The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-11-18
The Lnhntnn Tragedy.

The great item OF news since the sailing
of the last steamer is the Lahaina tragedy,
in which His Majesty Kamehameha ". was
the principal actor. The King and Queen,
accompanied by their suite-among which
were three foreigners, viz: G.. G.. HOPKINS.
editor of the PolyateSia1a, DIR. Z. McKibben,
surgeon, and II. A. Nelson, Private Secre-
tary-left here in the latter part of August,
on n tour of the windward islands, touching
first at Lahaina. On the eth of September,
the King, accompanied only by his private
! secretary, returned to Honolulu on business,
and left for Lahaina again on the 9Th, where
he arrived again on the morning of the
10TH
For some reasons unknown atthe time to
| any of his suite, the King, on Saturday, the
9th, appeared unusually morose, acted
strangely, and, it is said, drank freely On
Sunday morning September l1th about 3
| 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 waA very
| much excited, and drank more than usual.
After dark he ordered the captain to return
again to Lahaina. When within a few
miles Of the anchorage, he took his boats
crew, and giving his servant his pistols,
which it is said he loaded while on board,
he started for the shore
But little is known of the subsequent
events, except what is derived from rumor.
No one was present, save those attached to
His Majestys suite, and as neither they nor
the public Journals here have made any
statement of the circumstances. the plrtic-
lars are derived only from vague report
All that is positively ascertained is, that the
King shot A. Fl. Nelson, his private secre-
tary, about II o'clock on Sunday night,
September IL. 1t is reported that he ar
rived on shore about 0 o'clock and that he
ordered his servant to call Hopkins, Nc
Kibben and Nelson, that when they came
out he was sitting on the piazza; seemed
morose and excited, ordered his servant to
bring him his pistols; whipped him and
sent him to prison because he did not get
them quick enough; that when he received
his pistols, he, without assigning any rea-
son, told Nelson he must die; that Nelson
retreated into his house, and that the King
followed him up and shot him.
1t is also rumored that Immediately after
the occurrence the King refused to Mr. Nc
kibbeD, his surgeon, the privilege of attend
ing Nelson, threatening to shoot him if he
went near the house to which Nelson had
been removed. The nextmorning, however
he sent for McKibben, and requested him
to render Nelson all the assistance in his
power. 1t is said the King beat the Queen,
and that after shooting Nelson he stood
over the Queen, and threatened to shoot
both her and his child. Rumor assigns the
cause Of the act to jealousy of the Queen
feeling believed by the entire community
to be without a shadow of foundation
The King, although impetuous, has hith-
er:o conducted himself in such manner as
to win the respect and esteem of the entire
foreign community; consequently, they were
thunderstruck 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 so
openly transgresS it; but the prevailing
feeling was that of regret. Mr.. Nelson,
Immediately after being shot, was removed
to house outside the palace grounds, and
DR.. II. 3. White was called to dress the
wound. The wound, although dangerous,
is not considered fatal.
September 27th,-the community was
thrown into a great excitement by news
from Lahaina, that the King had resolved
to abdicate his throne. 1t is said he has
been overwhelmed with grief ever since this
unfortunate occurrence; that he has offered !
to make Mr.. Nelson all amends in his pow |
er; that he entirely exhonerates the Queen, |
and insists upon abdicating and submitting |
himself to trial. The effect of this news was |
a meeting Of the Privy Council, and Pc
tition numerously signed, praying his Majesty |
to reconsider his resolution, and not to alb |
dictate.