Ke Kumu Hawaii, Volume I, Number 2, 26 November 1834 — Page 14

14 KUMU HAWAII. (Nov.

event. As Mr. Diell was standing in the door of Mr. Goodrich's house yesterday morning, about 8 o'clock, a native came up, and with an expression of counternance, which indicataed but too faithfully that he was the bearer of and tidings, inquired for Mr. Goodrich; in seeing him, he communicated the dreadful intelligence that the body of Mr. Douglas had been found on the mountains, in a pit excavated for the purpose of taking wild cattle, and that he was which was in the pit when Mr. Douglas fell in. Never were our feelings so schocked, nor could we credit the report till it was painfully confirmed as we proceeded to the beach, whither his body had been conveyed in a canoe by the native who informed us of his death. As we walked down with the native, and made further inquiries of him, he gave, for substance, the following relation.
                That on the evening of the 13th inst. the natives who brought the body down from the mountain, came to his house at Laupahoihoi, about twenty-five or thirty miles distant from Hilo, and employed him to bring it to this place in his canoe. The particulars which he learned from them, were as follows.
                That Mr. Douglas left Kohala point last week, in company with a foreigner (an Englishman) as a guide, and proceeded to cross Mauna Kea on the north side; that on the 12th inst. he dismissed his guide, who cautioned him, on parting, to be very careful lest he should fall into some of the pits excavated for the purpose mentioned above; describing their location as being near the places to which the cattle resorted to drink. That soon after Mr. Douglas had dismissed his guide, he went back a short distance to get a bundle which he had forgotten, and that as he was retracing his steps, at some fatal moment he felt into one of the pits, into which a bullock had previoulsy fallen. That he was found dead in the pit by those same natives, who, ignorant at the time, of his passing, were in pursuit of hollocks, and on coming up to this pit, found a small hole in one end of the covering of it At first they conjectured that a call had fallen in, but on further examination, discovered traces of a man's steps, and noon afterwards saw his foot in the pit, the rest of his body being covered with dirt and rubbish. They went immedately in pursuit of the guide, who returned, shot the bullock in the pit, took out the body, and hired the natives at the price of four bullocks, which he killed immediately, to convey the body to the sea shore. He himself accompanied them and procured the native who related the affair to us, to bring the body to this place, promising to come on himself immediately, and that he would bring the compass, watch, which was somewhat broken but still going, some money found in Mr. Douglas's pockets, and the little dog, that faithful companion of our departed friend. Thus far the report of the natives who brought the body in his canoe, and who professed to relate the facts to us as he learned them from the natives who came down from the mountain. We do not stop, at present, to examine how far it is consistent or inconsistent with itself, as we have not the means of making full investigation into the matter.
                On reaching the canoe, our first care was to have the remains conveyed to some suitable place where we could take proper care of them, and Mr. Dibble's family being absent, it was determined to convey the body to his house. But what an affecting spectacle was presented, as we removed the bullock's hide in which he had been conveyed! We will not attempt to describe the agony of feeling which we experienced at that moment. Can it be he? can it be he? we each exclaimed, can it be the man with whom we parted but a few days before, and who then was borne up with so high spirits and expectations, and whom, but an hour before, we were fondly anticipating to welcome to faithfully contained in the familiar article of dress, in the features, and in the noble person before us. They were those of our friend.
                The body, clothes, & c. appeared to be in the same state they were in when taken from the pit. The face was covered with dirt, the hair filled with blood and dirt, the coat, pantaloons and shirt considerably torn. The hat was missing. On washing the body, we found it in a shocking state; there were ten or twelve gashes on the head, a long one over the left eye, another rather deep, just above the left temple, a deep one behind the right ear, the left cheek bone appeared to be broken, and also the ribs on the left side, the abdomen was much bruised and also the lower part of the legs.
                After laying him out, our first thought was to bury him within Mr. Goodrich's premises; but after we had selected a spot, and commenced clearing away the ground, doubts were suggested by a foreigner who was assisting us, and who has for some time been engaged in the business of taking wild cattle, whether the wounds on the head could have been intheted by a bullock. Mr. Goodrich said that the same doubts had arisen to his own mind, while examining the body. The matter did not seem clear; many parts of the story appeared dark. How was is that Mr. Douglas was alone, without any guide, whether foreigner or native? Where was John, Mr. Diell's colored man, who left Honolulu with Mr. Diell, and who, on missing a passage with him from Lahaina, embarked with Mr. Douglas, as we are informed by the the captain of the vessel in which Mr. Douglas sailed from Lahaina to Kohala Point, and there left the vessel with Mr. Douglas, on the morning of the 9th inst. in order to accompany him across the mountain to Hilo? How was it that Mr. Douglas should fall into a pit when retracing his steps after he had once passed it in safety? And if a bullock had already fallen into it, how was it that he did not see the hole necessarily made in the covering?---There difficulties occured to out minds, and we though it due to the friends of Mr. Douglas, and to the public, whom has no zealously and so usefully served, that an examination should be made of his body by medical men. The only way to have this effected, was by preserving his body, and it could be examined here. The former method seemed most desirable; accordingly we had the contents of the abdomen removed, the body filled with salt placed in a coffin which was then filled with salt, and the whole enclosed in a box filled with brine. Some fears are entertained whether the captain of the native vessel will carry the body to Honolulu, this will carry be determined in the morning. After the body was laid in the coffing, the members of the mission family and several foreigners assembled at the house of Mr. Dibble, to pay their tribute of respect to the mortal remains of the deceased, and to improve the affecting Providence to their own good. Prayers were offered, and a brief address made, and we trust that the occasion may prove a lasting blessing to all who were present. After the services were concluded, the body was removed to a cool native house, where it was enclosed in the box.
                16th. As neither the guides nor any other natives have arrived, we have employed two foreigners to proceed to the place where with directions to find the natives who discovered the body, and to go with them to the pit, and after making as full inquiries as possible, to report to us immediately.
                So far as we can ascertain, the guide is an Englishman, a convict from Botany Bay, who left a vessel at these islands some years ago; he has a wife and one child with him, and to this circumstance, in part, may be attributed his delay.
                There are two native vessels in port, besides the one about to sail to day; by these vessels we shall keep you apprized of all the information we can obtain, and hope that some clear light may yet be shed on a subject now involved in much darkness.
                Mr. Goodrich has just returned from the vessel about to sail. The application to convey that remains of Mr. Douglas to Honolulu, we fear will prove unsuccessful, on the vessel is filled with wood, canoes, food, &c. It is barely possible, however, that the captain may yet consent to take the body on board. But if not, it will remain with yourself to determine what course shall be pursued. Should you deem it advisable to come up in person, we think that the body will be in a state of preservation that will admit of us being examined upon your arrival.
                In the mean time, until we have advices from yourself, we shall endeavor to procure as full information as it is in our power to obtain. It may be well to mention, that the principal part of Mr. Douglas's baggage, his trunks, instruments, &c. are in posession