In the early 1860s, Joe Taylor, a member of the Backus’ Minstrels troupe en-route to Shanghai via Hawaii, described Kingfisher as follows: “Probably no sailing vessel ever went to sea, better equipped for the comfort and pleasure of the passengers and crew than the Kingfisher. She carried two cows and two goats, together with pigs and poultry in abundance. Wines, liquors and cigars were distributed as free as water among the passengers, twenty-two in number; Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Daniels being the only ladies.”

In the early 1860s, Joe Taylor, a member of the Backus’ Minstrels troupe en-route to Shanghai via Hawaii, described Kingfisher as follows: “Probably no sailing vessel ever went to sea, better equipped for the comfort and pleasure of the passengers and crew than the Kingfisher. She carried two cows and two goats, together with pigs and poultry in abundance. Wines, liquors and cigars were distributed as free as water among the passengers, twenty-two in number; Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Daniels being the only ladies.”