Jere Krischel: /* ''{{sc|Washington}}, D. C., January 11, 1894.'' */

2005-12-20T10:21:04Z

''{{sc|Washington}}, D. C., January 11, 1894.''

Jere Krischel at 08:01, 20 December 2005

2005-12-20T08:01:45Z

Jere Krischel at 08:01, 20 December 2005

2005-12-20T08:01:29Z

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Jere Krischel at 04:41, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:41:49Z

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744 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
is the main street [indicating]. This [indicating] is a narrow street,
not much frequented.
Senator GRAY. What sort offence is there?
Mr. LAIRD A picket fence on this side and a picket fence on both
sides. There was a roadway that came down there from the opera
house, and the Japanese commissioner li«ved in this house [indicating],
so that we did not encroach upon his territory at all.
Senator GRAY. There was a picket fence here [indicating]?
Mr. LAIRD. Our province was a little beyond the building itself.
Senator GRAY. And the lot in which you were stationed was inclosed
by a picket fence?
Mr. LAIRD. A picket fence, probably 4 or 5 feet in height.
Senator GRAY. There was no disturbance that afternoon, Tuesday,
after the proclamation of the Provisional Government, and around in
the neighborhood of where you were?
Mr. LAIRD. No.
Senator GRAY. Around the Government building?
Mr. LAIRD. NO.
Senator GRAY. Were you in a place to have seen it if there had been?
Mr. LAIRD. After the drill was over I walked out in front, in the
roadway, to see if there was any assemblage of people.
Senator GRAY. Were you aware that the proclamation was being
read?
Mr. LAIRD. No.
Senator GRAY. YOU did not see any of it?
Mr. LAIRD. Did not see it and did not know it.
Senator GRAY. Until you were told?
Mr. LAIRD. NO.
Senator GRAY. There was no disturbance there?
Mr. LAIRD. NO.
Senator FRYE. Was there any difficulty that night about finding
quarters for your troops?
Mr. LAIRD. There must have been great difficulty, or the men would
not have been kept out until half past 9.
Senator FRYE. Were there men out seeking quarters?
Mr. LAIRD. Yes.
Senator FRYE. And you did not get them until 9 o'clock?
Mr. LAIRD. It was later than that.
Senator FRYE. Do you know whether Arion Hall was selected with
any reference at all to the Queen's Government or Provisional Government?
Mr. LAIRD. I have no such knowledge. I do not think it was. It
was accidental—it was available.
Senator FRYE. And the only one, so far as you could find out, that
was available? Was there anything in the location or disposition of
the troops which prevented the Queen's troops from dislodging the men
who took possession of the Government buildings?
Mr. LAIRD. NO, I do not think there was.
Senator FRYE. Under your orders, if the Queen's troops had undertaken
to repossess themselves of the Government buildings, had you
any right to interfere?
Mr. LAIRD. I wouldhave been obliged to obey Mr. Swinburne's orders.
Senator FRYE. I say, under the instructions?
Mr. LAIRD. Under the instructions, no.
Senator FRYE. In Mr. Blount's report he states that the Queen's
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 745
troops could not have done anything touching the Government buildings
really without firing upon the American troops.
Senator GRAY. Quoting Admiral Skerrett for that opinion.
Senator FRYE. No; I do not think Admiral Skerrett gives that as
his opinion.
Mr. LAIRD. I do not see how we could interfere in any way with the
Queen's forces or Government forces.
Senator FRYE. I do not, from the maps, if the maps are correct.
Did you at any time while you were there learn the extent of the
Queen's troops and the Queen's police?
Mr. LAIRD. No, I did not.
Senator GRAY. Did you intend to allow any fighting over across the
street from you?
Mr. LAIRD. I was under the immediate orders of Lieut. Swinburne at
the time, and I would have been obliged to obey his instructions. I
could not use my own judgment; he was the senior officer.
Senator GRAY. HOW long did you stay on shore?
Mr. LAIRD. We were on shore from the 16th of January until the 1st
of April.
Senator GRAY. HOW far was Camp Boston from the landing place?
Mr. LAIRD. It was right in the heart of the city itself.
Adjourned until to-morrow, 11th instant, at 10 o'clock a. m.
WASHINGTON, D. C., January 11, 1894.
The subcommittee met pursuant to adjournment.
Present: The Chairman (Senator MORGAN) and Senators BUTLER,
GRAY, and Senator DOLPH of the full committee.
Absent: Senators SHERMAN and FRYE.
SWORN STATEMENT OF JAMES H. BLOUNT.
The CHAIRMAN. What time were you first informed of your selection
by the President as the Commissioner to go to Hawaii?
Mr. BLOUNT. The first intimation I had on the subject of my going
to the Dawaiian Islands is contained in this dispatch, which I read:
" WASHINGTON, D. 0., March 10,1893.
"Hon. JAMES II. BLOUNT,
Macon, Ga.:
" By authority I ask can you come here immediately prepared for
confidential trip of great importance into Pacific Ocean? Answer."
The CHAIRMAN. Was that signed by Mr. Gresham?
Mr. BLOUNT. NO ; by Hoke Smith.
The CHAIRMAN. YOU came in accordance with that request?
Mr. BLOUNT. Yes. And if you will allow me I would say when I
first got the telegram I made up my mind very promptly that I would
not go; 1 did not want to go at all. My son opened the dispatch and
found out what it was, and in that way was induced to bring it up to
my house. I was at home. He asked me what I was going to do
about it, and I said I was not going. I then showed it to his mother,
and told her that I was not going. After some little while my son
said, " Father, mother's health is very bad, and I think it would add
five years to her life to go;" and under that appeal from him I said,
" I will do anything for your mother's benefit; 1 will go." I then sent

@@ Line 125: / Line 125: @@
 Adjourned until to-morrow, 11th instant, at 10 o'clock a. m.
 {{break}}
-=''{{sc|Washington}}, D. C., January 11, 1894.''=
+={{sc|Washington}}, D. C., ''January 11, 1894.''=
 The subcommittee met pursuant to adjournment.

@@ Line 139: / Line 139: @@
 Mr. {{sc|Blount}}. The first intimation I had on the subject of my going
-to the Dawaiian Islands is contained in this dispatch, which I read:
+to the Hawaiian Islands is contained in this dispatch, which I read:
 :"{{sc|Washington}}, D. C., ''March 10,1893.''

Template:744-745 - Revision history

Jere Krischel: /* ''{{sc|Washington}}, D. C., January 11, 1894.'' */

Jere Krischel at 08:01, 20 December 2005

Jere Krischel at 08:01, 20 December 2005

Jere Krischel at 04:41, 12 December 2005