Captain Thomas Spencer: Master, Whaleship Triton and Manager, Amauulu Sugar Plantation Old Plantation Days, February 2016
Before there were sugar plantations the economy of the islands was based on other crops and trade over the seas. Sailing vessels provided the link of Hawaii to rest of the world. Ships would arrive to pick up sandlewood, pulu bedding, and pipikaula (salted dried beef). The Whaling industry was thriving in Hawaii, harvesting the oceans for fuel, whale blubber and rendered oil. The prize of some whaling ships was the Sperm Whale that yielded the finest oil and at times ambergris from the gut of the whale. Ambergris was (and continues to be) a highly valued perfume ingredient.
This month’s article is about a certain individual who lived and worked in both the whaling industry and sugar industry. Captain Thomas Spencer, Master of the Whaleship Triton became one of the transitioning entrepreneurs from a fading whaling industry to the burgeoning sugarcane and milling plantations that transformed Hawaii into the place and people we live in today.
The Amauulu Plantation was one of the first sugarcane plantations in the Hilo district. Just above Wainaku street and the HELCO hydroelectric powerplant along the Wailuku River is Amauulu Road. Just under a mile up this road is the site of Spencer’s Mill across from the current USDA experiment station. Some of the concrete walls and floors can still be seen today. When you are having lunch at Cronies in downtown Hilo, look to the wall of the restaurant for an ancient blueprint map of Hilo, look in the upper left of the map and see the depiction and labeling of “Old Mill Buildings of Tom Spencer’s Plantation”.
Prior to becoming a plantation owner Thomas Spencer was the “master” of the whaleship Triton. Today we call the master of the ship, Captain. In July 1846, Captain Spencer sailed out of New Bedford, Massachusetts on the east coast of America for the harvest of sperm whales in the Pacific Ocean, a long and perilous journey that will bring Spencer to Hawaiian waters. The ship weighing 300 tons with a fresh (young) crew spent many months along the Atlantic coasts of South America and Africa, thence rounding the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa through the Indian Ocean and into the South Pacific. By November 1847 they ship arrived in Lahaina, Maui. After provisioning and R&R of two weeks the ship set out once again on its mission sailing south towards an unfortunate fateful end of several members of the Triton’s crew.
Fast forward to December 2015. The Great Grandson of Captain Thomas Spencer, Mr. James Scott Brewster and wife Tina of Folsom California, made a visit to Hilo to research the life and legacy of Thomas Spencer. “Scotty” visited the Plantation Museum in Papaikou and my office at the Olson Trust Archives next door. After several hours of sharing of stories, scanning of maps and “chicken skin” moments walking the lands and site of the Amauulu Plantation, both Scotty and I walked away with more knowledge about the life and times of Captain Spencer than we had known before. Photographs used in this Post article were supplied by Scotty, thanks much to him for their use. Also, shared was the chilling story entitled, “Narrative of the Events Attending the Massacre of part of the crew of the Whaleship Triton, of New Bedford, by the Natives of Sydenham’s Island”, by Thomas Spencer, Master. Sandwich Islands News Press, Honolulu, 1848.
The narrative is wonderfully written in the prose of the day which provides insightful thoughts into the mind of the Captain and members of his crew that were murdered by a spiteful Portuguese sailor who being previously cast away and abandoned on this island by his former ship and master. (Sydenham Island is now known as Nonoitu in the Gilbert Islands). This sailor incited the natives of this island to capture Captain Thomas and high jack the Triton for himself. The narrative is 17 pages long and a fascinating read, perhaps the paradise Post would like to print it in its entirety at some point in the future.
Let me paraphrase the events of the narrative, “Manuel” the Portuguese, lured the Captain and two of his senior boatswains to the island for the acquisition of supplies. After the deal was struck Captain Thomas and men were detained by the natives and bound, threatened with death. Manuel and a band of natives rowed out to the Triton wherein they boarded the Triton and told the crew that Thomas and men were dead. Manuel and his band attempted to commandeer the ship from Spencer’s young crew. In the fray several crew members of the Triton were viciously hacked to death in the most gruesome of details. In the end Manuel was “run through” with a whale harpoon and cast overboard. The crew of the Triton fought off their attackers and sailed away from the island leaving Captain Spencer and men behind…believing them dead on an island inhabited by hundreds of blood thirsty natives.
Captain Spencer was not killed, nor were his companions, instead the Chief and wife protected them. In time Spencer and men sailed away from the island chasing after a distant sail on the horizon. After several days and nights a-sail they met up with the ship Alabama of Nantucket commanded by Captain Coggeshall. After trading passage upon a few other ships, Captain Thomas made his way back to Honolulu, Hawaii where he would await the arrival of the Triton, which he was told the ship was under the command of the First mate.
The narrative ends there, but the life of Captain Thomas Spencer in the Hawaii Islands was just beginning! He became a confidant to King Kamehameha III, IV and personal friend of King Kalakaua. Kalakaua awarded Thomas the “Metal of the Rising Sun”, (as seen in his portrait photograph). The metal was given him for rescuing a number of Hawaiian natives surrounded and trapped on the Hawaii Island coast by a lava flow. Captain Thomas sent his ships to take them off by sea.
