988-989
| Previous Page | Next Page |
|
natured as possible. He is a great big, good-natured Hawaiian. They had a little friendly chat.
Senator Gray. Do you mean a native?
Mr. McCandless. He is a native, a half white.
Senator Frye. About the color of the rest of them?
Mr. McCandless. Yes; about the color of the rest. He said: "Can't we fix this thing up? We don't want to be fighting you people." We told him that there could be no compromise. He said: "I wanted the others to come up with me, but they would not come; they were afraid." And I think he volunteered the statement that if we would send one or two men down it would inspire confidence in them. Mr. Damon and Mr. Bolte accompanied them back to the police station. In a short time all the Queen's ministers came to the Government building, and on behalf of President Dole a demand was made on them for the surrender of the barracks and the surrender of the police station. They said they would go over and see Her Majesty, and that some one should accompany them. Mr. Damon accompanied them. The ministers went over to the palace and stayed there an hour—between an hour and an hour and a half. In the meantime we moved from the interior office and went to the finance office so that this front office might be turned over to the military; that is, the council did. Then Mr. Damon came back with some one representing the Queen. I think it was Parker. This protest was written out, and it was presented to Judge Dole, and he was asked to acknowledge the receipt of it. He acknowledged the receipt of the paper just as any officer or anyone would acknowledge the receipt of a paper.
Senator Gray. Who handed it to him?
Mr. McCandless. I cannot say whetherit was Parker or Mr. Damon.
Senator Gray. But you can say what was said when it was handed?
Mr. McCandless. That I can remember. The paper was handed to President Dole. He made a statement; said, "Here is a protest they want to file, and I do not see any objection to acknowledging the receipt of it."
Senator Gray. Did he say that?
Mr. McCandless. It was something to that effect. Of course, it is hard to remember the words in an exciting time like that, and a year ago. But he said, "I do not see any objection," or words to that effect
Senator Gray. You understood that there was some point made before about the reception of that protest by President Dole?
Mr. McCandless. Yes.
Senator Gray. Do you say you can not recollect the words?
Mr. McCandless. I do not recollect the exact words. It is hard to do that. I have a pretty good memory, but it is hard to get those exact words; but they were just the words that "I do not know of any objection to acknowledging the receipt of this dispatch which is presented."
Senator Gray. He did receive it?
Mr. McCandless. Just indorsed it, and handed it back to them.
Senator Gray. He did receive it?
Mr. McCandless. Yes; and the paper was indorsed and handed back to Parker. He took it off. He wrote the words there, I do not remember what they were, just acknowledging service. Then it got to be pretty nearly 7 o'clock, dark, and they said that the police station was surrendered, and everything was surrendered, and they deputized Soper, who had been appointed commander-in chief, to go down and demand the surrender of the police station, and take it, and there were
|
20 men deputized under Capt. Ziegler to accompany us. We marched down Merchant street.
Senator Gray. That was after the protest had come in?
Mr. McCandless. Yes.
Senator Gray. Did you have an order from the Queen?
Mr. McCandless. No; we marched down and halted the troops in front of the post-office, in the line of Bethel street, probably within 75 feet of it. We, Col. Soper and I, had to force our way, the streets were jammed, and the troops were halted there. We marched forward into the station house and the marshal's office, and demanded the surrender. They had their Gatling gun and had commenced to take it apart to get it away. The doors were so narrow tbey could not get it from one part of the building to the other without taking it apart.
Senator Gray. Who was there?
Mr. McCandless. Mr. Wilson.
Senator Gray. Was there any order from the Queen?
Mr. McCandless. I do not know that there was.
Senator Gray. Do you know of any order from the Queen?
Mr. McCandless. No.
Senator Gray. Do you not know that Marshal Wilson received an order from the Queen?
Mr. McCandless. I do not; I never heard of it. He then invited us into the deputy marshal's office, and we talked over the details of the government, and he ordered the men to assemble below. It was just as strong there of liquor as any place I was ever in—to get up Dutch courage. They had a barrel down there.
Senator Gray. What sort of liquor did you drink?
Mr. McCandless. The natives prefer gin. We went down below in the back yard, and Marshal Wilson made a speech to the men and Col. Soper made one to them, and that ended the formal turning over of the station house to the Provisional Government. I then went out into the street and told Capt. Ziegler to march his men in. We marched them into one of the rooms, took charge of it, and went back.
Senator Gray. How many Gatling guns were there?
Mr. McCandless. One.
Senator Gray. How many cannon?
Mr. McCandless. The cannon were at the barracks.
Senator Gray. How many arms were there? Did you take any account of the arms delivered?
Mr. McCandless. There was not then; there was that night.
Senator Gray. You did not take any account?
Mr. McCandless. No. I went back to the Government building. In the first place Mr. Wundenburg had been selected to be put in charge of the station house; but Mr. Wundenburg protested against it, saying, "I have been a lifelong friend of Mr. Wilson, and it is pretty hard to go down there and ask him to surrender; you send Soper and McCandless to take charge of it, and when Wilson is gone I will go down." A brother of mine went down with Wundenburg and took charge of the station house, and they were in charge of it for several days.
Senator Gray. Where did you go when you went from the station house?
Mr. McCandless. Back to the Government building.
Senator Gray. Into the council room ?
Mr. McCandless. Into the council room.
Senator Gray. Do you know what time it was then ?
| Previous Page | Next Page |