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Story February 19, 1821

The Portland Gazette

Portland, Cumberland County, Maine

What is this article about?

A Russian blacksmith's wife elopes with an English officer from Fox Island, but is abandoned in the Sandwich Islands. She marries the local king, who conquers surrounding islands and leaves her the throne upon his death. She now rules prosperously and sends gifts to her former husband.

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OCR Quality

98% Excellent

Full Text

A blacksmith's wife became a Queen.—It is a curious circumstance that the present Queen of Sandwich Islands formerly, or rather is at this time, the wife of a Russian blacksmith. A English vessel lying off, what we usually call Fox Island, several years ago, one of the officers became enamoured of the fair spouse of a son of Vulcan there; and, his passion being returned, contrived to smuggle her on board the vessel, and keep her concealed without the knowledge of his captain, till they cleared port. In the course of the voyage however, the circumstance became known to the captain, who being highly enraged at such a breach of faith and discipline, kept her confined till they arrived at the Sandwich Islands, where she was put on shore. The forlorn Ariadne, however, found a Bacchus for her Theseus, a royal lover in the place of her lost Lieutenant The King of the Island became enamoured of the fair Russian, made her his wife and raised her to his throne. He was no every-day king. He was a statesman and a hero, though we should call him a savage. He progressively created a respectable navy of several well-built frigates, taught his subjects to be excellent sailors, raised armies, subdued the surrounding islands, and at the close of a prosperous reign, left his possessions and his sovereignty to his queen, who now reigns as his successor. She is well obeyed by her subjects; possesses great wealth in flocks, herds and rice grounds and sends frequent presents to her former deserted husband, who still continues to hammer horses' shoes in a Russian colony, while his faithless, but it seems, not quite ungrateful spouse, stretches her sceptre over several prosperous isles.

What sub-type of article is it?

Biography Romance Extraordinary Event

What themes does it cover?

Fortune Reversal Love Triumph

What keywords are associated?

Sandwich Islands Queen Elopement Russian Blacksmith King Conquest Fortune Reversal

What entities or persons were involved?

Queen Of Sandwich Islands Russian Blacksmith English Officer King Of The Island

Where did it happen?

Sandwich Islands

Story Details

Key Persons

Queen Of Sandwich Islands Russian Blacksmith English Officer King Of The Island

Location

Sandwich Islands

Event Date

Several Years Ago

Story Details

The wife of a Russian blacksmith on Fox Island elopes with an English officer but is confined and abandoned in the Sandwich Islands. She marries the island king, who builds a navy, conquers neighbors, and bequeaths his throne to her. She rules successfully and sends gifts to her ex-husband.

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