Template:658-659 - Revision history

Jere Krischel at 04:08, 10 January 2006

2006-01-10T04:08:27Z

Ken Conklin at 00:55, 10 January 2006

2006-01-10T00:55:00Z

Jere Krischel at 18:57, 11 December 2005

2005-12-11T18:57:04Z

New page

658 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
secured for them in the 'Arion House,' a low one-story wooden building
west of the Music Hall, a large brick building which intervenes between
it and the palace. In this connection I take the liberty of saying that
I can not see how Arion Hall would be exposed to fire in the event of
an attack upon the Government building from the direction of the
palace.
"After the mass meeting the tension of feeling was extreme. What
was chiefly feared was incendiarism during the following night. To
my knowledge, warnings had been given by friendly natives that preparations
were making to set houses on fire. As it was, two incendiary
fires were started during that night. The knowledge that the troops
were on shore undoubtedly gave the white residents a grateful feeling
of relief and security.
"Here I will explain that an organization of four rifle companies had
been brought to a high degree of efficiency in 1887 and had crushed the
insurrection of 1889. This organization, which had been disbanded in
1890, was now revived, with some changes in personnel. It embraced
many of the best class of young men in Honolulu.
"On Tuesday morning 1 was informed of this fact, and that Judge
Dole would lead the movement. It was rumored that the crisis would
take place at 4 p. m. The Queen's supporters were believed to be panicstricken
and divided among themselves.
" I happened to visit the main Government building (Aliiolani Hall)
about a quarter to 3 p. m., when I found that the proclamation of the
Provisional Government was being read at the front entrance.
" I have since been told that 3 o'clock was the time originally set.
Perhaps the shooting affray on Port street hastened the movement. I
saw but one rifleman standing in the corridor. Several Government
clerks and one native member of the legislature were also listening to
the reading. As soon as it was over the new councils convened in the
interior office, and proceeded to business. I walked over to my office
in another building within the same inclosure, and passed Company
A, a German company, under Capt. Ziegler, arriving on the double
quick, in company order, to the number of 40 or 50. I told my assistants
in the office what had happened, and directed them to close it for
the day. On returning to the other building, I found that a large part
of Company B, composed of Americans and Englishmen, had arrived.
The grounds were then cleared of spectators, and guards set at the
gates, and less than half an hour there were 100 riflemen drawn up in
front of the building, awaiting orders. An hour later I estimated that
there were about 200 present. The officers told me at the time that
the United States marines had orders to remain neutral."
What officers did you speak of?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Officers of the volunteers. Capt. Potter, of Company
B, said that word had been ascertained from Lieut. Swinburne—
I think that was his name.
The CHAIRMAN. " I did not see any ol them on the street, and my
impression is that some of them without arms were in the veranda of
Arion Hall."
Mr. ALEXANDER. Eeferring to the sailors.
The CHAIRMAN. "The men were expected to fight, and their spirit
and confidence was such that I had no doubt of the result."
Mr. ALEXANDER. It should have been the volunteers. That should
have been corrected.
"Many of them had been in the affair of 1889, and they also believed
that nearly all the foreign community would back them.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 659
•« One C J. McCarthy had been placed by Wilson in charge of the
Government building, but waited there in vain for a force that never
came. Several thousand cartridges were found in the foreign office,
intended for the defense of the building.
" I can not speak from personal observation of the number of men
collected in the station house and barracks, but was told by eye witnesses
that there were about 80 men in each place.
" For several hours it looked to us as if a bloody contest, and perhaps
a siege, would be necessary. Messengers were coming and going, but
when I left the place to do patrol duty in the eastern suburb it was not
known whether Mr. Wilson would surrender or not.
"As mucli importance has been attached to President Dole's letter to
Minister Stevens, written in the afternoon of January 17, in which
he suggested the cooperation of the United States marines with the
citizen volunteers in maintaining order during the night, I will add
that the event showed this request to have been wholly unnecessary.
"During the afternoon several hundred names of volunteers had been
registered. These were organized in squads and during the following
night the whole district including the city was strictly patrolled, as a precaution
against fires or disturbance of any kind. These volunteers
were on duty some time before the surrender of the station house by
Wilson was reported. The palace was given up on the morning of the
18th, and the barracks that evening."
W. D. ALEXANDER.
"ADDENDUM.
" In regard to the Government building, Aliiolani Hall, I wish to
say that it has always been considered the visible seat of Government.
Together with the two smaller buildings attached to it, it contained all
the offices of the departments of Government, the chambers of the
supreme court and the court records, the land office and the registry of
conveyances, the Government archives, and the treasury.
" The action of the late cabinet in abandoning it and seeking refuge
in the station house went far to show that they had given up all hope
of maintaining their authority.
"W. D. ALEXANDER."
Senator GRAY. DO you know what time that evening—can you fix
precisely the time the barracks were given up ?
Mr. ALEXANDER. I heard that it was after dark.
Senator GRAY. You do not know the hour?
Mr. ALEXANDER. No. That would be in Mr. Soper's testimony.
Senator GRAY. YOU were not present at any meetings of the committee
of safety on the evening of the 17th?
Mr. ALEXANDER. I was not.
Senator GRAY. Or of the advisory councils?
Mr. ALEXANDER. I suppose, being an officer of the old Government,
they did not take me into their confidence.
The CHAIRMAN. When you speak of yourself as being one of the
privy council, what were your functions in that office?
Senator GRAY. Were you ex officio a privy councillor, being surveyor-
general ?
Mr. ALEXANDER. NO.
Senator GRAY.' Not necessarily privy councillor because of youi
being surveyor-general?

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 What officers did you speak of?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Officers of the volunteers. Capt. Potter, of Company B, said that word had been ascertained from Lieut. Swinburne— I think that was his name.
+Mr. {{sc|Alexander.}} Officers of the volunteers. Capt. Potter, of Company B, said that word had been ascertained from Lieut. Swinburne— I think that was his name.
-The CHAIRMAN. "I did not see any ol them on the street, and my impression is that some of them without arms were in the veranda of Arion Hall."
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} "I did not see any ol them on the street, and my impression is that some of them without arms were in the veranda of Arion Hall."
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Referring to the sailors.
+Mr. {{sc|Alexander.}} Referring to the sailors.
-The CHAIRMAN. "The men were expected to fight, and their spirit and confidence was such that I had no doubt of the result."
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} "The men were expected to fight, and their spirit and confidence was such that I had no doubt of the result."
-Mr. ALEXANDER. It should have been the volunteers. That should have been corrected. "Many of them had been in the affair of 1889, and they also believed that nearly all the foreign community would back them.
+Mr. {{sc|Alexander.}} It should have been the volunteers. That should have been corrected. "Many of them had been in the affair of 1889, and they also believed that nearly all the foreign community would back them.
 {{p|659}}
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 "During the afternoon several hundred names of volunteers had been registered. These were organized in squads and during the following night the whole district including the city was strictly patrolled, as a precaution against fires or disturbance of any kind. These volunteers were on duty some time before the surrender of the station house by Wilson was reported. The palace was given up on the morning of the 18th, and the barracks that evening."
-W. D. ALEXANDER.
+W. D. {{sc|Alexander}}.
-"ADDENDUM.
+==="ADDENDUM.===
 "In regard to the Government building, Aliiolani Hall, I wish to say that it has always been considered the visible seat of Government. Together with the two smaller buildings attached to it, it contained all the offices of the departments of Government, the chambers of the supreme court and the court records, the land office and the registry of conveyances, the Government archives, and the treasury.
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 "The action of the late cabinet in abandoning it and seeking refuge in the station house went far to show that they had given up all hope of maintaining their authority.
-"W. D. ALEXANDER."
+"W. D. {{sc|Alexander}}."
-Senator GRAY. Do you know what time that evening—can you fix precisely the time the barracks were given up?
+Senator {{sc|Gray.}} Do you know what time that evening—can you fix precisely the time the barracks were given up?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. I heard that it was after dark.
+Mr. {{sc|Alexander.}} I heard that it was after dark.
-Senator GRAY. You do not know the hour?
+Senator {{sc|Gray.}} You do not know the hour?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. No. That would be in Mr. Soper's testimony.
+Mr. {{sc|Alexander.}} No. That would be in Mr. Soper's testimony.
-Senator GRAY. You were not present at any meetings of the committee of safety on the evening of the 17th?
+Senator {{sc|Gray.}} You were not present at any meetings of the committee of safety on the evening of the 17th?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. I was not.
+Mr. {{sc|Alexander.}} I was not.
-Senator GRAY. Or of the advisory councils?
+Senator {{sc|Gray.}} Or of the advisory councils?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. I suppose, being an officer of the old Government, they did not take me into their confidence.
+Mr. {{sc|Alexander.}} I suppose, being an officer of the old Government, they did not take me into their confidence.
-The CHAIRMAN. When you speak of yourself as being one of the privy council, what were your functions in that office?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} When you speak of yourself as being one of the privy council, what were your functions in that office?
-Senator GRAY. Were you ex officio a privy councillor, being surveyor- general?
+Senator {{sc|Gray.}} Were you ''ex officio'' a privy councillor, being surveyor- general?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. No.
+Mr. {{sc|Alexander.}} No.
-Senator GRAY.  Not necessarily privy councillor because of youi being surveyor-general?
+Senator {{sc|Gray.}}  Not necessarily privy councillor because of your being surveyor-general?

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
+{{p|658}}
 secured for them in the 'Arion House,' a low one-story wooden building
-west of the Music Hall, a large brick building which intervenes between
+secured for them in the 'Arion House,' a low one-story wooden building west of the Music Hall, a large brick building which intervenes between it and the palace. In this connection I take the liberty of saying that I can not see how Arion Hall would be exposed to fire in the event of an attack upon the Government building from the direction of the palace.
 it and the palace. In this connection I take the liberty of saying that
-I can not see how Arion Hall would be exposed to fire in the event of
+"After the mass meeting the tension of feeling was extreme. What was chiefly feared was incendiarism during the following night. To my knowledge, warnings had been given by friendly natives that preparations were making to set houses on fire. As it was, two incendiary fires were started during that night. The knowledge that the troops were on shore undoubtedly gave the white residents a grateful feeling of relief and security.
 an attack upon the Government building from the direction of the
-palace.
+"Here I will explain that an organization of four rifle companies had been brought to a high degree of efficiency in 1887 and had crushed the insurrection of 1889. This organization, which had been disbanded in 1890, was now revived, with some changes in personnel. It embraced many of the best class of young men in Honolulu.
 "After the mass meeting the tension of feeling was extreme. What
-was chiefly feared was incendiarism during the following night. To
+"On Tuesday morning 1 was informed of this fact, and that Judge Dole would lead the movement. It was rumored that the crisis would take place at 4 p. m. The Queen's supporters were believed to be panic-stricken and divided among themselves.
 my knowledge, warnings had been given by friendly natives that preparations
-were making to set houses on fire. As it was, two incendiary
+"I happened to visit the main Government building (Aliiolani Hall) about a quarter to 3 p. m., when I found that the proclamation of the Provisional Government was being read at the front entrance.
 fires were started during that night. The knowledge that the troops
-were on shore undoubtedly gave the white residents a grateful feeling
+"I have since been told that 3 o'clock was the time originally set. Perhaps the shooting affray on Port street hastened the movement. I saw but one rifleman standing in the corridor. Several Government clerks and one native member of the legislature were also listening to the reading. As soon as it was over the new councils convened in the interior office, and proceeded to business. I walked over to my office in another building within the same inclosure, and passed Company A, a German company, under Capt. Ziegler, arriving on the double quick, in company order, to the number of 40 or 50. I told my assistants in the office what had happened, and directed them to close it for the day. On returning to the other building, I found that a large part of Company B, composed of Americans and Englishmen, had arrived. The grounds were then cleared of spectators, and guards set at the gates, and less than half an hour there were 100 riflemen drawn up in front of the building, awaiting orders. An hour later I estimated that there were about 200 present. The officers told me at the time that the United States marines had orders to remain neutral."
 of relief and security.
-"Here I will explain that an organization of four rifle companies had
+What officers did you speak of?
 been brought to a high degree of efficiency in 1887 and had crushed the
-insurrection of 1889. This organization, which had been disbanded in
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Officers of the volunteers. Capt. Potter, of Company B, said that word had been ascertained from Lieut. Swinburne— I think that was his name.
 , was now revived, with some changes in personnel. It embraced
-many of the best class of young men in Honolulu.
+The CHAIRMAN. "I did not see any ol them on the street, and my impression is that some of them without arms were in the veranda of Arion Hall."
 "On Tuesday morning 1 was informed of this fact, and that Judge
-Dole would lead the movement. It was rumored that the crisis would
+Mr. ALEXANDER. Referring to the sailors.
-take place at 4 p. m. The Queen's supporters were believed to be panicstricken
-and divided among themselves.
+The CHAIRMAN. "The men were expected to fight, and their spirit and confidence was such that I had no doubt of the result."
 " I happened to visit the main Government building (Aliiolani Hall)
-about a quarter to 3 p. m., when I found that the proclamation of the
+Mr. ALEXANDER. It should have been the volunteers. That should have been corrected. "Many of them had been in the affair of 1889, and they also believed that nearly all the foreign community would back them.
 Provisional Government was being read at the front entrance.
-" I have since been told that 3 o'clock was the time originally set.
+{{p|659}}
 Perhaps the shooting affray on Port street hastened the movement. I
-saw but one rifleman standing in the corridor. Several Government
+"One C J. McCarthy had been placed by Wilson in charge of the Government building, but waited there in vain for a force that never came. Several thousand cartridges were found in the foreign office, intended for the defense of the building.
 clerks and one native member of the legislature were also listening to
-the reading. As soon as it was over the new councils convened in the
+"I can not speak from personal observation of the number of men collected in the station house and barracks, but was told by eye witnesses that there were about 80 men in each place.
 interior office, and proceeded to business. I walked over to my office
-in another building within the same inclosure, and passed Company
+"For several hours it looked to us as if a bloody contest, and perhaps a siege, would be necessary. Messengers were coming and going, but when I left the place to do patrol duty in the eastern suburb it was not known whether Mr. Wilson would surrender or not.
 A, a German company, under Capt. Ziegler, arriving on the double
-quick, in company order, to the number of 40 or 50. I told my assistants
+"As much importance has been attached to President Dole's letter to Minister Stevens, written in the afternoon of January 17, in which he suggested the cooperation of the United States marines with the citizen volunteers in maintaining order during the night, I will add that the event showed this request to have been wholly unnecessary.
 in the office what had happened, and directed them to close it for
-the day. On returning to the other building, I found that a large part
+"During the afternoon several hundred names of volunteers had been registered. These were organized in squads and during the following night the whole district including the city was strictly patrolled, as a precaution against fires or disturbance of any kind. These volunteers were on duty some time before the surrender of the station house by Wilson was reported. The palace was given up on the morning of the 18th, and the barracks that evening."
 of Company B, composed of Americans and Englishmen, had arrived.
-The grounds were then cleared of spectators, and guards set at the
+W. D. ALEXANDER.
 gates, and less than half an hour there were 100 riflemen drawn up in
-front of the building, awaiting orders. An hour later I estimated that
+"ADDENDUM.
 there were about 200 present. The officers told me at the time that
-the United States marines had orders to remain neutral."
+"In regard to the Government building, Aliiolani Hall, I wish to say that it has always been considered the visible seat of Government. Together with the two smaller buildings attached to it, it contained all the offices of the departments of Government, the chambers of the supreme court and the court records, the land office and the registry of conveyances, the Government archives, and the treasury.
 What officers did you speak of?
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Officers of the volunteers. Capt. Potter, of Company
+"The action of the late cabinet in abandoning it and seeking refuge in the station house went far to show that they had given up all hope of maintaining their authority.
 B, said that word had been ascertained from Lieut. Swinburne—
-I think that was his name.
+"W. D. ALEXANDER."
 The CHAIRMAN. " I did not see any ol them on the street, and my
-impression is that some of them without arms were in the veranda of
+Senator GRAY. Do you know what time that evening—can you fix precisely the time the barracks were given up?
 Arion Hall."
-Mr. ALEXANDER. Eeferring to the sailors.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. I heard that it was after dark.
 The CHAIRMAN. "The men were expected to fight, and their spirit
-and confidence was such that I had no doubt of the result."
+Senator GRAY. You do not know the hour?
 Mr. ALEXANDER. It should have been the volunteers. That should
-have been corrected.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. No. That would be in Mr. Soper's testimony.
 "Many of them had been in the affair of 1889, and they also believed
-that nearly all the foreign community would back them.
+Senator GRAY. You were not present at any meetings of the committee of safety on the evening of the 17th?
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 659
-•« One C J. McCarthy had been placed by Wilson in charge of the
+Mr. ALEXANDER. I was not.
 Government building, but waited there in vain for a force that never
-came. Several thousand cartridges were found in the foreign office,
+Senator GRAY. Or of the advisory councils?
 intended for the defense of the building.
-" I can not speak from personal observation of the number of men
+Mr. ALEXANDER. I suppose, being an officer of the old Government, they did not take me into their confidence.
 collected in the station house and barracks, but was told by eye witnesses
-that there were about 80 men in each place.
+The CHAIRMAN. When you speak of yourself as being one of the privy council, what were your functions in that office?
 " For several hours it looked to us as if a bloody contest, and perhaps
-a siege, would be necessary. Messengers were coming and going, but
+Senator GRAY. Were you ex officio a privy councillor, being surveyor- general?
 when I left the place to do patrol duty in the eastern suburb it was not
-known whether Mr. Wilson would surrender or not.
+Mr. ALEXANDER. No.
-"As mucli importance has been attached to President Dole's letter to
-Minister Stevens, written in the afternoon of January 17, in which
+Senator GRAY.  Not necessarily privy councillor because of youi being surveyor-general?