Jere Krischel at 06:03, 10 January 2006

2006-01-10T06:03:23Z

Jere Krischel at 05:01, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T05:01:19Z

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978 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
munity, were anxious that the troops should land on account of a fear
that the city might be burned and looted, and knowing that the troops
were ashore nothing of that kind would take place. On the other
hand, there were other members of the committee who felt that if the
troops came ashore it would make a changed condition, and we did not
know just what the result would be.
The CHAIRMAN. Were they apprehensive that if the troops came
ashore they would support the Queen, or what were they apprehensive
about!
Mr. MCCANDLESS. We were absolutely ignorant on that point.
The CHAIRMAN. What was the apprehension with regard to the landing
of the troops?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. We were making such rapid progress with our
organization, and the other people so completely cowed, we thought
probably it would precipitate a crisis so soon as the troops came
ashore, and in a day or two we would be better prepared to resist it
than then, and it was between those two ideas the committee was
divided.
The CHAIRMAN. By precipitating a crisis did you think the troops
would attack you?
Senator FRYE. The Queen's troops, encouraged by the United States
troops?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes. We did not know anything about that.
Senator GRAY. Was anything said in your meeting on Saturday,
after your committee of safety was formed and you had cleared the
room, about Mr. Stevens and the United States ship Bostonl
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes; we talked that over.
Senator GRAY. So soon as your committee was formed?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Well, its was during the conversation.
The CHAIRMAN. On Saturday?
Senator GRAY. Yes. Was anything said about the attitude of Mr.
Stevens?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. It was talked of—what his attitude would be.
Senator GRAY. Was anybody deputed to go and see him ?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes; I think there was a committee of one or
two appointed on Saturday afternoon to have a talk with him, to ascertain
what his attitude would be in the then crisis.
Senator GRAY. Did that committee report?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. The report was that there was no information;
that he was entirely noncommittal.
Senator GRAY. Who said that?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Mr. Thurston, I believe.
Senator GRAY. But said he would protect life and property?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes.
Senator GRAY. He did not say he was noncommittal?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Well, he was noncommittal as to contending
forces; but would protect life and property.
Senator GRAY. Was anything said by them that conveyed the idea
to you that Mr. Stevens was hostile or indifferent to the movement ot
the committee of safety, or was without sympathy for it?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. I think not.
Senator GRAY. Anything at all?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. I think we felt this way, that without any encouragement
from him we certainly had the sympathy of the American
minister.
Senator GRAY. That was the general feeling, was it not?
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 979
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes.
Senator FRYE. A committee was sent to Minister Stevens to request
him not to land the troops then ?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes; we did not feel certain that night, and
thought we would get our strength better in a day or two.
Senator GRAY. That the landing of the troops might bring on a
crisis ?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes.
Senator GRAY. If you were not as well prepared as you thought you
would be later?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. NO, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Was there a request sent to Mr. Stevens not to
land the troops ?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Who composed that committee?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Mr. Thurston and W. O. Smith.
The CHAIRMAN. Did they report to the committee of safety?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. They did.
The CHAIRMAN. What was the report?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. The report was that Mr. Stevens said, owing to
the unsettled state of affairs he was going to land troops.
Senator FRYE. He would not change his purpose?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. NO.
Senator GRAY. YOU had previously asked Mr. Stevens to request the
landing of the troops?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Had any troops landed at the time he announced
his intention to have them landed notwithstanding your request?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. No.
The CHAIRMAN. What time Monday afternoon was that?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. At the time of the meeting?
The CHAIRMAN. No; the time you got this report?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Probably a quarter to 5, from half-past 4 to quarter
of 5.
The CHAIRMAN. How long after this report was made of Mr. Stevens's
refusal to prevent the landing of the troojjs before they were actually
landed?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. I do not think it was over a half hour, perhaps
three-quarters.
The CHAIRMAN. They must have been on their way to the shore at
that time?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. I presume they were. I did not know.
The CHAIRMAN. Did the committee of safety, acting under the resolutions
of which you have spoken, prepare any programme for the
organization of the civil government?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes. We began that. That was discussed hurriedly
Saturday evening. It was more in detail on Sunday morning;
but by Monday morning we had the plan completed.
The CHAIRMAN. Projected?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. After you got the indorsement of the mass meeting
you proceeded to execute the programme which you had already agreed
upon?
Mr. MCCANDLESS. Yes.
Senator GRAY. Were you at the meeting at Mr. Castle's on Sunday
morning?

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Jere Krischel at 06:03, 10 January 2006

Jere Krischel at 05:01, 12 December 2005