Jere Krischel at 09:07, 5 January 2006

2006-01-05T09:07:34Z

Jere Krischel at 04:51, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:51:21Z

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860 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
to Hawaii and the commercial and humanitarian interests of that vast
ocean.
" Such a protective relation the United States has officially declared
it will not permit any other nation to assume toward Hawaii. The
progress of events demonstrates that, sooner or later, foreign intervention
from some quarter is inevitable. If the United States insists that
no other nation shall assume the responsibility of guaranteeing in
Hawaii the blessings of civilized government, that responsibility the
United States is morally bound to accept itself.
" BOSTON, November 29,1893."
Senator GRAY. YOU say that you arrived at the Government house
on the 17th when the last words of the proclamation of the Provisional
Government were being read? <
Mr. OLESON. Yes.
Senator GRAY. And that you observed about 100 men there?
Mr. OLESON. 1 immediately went into the Government yard and
looked about. I should say that there must have been 100 men inside
and outside the building.
Senator FRYE. Armed men?
Mr. OLESON. Yes.
Senator GRAY. I understand you did not count them ?
Mr. OLESON. No; did not count them. But 1 have been used to
seeing military companies.
Senator GRAY. AS there have been other estimates, I want to understand
whether you counted the men there.
Mr. OLESON. No; I did not count them.
Senator GRAY. Hid you that afternoon go over to Arion Hall, where
the United States troops were?
Mr. OLESON. NO; they did not make the slightest impression
Senator GRAY. I asked if you went over there.
Mr. OLESON. NO. Coming down Richard street Arion Hall is in full
view. I did not see any troops, as I say; I saw but 2 sentries. Richard
street is to the west of the palace. If you have a map here, I will trace
my course. Here [indicating on the diagram] on the corner of King
and Bethel streets was the point from wliich 1 started. I went along
King to Fort street. I went down to the corner of Merchant, to Mr.
Smith's office; came back Fort street to King street to the spot I started
from, to see some friends. I came here [indicating], nearly to the corner
of King and Fort streets, when I heard the shot. Then I went up
Fort street to Hotel street and came through Hotel street to Palace
lane. Coining along Hotel street, I went up Palace lane past the barracks.
This [indicating] is Palace lane. I went through here up to
Punchbowl street; up Punchbowl street to Beretania street, where the
armory is. As I arrived here on Palace lane, in full view of Punchbowl
street, Capt. Ziegler was passing—going down Punchbowl street.
When I got up to the corner of Punchbowl and Beretania there was
another company started down Punchbowl street. I went into the
armory and shortly afterward came down Punchbowl street to Palace
lane, and noted that there were none of the royal soldiers in sight;
came down Richard street, and in coming down Richard street Arion
Hall is in full view, back of the opera house. I came down through
Richard street to Palace Square, down through that little lane [indicating],
and went into the Government yard.
Senator FRYE. And all the troops that you saw at Arion Hall were
the 2 sentries?
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 861
Mr. OLESON. Yes. They may have been there, but I did not see
them, and I think I should have seen them. I was walking down
Richard street with Prof. Scott, and we were talking about the situation
and hurrying toward the Government building. We might have
been in conversation, and for that reason not have seen them. But
my impression is they were not there.
Senator FRYE. Not in view.
Mr. OLESON. No.
Senator GRAY. Did you know at that time that the soldiers were
stationed there?
Mr. OLESON. Oh, yes; I knew they were there.
Senator GRAY. And you did not look to see if they were there?
Mr. OLESON. NO. I know they landed the night before and stopped
on Mr. Atherton's grounds the night before.
Senator GRAY. Who is Mr. Atherton, an American!
Mr. OLESON. Yes.
Senator GRAY. Where is his house?
Mr. OLESON. He is a commission merchant.
Senator GRAY. Will you point out his houset
Mr. OLESON. It is right out on King street.
Senator GRAY. Has it large grounds around itf
Mr. OLESON. Yes—another house here [indicating], and then his
grounds go clear through—extensive grounds.
Senator GRAY. Were you out there when the troops were there?
Mr. OLESON. I went out when they were there; yes.
Senator GRAY. That was on Monday evening?
Mr. OLESON. That was on Monday evening.
Senator GRAY. Were you there when they marched away?
Mr. OLESON. I was not; no.
Senator GRAY. Did you see Mr. Stevens that day?
Mr. OLESON. NO.
Senator GRAY. Of course you had no conversation with him if you
did not see him ?
Mr. OLESON. I did not see him after his trip to Hawaii.
Senator GRAY. Did you know many of these men whom you saw
with arms around the Government building that day?
Mr. OLESON. I lived outside of the city; I know a good many men,
having little to do with the affairs of the city; I know a good many by
name. I know a good many of them were engaged in the revolution
of 1887 and 1889.
Senator GRAY. Did you talk with any of them that day?
Mr. OLESON. Yes; while we were at the Government builuing.
Senator GRAY. HOW many of them?
Mr. OLESON. I went from one group to another to see what the
sentiment was.
Senator GRAY. The men were in groups?
Mr. OLESON. Yes.
Senator GRAY. Not in military array?
Mr. OLESON. A large guard and two companies in line; the others
were in the Government building, with arms stacked in the legislative
hall.
Senator GRAY. They were the men you talked to?
Mr. OLESON. Yes; not the men in line.
Senator GRAY. Not the men in the line?
Mr. OLESON. I talked with some of them.
Senator GRAY. Whom?

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Jere Krischel at 09:07, 5 January 2006

Jere Krischel at 04:51, 12 December 2005