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understand that I was there simply to protect American property and life.
The Chairman. Did you gather the impression or belief there that any members of the Queen's cabinet were in sympathy with this political outbreak?
Mr. Swinburne. In sympathy with the Provisional Government?
The Chairman. Yes.
Mr. Swinburne. Of the Queen's cabinet at that time?
The Chairman. For the purpose of overthrowing her, or for the purpose of establishing a provisional government?
Mr. Swinburne. I did not.
The Chairman. Did you hear anything about members of that cabinet going to the citizen's meeting and asking for protection or asking advice as to what they should do?
Mr. Swinburne. Yes; I did hear that. I heard that two of them went to Judge Hartwell. Judge Hartwell is known to be a very ardent Annexationist.
Senator Gray. Was he on the bench?
Mr. Swinburne. Well, he had been.
Senator Gray. He was called "judge?"
Mr. Swinburne. Called "judge."
The Chairman. In point of time, did you hear that when you got on shore that day?
Mr. Swinburne. I heard that from the messenger who came off to Capt. Wiltse about noon. My impression is that it was Mr. Cooper.
The Chairman. He brought that information to Capt. Wiltse?
Mr. Swinburne. Brought that to Capt. Wiltse.
The Chairman. That two members of the Queen's cabinet----
Mr. Swinburne. Had come to Judge Hartwell's office and disclosed to him the fact that the Queen had attempted to—they felt that the Queen was prepared to use force—to force them to sign that new constitution.
The Chairman. Did you stand from that statement that they had asked any protection from the citizens, or had asked advice from the citizens as to what they should do?
Mr. Swinburne. If you want my opinion, and not what I know?
The Chairman. No. I want to know the shape in which that information came aboard the ship that morning.
Mr. Swinburne. It came as a warning to Capt. Wiltse that the Queen was prepared to overthrow the constitution. It was brought to his attention there. His business was to watch over American interests in the islands.
The Chairman. Mr. Cooper brought that information to Capt. Wiltse?
Mr. Swinburne. Yes.
The Chairman. Did it in any respect have reference to the Queen's cabinet having sought advice from the citizens against any project of hers to arrest them?
Mr. Swinburne. That is what I understood at the time. I know it was talked of in the town; but whether I heard it at that time or not, I do not know.
The Chairman. What I want is the information that was brought aboard the ship.
Mr. Swinburne. It is very difficult to separate the time when I heard these things. But I gathered the impression that day that these
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men were actually afraid that they would be arrested by the Queen when they went to Hartwell's office. That was my impression that day.
The Chairman. The object of their visit to Hartwell's office was either to get advice or assistance against such expected or proposed movement on the part of the Queen?
Mr. Swinburne. Yes.
Senator Gray. Was there any request came off to the ship from any other person to Mr. Stevens for the landing of the troops?
Mr. Swinburne. Not that I am aware of. I am certain there was a message came off to the captain that led him to make his preparations.
Senator Gray. Do you know from whom that message came?
Mr. Swinburne. I do not; I judge from the American minister.
Senator Gray. Other than the American minister?
Mr. Swinburne. I do not know. I judge, of course, there could not be any.
Senator Gray. Do you recollect any note coming to Mr. Stevens on the afternoon, and while he was on the ship?
Mr. Swinburne. That I do not know of my own knowledge, but I heard that there was a note. I was extremely busy after I had asked Capt. Wiltse to allow the captains of the companies to be present to gather such information as they could. I left the cabin and was in and out, and there was a good deal said between the captain and the captains of the companies that I did not hear. They asked questions as to their duties under certain circumstances; I heard what they were afterward, but I did not hear at the time. I had been there long enough to know what we were to do if we landed, what my business was, and my orders were not handed to me until just before we shoved off from the ship. But we were there for the purpose of protecting American property and American interests; and my idea was to protect them against people, who, I felt, might be guilty of incendiarism, plunder, or maltreatment of unoffending American citizens. That is what I was thinking about.
Senator Frye. Most of the buildings in Honolulu are constructed of wood?
Mr. Swinburne. They are most all wooden buildings.
Senator Frye. They would make serious fires?
Mr. Swinburne. I know that is what the people were afraid of.
Senator Frye. Is not that the resort of certain elements in revolutionary states when a revolution is under way?
Mr. Swinburne. It is.
Senator Frye. All through the South, down in Panama and everywhere else?
Mr. Swinburne. I should think so.
Senator Frye. I suppose the city of Honolulu is very much scattered?
Mr. Swinburne. Covers a good deal of ground.
Senator Frye. And the Americans' houses are also scattered all over the best part of the city?
Mr. Swinburne. Yes; many of them up Nuuanu Valley and toward the plains, and a good many toward Waikiki?
Senator Frye. In case of mob violence in the city, that is the property, I take it, that is pretty likely to be burned up?
Mr. Swinburne. Yes.
Senator Frye. When you were about Arion Hall were you not situated as well as you could be to hit that class of property?
Mr. Swinburne. So far as American property was concerned I