, 1859-11-18
Later from the Sandwich Islands
h ROYAL TRAGEDY!
Correspondence of the San Francisco Bulletin,
Honolulu, Oct. 3, 1859
UNEASY LIES THE HEAD THAT WEARS A
- CROWN"

hONoLuLUi OCt. o. 1903.
UNEASY LIES THE HEAD THAT WEARS A
-sx CROWN"
The great item of news in this quarter
is the Lahaina tragedy, in which His Maj
esty Kamehameha " was the principal
actor The King and Queen, accompanied
by their suite-amOng which were three
foreigners, viz: c. g. Hopkins, editor of
the POlyHesign, DR.. Il. McKibben, surgeon,
and H. A. Nelson, Private Secretary
left here in the latter part Of August, on a
tour to the windward Islands, touching
first at Lahaina. On the 7th Of Sept, the
King, accompanied only by his Private
Secretary, returned to Honolulu on bust
ness, and left for Lahaina again on the
9Th, where he arrived on the morning of
the 10th. For some reason unknown at
the time to any of his suite, the King, OH
Saturday the 10th, aplVgred unusually
morose, acted strangely, aud it is said
drank whisky freely OnSnday morning,
Sept. llth, about o'clock, he mustered
his boats crew and went on board the
schooner Maria alone, and ordered the
captain to get under way for Hawaii
During the day he was very much excited,
and drank more whisky than usual. After
dark, he ordered the captain to return
again to Lahaina. When within few
miles of the anchorage he took his boats
crew, and, giving his servant his pistols,
which it is said he had loaded while on
board, he started for the shore.
KING KANEHANEHA SHOOTS HIS PRIVATE
SECRETARY.
But little is known Of the subsequent
events, except what is derived from rumor.
No one was present save those attached
to his Majcsty's suite, and as neither they
nor the public journals here have made any
statement Of the circumstances, the partic-
ulars are derived only from vague report.
All that is positively ascertained is, that
the King shot II. A. Nelson, his private
secretary, about o'clock on Sunday night,
Sept. llth. Itis reported that he arrived
on shore about 10 o'clock, and that he or
dered his servant to call Hopkins, McKib-
ben and Nelson, who were asleep-that
when they came out be was sitting in the
piazza-seemed morose and excited-or-
dered his servant to bring him his pistols
whipped him and sent him to prison be-
eanse he did not get them quick enough
that when he received his pistols be, with
out assigning any reason, told Nelson that
he must die--that Nelson retreated into
his house, and that the King followed him
up aud shot him. Immediately after the
occurrence the King refused to Mr.. MeKib-
ben, his surgeon, the privilege of,attending
Nelson, threatening to shoot him if he
went near the house to which Nelson had
been removed. The next morning, how
ever, he sent for McKibben, aud requested
him to render Nelson all assistance in his
power. 1t is also said that the King beat
the Queen, and that after shooting Nelson
he stood over the Queen, and threatened
to shoot both her and his child.
Tbs GREEN-EYED MONSTER AT CouRr.-
Rumcr assigns the canse Of the act to leal-
ousy Of the Queen-a feeling believed by
the entire community TO be without a shad-
ow Of foundation. This belief is further
strengthened by Nelson's solemn assur-
ances that there is no ground for the slight
est suspicion in regard to the Queen. The
Queen is one of the few native women
whose reputation the breath of scandal has
never even touched until now. The suspi-
cions of the King can only be accounted
for by suppOsng either that he was under
the influence Of liquor, or that bis mind
had been poisoned by lies relative to the
Queen and Nelson. No ohei believes he
had in reality the slightest reason.
GREAT EXCITEMENT ABDIcA-
T1oN OF THE KING-The King, although
impetuous, has hitherto conducted himself
in such manner as to win the respect and
esteem Of the entire foreign community;
consequently they were thuuder-struck on
receiving the news Of the tragedy. For
days it was the great topic Of conversation
Many were indignant that the King, being
above the law, should 50 openly transgress
it; but the prevailing feeling was that Of
regret. Mr., Nelson, Immediately afteEbe-
ing shot, was removed to house outside
the palace grounds, and DIR. H. b. White
was called to dress the wound. The wound,
although dangerous, is not considered fatal.
The community, expecting q statement
of the circumstances which led to this mel
ancholy event through the columns of the
Government organ, forbore making any
comments on it. In fact, they nearly all
seemed afraid to speak out aloud, fearing,
perhaps, banishment like that meted out to
Montseratt when caught mapping with the
Princess Victoria. Three weeks elapsed,
and not only the POLynesian, but the Com.
mereial Advertiser, maintained a profound
silence.
On Tuesday, September 9th, the com.
munity was again thrown into a great ex.
citement by news from Lahaina that the
King had resolved to abdicate bis throne.
1t is said be has been overwhelmed with
grief ever since this unfortunate occur.
renee; that he has offered to make Mr..
Nelson all amends in his power; that be
entirely exonerates the Queen, aud insists
upon abdicating and submitting himself to
trial. The effect Of this news was a meet.