Jere Krischel at 05:44, 24 January 2006

2006-01-24T05:44:04Z

Ken Conklin at 04:20, 23 January 2006

2006-01-23T04:20:20Z

Jere Krischel at 04:49, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:49:25Z

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834 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
company of 3fi men was withdrawn, and that, with the casualties
that occurred, left the force on shore about 90 men; I think less than
that.
Senator GRAY. What do you mean by casualties?
Mr. SWINBURNE. Some men sent on board ship for punishment, and
quite a number sent onboard sick. Somewhere in the neighborhood
of 80 to 90 men left, including the drum corps and color guard.
The CHAIRMAN. At what time did Admiral Skerrett come into the
harbor?
Mr. SWINBURNE. I forget the date of his arrival; but it was after
the flag was hoisted.
The CHAIRMAN. On what ship did he come!
Mr. SWINBURNE. The Mohican.
The CHAIRMAN. IS that his flagship ?
Mr. SWINBURNE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What was Admiral Skerrett's command?
Mr. SWINBURNE. The Pacific Station.
The CHAIRMAN. That included Hawaii?
Mr. SWINBURNE. That included Hawaii; yes.
The CHAIRMAN. HOW long did Capt. Wiltse remain on the Boston
after Admiral Skerrett's arrival?
Mr. SWINBURNE. My impression is that he remained until about the
5th of March, when he was relieved by Capt. B. F. Day.
The CHAIRMAN. Did he leave on account of sickness?
Mr. SWINBURNE. He left because of the termination of his cruise.
He was there a little longer than the termination of his cruise. Two
years is now the ordinary term of a captain at sea; that had expired
in February, and in the ordinary course of routine Capt. Day was sent
out to relieve him.
The CHAIRMAN. HOW long did Capt: Wiltse live after that?
Mr. SWINBURNE. I have forgotten the date of his death—probably six
weeks or two months.
The CHAIRMAN. After he arrived in the United States?
Mr. SWINBURNE. After he arrived in the United States. He had
been apparently in good health; but he had one stroke of apoplexy
while he was attached to the ship. I was not surprised.
The CHAIRMAN. Are those the orders under which you left the ship
with that detachment (exhibiting paper)?
Mr. SWINBURNE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. They are as follows:
U. S. S. BOSTON, SECOND-RATE,
Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, January 16,1893.
Lieut. Commander W. T. SWINBURNE,
U. S. Navy, Executive Officer U. S. 8. Boston:
SIR : You will take command of the battalion and land in Honolulu
for the purpose of protecting our legation, consulate, and the lives and
property of American citizens, and to assist in preserving public order.
Great prudence must be exercised by both officers and men, and no
action taken that is not fully warranted by the condition of affairs and
by the conduct of those who may be inimical to the treaty rights of
American citizens.
You will inform me at the earliest practicable moment of any change
in the situation.
Very respectfully,
G. C. WILTSE,
Captain, U. S. Navy, Commanding U. 8. S. Boston.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 835
What time of day were these orders delivered to you?
Mr. SWINBURNE. About half past 4 on the afternoon of the 16th.
The CHAIRMAN. When you received these orders did you receive
any personal or private instructions from Capt. Wiltse in addition?
Mr. SWINBURNE. None at all, except what I have stated in regard
to where we were to go.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you at that time know of the formation of a
provisional government in Hawaii?
Mr. SWINBURNE. NO; not at all. In fact I knew nothing about that
until Mr. Carter spoke of it on Tuesday afternoon.
The CHAIRMAN. That was the first knowledge you had?
Mr. SWINBURNE. That was the first knowledge I had.
The CHAIRMAN. SO that, in landing with those troops you were not
landed for the purpose of protecting the Provisional Government.
Mr. SWINBURNE. Not the slightest.
The CHAIRMAN. Or inaugurating a provisional government!
Mr. SWINBURNE. Not at all.
The CHAIRMAN. YOU were not certain that you were to do anything
more than to protect the
Mr. SWINBURNE. Protect American property and the lives of citizens—
particularly the property. There had been always a feeling during
the time we were there that we were there to look out, in the event
of any domestic disturbance in the islands, that no harm came to the
Americans or their property in any way.
The CHAIRMAN. You are not certain whether that order to assist in
preserving public order related to the Queen's Government or any other
government?
Mr. SWINBURNE. I supposed it to mean the Queen's Government;
that was my interpretation. There was no other government when I
landed.
The CHAIRMAN. SO that, if the Queen had addressed to you a request
to preserve the public order, or if you had found that the public
order was being disturbed by opposition to her, you would have felt
required to respond?
Mr. SWINBURNE. That request would have come through the minister
to me, merely to preserve order. I did not know that I was there
to tight her battles any more than anybody else's. I was there to preserve
order; protect the peaceful rights of citizens in the town. I should
have been ready if called upon to lend a hand.
Senator GRAY. YOU were going to prevent fighting?
Mr. SWINBURNE. I was going to prevent any fighting that endangered
peaceable American citizens in the town.
Senator GRAY. Did Capt. Wiltse say anything to you, or in your
presence say anything about preventing any fighting in the town, or
not allowing any fighting in the town?
Mr. SWINBURNE. NO ; not at all.
Senator GRAY. Never did?
Mr. SWINBURNE. NO.
Senator GRAY. That if they wanted to fight they would have to go
outside?
Mr. SWINBURNE. The order said, I thought, no more than to see
that peaceable citizens were not interfered with.
Senator GRAY. Did Capt. Wiltse say that if there was to be any
fighting it should be out of town?
Mr. SWINBURNE. NO ; he said nothing to me about fighting at all.
We had no discussion of the orders.

Template:834-835 - Revision history

Jere Krischel at 05:44, 24 January 2006

Ken Conklin at 04:20, 23 January 2006

Jere Krischel at 04:49, 12 December 2005