The Portland daily press., 1870-10-31

Monday Morning, October 81, 1870
PORTLAND.

Hemark able >. enc IN ,bc s.uaw. -
1auds-Lnndiug Of an Amcr,cnu m A rr,.a
Fsrce in lhOnoIulu.
GFrom the Honolulu Com. Advertiser. Sent o.,
On Wednesday the habitues of Queen ST.
were witnesses TO a most remarkable scene,
no less than the landing of file of marines
from the United States sship jamestown, un-
der Lieutenant Cochrane, who charged upon
the United States Consulate and carried it by
force, after short but gallant resistance on
the part of the Consul and Vice Consul. The
cause of this civil war ION small scale) was
the refusal by Mr.. Adamson, the Consul, to
lower his flag to half mast. 1t will be remem-
! Dered that about month since it was rumor.
ed 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 linger-
ed along through the mouth and died on
Tuesday forenoon last, when official commu-
nication was sent to the Foreign Office of rep
resentatives of foreign governments,and when
received their flags were,set at half.mast. 1t
was noticed that the flag of the United
States Consulate was not lowered, and the
TACT became SUBJECT of remark. Mr.. Adam
son stated that be had not received official no.
tiication of the death of the distinguished la
day, and be irin9 in mind the mistake made
by the British and French Legations through
lack OF Ufhcial Information, he patiently wait
ed for the proper notification from his supe-
ror officer, the United States Minister kes.
dent 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 low
cred 10 halt-mast, giving as reason that the
Queen Dowaeer was dead, and that the flag
should be 80 set as long as the war vessels IN
the harbor kept their flags in that position
Mr.. Adamson replied, that as the superior in
rank OF Commander Truxton, lie should not
receive orders from him, but would respect
ana obey the orders OF his superior, the Min
lster Resident. At little after noon file OF
marines landed and took charge of the stair
way leading to the Consulate, while the co,n-
mander started for the resident of the Consul.
win whom he soon appeared. Lieut.. Coch
rane stated that he had been ordered to land
and lower the flag at the Consulate. Mr.. Ad.
anison replied that he would not permit the
act. Lient Cochrsne stated that he should be
compelled to use force. Mr.. Adamson said
that he should resist, and with the Vice Con
sui, Mr.. Christie went to the door to prevent
the entrance of the mariDes, but after a smart
scuffie they yielded to superior Iolce, 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 oil which were responded 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 force upon our shores as an insult
to this government. American interests here
cannot be benefited or prompted by such out
rageous proceedings.