“Bully” Hayes’ Antithesis Is Going To South SEAS; Up-To-Date Mrs. Santa

“Bully” Hayes’ Antithesis Is Going To South SEAS; Up-To-Date Mrs. Santa

HONOLULU, TERRITORY OF HAWAII,

SATURDAY MORNING NOVEMBER 1, 1924

Resurrect Bully Hayes! Resurrect the shades of old-time traders and the bucko mates of the South Seas! They’ll rub their ghostly eyes when a great, white schooner sails among the islands in a few weeks, a dream-ship bearing the euphonious Hawaiian name “Kaimiloa” upon her bow and stern, for the Kaimiloa will reverse old time trading traditions.

Time was when the appearance of a ship off any of the isles of the South Seas meant the taking away of anything that had value and little given in exchange, except possibly glass beads and insignificant trinkets.

The old schooner Luzon, now the Kaimiloa, arrived yesterday afternoon from San Francisco and in 10 days she’ll be underway for the equatorial region, with her owner, M. R. Kellum, and his wife and daughters aboard, also friends and a group of scientist being sent “Down Under” by the Bishop Museum.

But when the Kaimiloa arrives among the isles it is then that the little folk of the South Seas will understand more about Santa Claus and come to realize that there is also a Mrs. Santa Claus. The Kellums have been in the South Seas. They know the people and they know there are a lot of children who have no realization of Santa Claus and the myriads of toys and things that amuse children of the tempera te zones. So, because Mrs. Kellum remembers the little ones, she has packed away in cases and closets and in the hold, about two thousand five hundred gifts which she proposes to give to the kiddies of the South Seas.

Astonishment may well be writ upon the countenance of the old folks, those who remember back 40 or 50 years and more ago, when a sailing vessel anchored off shore or in a lagoon, and when a boat went ashore commanded by a big swaggering bucko mate and rowed by a bunch of hardened sailors, intent on gouging from the island owners their choicest possessions of pearls or mats or curios or family relics.

Sometimes they will recall, they got something in exchange but whatever it was, it wasn’t worth much--something gaudy to attract the eye.

Never, they will recall was anything given them for the just the mere delight in giving.

SHOULD BE GRATEFUL

So, when Mrs. Kellum goes ashore with arms full of toys and other gifts just to gladden the hearts of the brown skinned “kiddies” It will be new era to them all, and if she isn’t remembered as “Lady Bountiful” or “Mrs. Santa Claus,” then gifts of prophecy have ceased.

The Kaimiloa still has the look of a finely-built schooner, with her four towering masts, but the ship itself has been transformed. There is a wide deck running from stern almost to the fo’c’sle. This is the “house” aboard the schooner , the living and sleeping quarters of Mr. and Mrs. Kellum and their coterie of guests. She is no longer a cargo schooner; she is a pleasure craft, but larger than most pleasure craft, for she is 190 feet long. The deck house leaves about three feet of space between the house and the bulwarks on each side. That space is occupied by spare spars and other gear.

DELIGHTFUL QUARTERS

Forward of the owners private deck is another house connected with the main one . That is a galley and crew’s quarters. The main deck is almost flush from stern forward and is protected by a railing and canvas, an admirable place for the passengers to promenade, loll about and do whatever work may occupy them on the cruise. The living quarters provide large rooms with baths connected, for the owners and guests.

The rooms are fitted with real beds, some with twin beds and are cosy and comfortable. The main living room occupies the entire space from starboard to port and is “homey” and undoubtedly will be the community gathering place on the cruise. Kellum has supplied a very large library of books relating to the South Seas, as well as a large collection and general reading. Frederic O’Brien’s South Seas books also Melville’s “Typee.”

The Kaimiloa is equipped with two Diesel engines of 110 horsepower each. There is an electric dynamo to furnish lights and other power to the ship. The cold storage plant has space for meats and other edibles sufficient for three months. There is an ice making plant. A photographic dark room is to be installed by the scientists. Kellum has a battery of cameras and a complete motion picture outfit. The vessel has a powerful wireless plant and a receiving radio set, so that even down in the South Seas they may be able to loll about the wide open deck and listen to the orators of the mainland, the singers, and orchestras.

OLD TIMER COMMANDS

Captain Carter is the skipper of the Kaimiloa; an old time “shellback,” who knows the South Seas.

Mr. and Mrs. Kellum were greeted yesterday when the vessel docked at Pier 10 by many Honolulu friends, including the scientist who have been selected by the Bishop Museum to make the cruise. Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit P. Wilder were on board soon after the lines were made fast and were extremely pleased with the large room assigned to them. Dr. Stanley Ball, of the Museum and others looked her over and went away smiling.

They know it is going to be the cruise of all cruises.

The Kaimiloa represents a departure in maritime architecture.

Kellum says that the shipping men Oakland tried to laugh him out when he proposed his novel method of converting a schooner into a pleasure yacht: but he kept to his plans and while she somewhat resembles an old-time wooden-walled warship of 40 years ago, she has all the appearance of a big yacht as well.

FINE SEA BOAT

Incidently, she is a very comfortable vessel to cruise on says Kellum.

She was named the Kaimiloa after the only warship possessed by the Hawaiian monarchy under King Kalakua. The first Kaimiloa was equipped and sent to Samoa by King Kalakua, who hoped to establish a Primacy of the Pacific, with himself a s the head. The mission called at Samoa, talked things over with the chiefs and failed. The Kaimiloa returned to Honolulu, was put out of commission, then was broken up and burned near Quarantine island by her last owner for her copper.

The new Kaimiloa is going “below the line” on a mission of good will.