The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-09-24
Hich-hauded Proceeding.

On Wednesday the habitues of Queen street
were witnesses to a most remarkable scene, no
less than the landing of a file of marines from
the U. S. Ship Jdmestotcn, under Lieut.. Coehrane,
who charged upon the United States Consulate
and carried it by force, after a short but gallant
resistance on the part of the Consul and Vice
Consul. The cause of this civil war ION a small
scale) was the refusal by Mr.. Adamson, the
Consul, to lower his flag to half-mast.
1t will be remembered that about a month
since it was rumored that the Queen Dowager
Kalama was dead, and that upon this rumor the
flags of the British and French legations were set
at half-mast, and were flying that way the best
part of the forenoon, when the rumor was found
to be false. The Queen Dowager has fingered
along through the month and died on Tuesday
forenoon last, when official communication was
sent from the Foreign Office to Representatives of
Foreign Governments, and, when received, their
flags were set at half-mast. 1t was noticed that
the flag at the United States Consulate was not
lowered, and the fact became subject of remark.
Mr.. Adamson stated that he had not received
official notification of the death of the distin-
guished lady, and bearing in mind the mistake
made by the British and French legations, through
lack of official information, he patiently waitei
for the proper notification from his superior
officer, the United States Minister Resident.
On Wednesday forenoon, an officer from the
jamestown waited on Mr.. Adamson and stated
that the Commander of that vessel ordered that
the Consulate flag should be lowered to half-mast,
giving as a reason that the Queen Dowager was
dead, and that the flag should be so set as long as
tho xrar vaccalS in tba barhor Lant fba;r HorS ~,
that position. Mr.. Adamson replied that as the
superior in rank of Commander Truxtun he should
not receive orders from him, but would respect and
obey the orders of his superior the Minister
Resident.
At a little after noon a file of marines landed
and took charge of the stairway, leading to the
Consulate, while their commander started for the
residence of the Consul with whom he soon ap-
peared. Lieut.. Cochrane stated that he had been
ordered to land and lower the flag at the Consul
late. Mr.. Adamson replied that he would not
permit the act. Lieut.. Cochrane stated that he
should be compelled to use force. Mr.. Adamson
said he should resist, and with the Vice Consul,
Mr.. Christie, went to the door to prevent the l-
gress of the marines, but after a smart scufie they
yielded to superior force, and the flag was
lowered.
Soon after the marines had retired the Minister
Resident sent orders deposing Mr.. Adamson, and
authorizing Mr.. Christie, Vice Consul, to take
charge of the Consulate, both of which were re-
sponded to.
The quarrel as it stands between the several
United States officials is none of ours but we
may be allowed to protest at the course taken by
the Commander of the jamestown, in landing a
force upon our shores, as an insult to this Gov
eminent. American interests here cannot be
benefited or promoted by such outrageous pro-
ceedings.