his wife and family and cleared a good piece of land. Seemingly from disappointment with his prospects, he left with his family for Guam and Seypan, but some three years afterwards made up his mind to return and took with him, besides his family, some natives from the Kingsmill group, intending with the help of these extra hands to develop the productive possibilities of the farm he had too imprudently abandoned. However, on landing, Robinson found James Moitley in possession of his farm and altogether indisposed to hand it back to its former owner. This at once led to ill feelings on both sides, and little by little the quarrel assumed serious proportions. The Kanakas who had come with Robinson all turned against him and sided with Moitley; on the other hand a man called Bob, who had deserted from a whaler and had been taken in by Moitley, went over to Robinson. At this time Robinson's family consisted of his sons John, Henry, and Charles and his daughters Eliza, Caroline, and Susan. There was also living with him as nurse to the children a woman called Hypa, a native of Raven Island. Some time early in the year 1860 things came to a crisis. The Kanakas, instigated it is said by Moitley, made a fierce attack on Bob. Bob made a brave fight and defended himself for some time in the cleft of a rock, but was eventually overpowered and killed. Gruesome stories are told of the savage triumph of the Kanakas over the body of the murdered man. Happily this was the only fatal issue of the quarrel. Robinson with his children John, Henry, and Eliza fled into the bush. Hypa, the old nurse, with Caroline, then a girl of nineteen, and her younger sister Susan and brother Charles made good their escape to the opposite side of the island. Robinson and the children with him were caught by the Kanakas and brought to Moitley, and, through Moitley's instrumentality, so it is said, were shortly afterwards deported on a passing whaler, the Montreal, to Honolulu, from whence they never returned. The fate of the rest of the family was extraordinary. They safely. eluded their pursuers, and for eleven months lay hidden in the bush, keeping themselves alive on shell-fish and tree fruits. Eventually, they were rescued in the spring of 1861 by Captain Marsh of the E. L. B. Jenny, whom we know as one of Nathaniel's correspondents, and were taken to Port Lloyd where they were sheltered by Webb, who subsequently married the girl Caroline.

I may add that all the three are still living on the islands. Susan became Mrs. Pease; her husband, as we shall come to know, was a thorough bad character: Charles married Isabel Savory and is the father of a large family. As to the old nurse Hypa, she died on the island in 1897, having reached, so it was believed, the wonderful age of 112. In compliance with a strong, simple desire she had expressed, she was baptized at the last and received Christian burial. Her story is fully told in the S.P.G. "Mission Field" of November 1898.