Jere Krischel at 01:12, 15 January 2006

2006-01-15T01:12:56Z

Jere Krischel at 04:45, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:45:56Z

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788 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Mr. JEWELL. I believe so—one of the periodical revolutions which
nobody can account for.
The CHAIRMAN. How long did your troops remain on shore?
Mr. JEWELL. I think about sis days.
The CHAIRMAN. Did they camp on shore?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Was there any disturbance in the vicinity of your
camp?
Mr. JEWELL. NO. Firing was going on all the time between these
two parties, around corners, out of windows, etc., and every time we
showed ourselves down on the wharf they would fire at us. They would
fire at a light at night—amuse themselves that way; but never did any
particular damage.
Senator FRYE. But the troops from the other ship went up into the
city?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What distance was that; how far did they have to
go to get into the city?
Mr. JEWELL. Perhaps half a mile.
The CHAIRMAN. Did they remain in the city?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And the American troops remained on shore until
peace was restored—order was restored ?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. YOU have no particular information as to whether
either faction of the people there desired your presence?
Mr. JEWELL. No, I do not know about that at all. I think the call
was made by the Pacific Mail Company, in the first instance, for the
protection of the property in transit—merchandise in transit. I believe
we have certain treaty rights down there in regard to landing men.
The CHAIRMAN. NOW, the Corean incident. What was the occasion
for landing there ?
Mr. JEWELL. It was an excitement in Seaul, the capital. Threats
had been made against the foreign population, and 1 think they were
all more or less scared. I do not think they were in any very great
danger. But the American minister wrote to me that he would probably
call upon me for a small force for the protection of the legation,
and soon after I received the letter I received a telegram from him
asking me to dispatch the men.
The CHAIRMAN. You were in command of the ship at that time?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. HOW many men did you send?
Mr. JEWELL. Twenty-five or 30—I think 30 men.
The CnAiRMAN. How long did they stay ashore?
Mr. JEWELL. I think about a week; until quiet was restored.
The CHAIRMAN. That was not a political revolution, but it was an
opposition of the natives to the foreign population in general?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And you really landed for the purpose of protecting
the American citizens there and the legation?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes. There were other men-of-war there at the time
and they all landed troops. That is to say, there was a French manof-
war, a Eussian man-of-war, and a Japanese man-of-war. I think
they all sent men up there.
The CHAIRMAN. Was there any other occasion when you have landed
troops?
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 789
Mr. JEWELL. NO.
The CHAIRMAN. IS it one of the standing orders or rules of the Navy
that when the minister resident at a foreign port, or consul at a foreign
port, requests the naval officer to land troops to protect the peace of
the consulate, the naval officer is to do it?
Mr. JEWELL. The officer m command of a vessel has to decide that
when it comes up.
The CHAIRMAN. Upon the facts in every emergency?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
Senator FRYE. He can not relieve himself for responsibility except
by the orders of a superior officer?
Mr. JEWELL. In no other way. He is responsible for any such landing
or landings he may make. In my own case I had asked the admiral
particularly in regard to the landing of men in Corea. I had asked him
to give me instructions, but he said I would have to depend upou my
own judgment in case of necessity, in case the request was made.
The CHAIRMAN. SO that a naval officer in command at any foreign
port is thrown upon his individual judgment as to the necessity or
propriety of landing forces ?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. IS he bound to receive from the consuls or ministers
of the United States their orders or requests or direction as being military
orders ?
Mr. JEWELL. No.
The CHAIRMAN. Their orders address themselves to the naval officer's
discretion ?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes, exactly. They come in the form of a request.
The CHAIRMAN. And they do not relieve the naval officer from
responsibility as a naval officer.
Mr. JEWELL. Not at all.
The CHAIRMAN. Whereas if the orders come from a superior authority
the naval officer is bound to obey, and he is relieved from any
responsibility in obeying?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you cruised much in the Pacific Ocean ?
Mr. JEWELL. NO; except that I have been three years on that China
station; not. otherwise. I was two years and a half in the Tuscarora,
and I was in the Pacific then.
The CHAIRMAN. IS the Tuscarora a steamship ?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you been on steamships during all your
cruises out there?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the nearest points where a coal supply
can be obtained ? I do not mean the place where supplies have been
accumulated, but where the countries produce the coal?
Mr. JEWELL. Nearest to Honolulu?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes.
Mr. JEWELL. I do not know of any. They have an inferior kind of
coal in the Straits of Juan de Fuca, at Vancouvers Island. I think
that is the nearest point.
The CHAIRMAN. IS that what is called the Seattle coal?
Mr. JEWELL. It may be Seattle coal.
The CHAIRMAN. It is the same thing?
Mr. JEWELL. I have no doubt it is the same thing; but it is not a
good quality of coal.

Template:788-789 - Revision history

Jere Krischel at 01:12, 15 January 2006

Jere Krischel at 04:45, 12 December 2005