CAPTAIN COOK'S DEATH

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21090, 15 February 1934, Page 10

CAPTAIN COOK'S DEATH

ANNIVERSARY YESTERDAY THE MURDER ON A HAWAIIAN REACH At least one household in Christchurch remembers February 14 as the anniversary of the death of Captain Cook. A wreath placed at the foot of the Cook memorial in Victoria square yesterday bears the following words: "In commemoration of Captain Cook's death.—From Mrs Beniams and family." Captain Cook met his death in one of the bays of Hawaii early in the morning of February 14, i 779. The actual details of the incident are clouded in doubt, for there are at least three different accounts by eye-witnesses, but notes on the most recent research, provided by Mr J. C. Andersen, of the Turnbull Library, Wellington, have been used in compiling the following account: — During the night of February 13 one of the Discovery's boats was stolen by the natives and. Captain Cook went ashore with the avowed purpose of compelling the native King of Hawaii, Kalaniopu, to have it returned. He planned, if the negotiations were unsuccessful, to take the king on board his flagship until the boat was brought back. Apparently some trouble was expected, for he went ashore with an armed partv of marines, and native canoes had "been prohibited from approaching the ships.

A Chief Shot Down One chief disobeyed this order, his canoe was fired on from tne ships, and he was killed. A native messenger carried the news to the crowd gathered about the spot where Captain Cook was talking with the king, who was unwilling to return the boat. 111-feeling spread among the crowd, which became menacing. Captain Cook was struck with a rock; he discharged, his pistol at the thrower, but the shot did no harm. A sergeant killed a native, and a volley of rocks followed j against the marines, who opened fire on the natives. Captain Cook ordered them to cease fire and slowly walked back toward the beach. He was struck from behind by a native, rose for a moment, and was overpowered. The ill-feeling shown may quite possibly have been only partly due to the'trouble over the boat. The natives were not always entirely pleased to see the white men's ships, for when the strangers came to land they generally wanted provisions, the natives afterwards finding themselves short of food. Captain Cook had left Hawaii after provisioning, and when he returned, driven back by adverse weather, there may have been some apprehension on the part of the natives that more supplies would be asked of them. Then, again, a "tapu" had been placed on the bay during the ship's absence, and Captain Cook did not know it. These additional factors may have played a large part in the hostile reception accorded the expedition even before the boat was stolen.