The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-02-03
The Execution at Apaiang.
HoNo1rrr. Jan. 2s.h 1871.

HONOLULU Jan <ot0 1870.
To he Editor Of the Pacific C~ommTciai Advertiser:
SIR: II. B. Ms. Schr. &c Ren@d,' Lieut. Com.
Pugh, entered the lagoon OF Apaiang. Gilbert Is,
on Sunday afternoon April 2sd 1876 She vas
sent to see that the murderer OF Mr. A j. Reyes.
a British subject. was executed By the King Of
Apaiang- The government 81 Apaisng Is not yet
recognized by nations as q civilized government,
so Capt. Pugh could not treat with the King
as he could with . regularly organized and recog-
nized government. But TIE kaie, King Of Apaiang.
had given Mr.. keyes q written promise OF protec-
ton to life and property. therefore the King, and
not Capt. Pugh must execute the murderer. On
Monday Capt Pugh asked ne to go on board the
"Renard " and give all the evidence in my pcs
British subject and trade, was also called. On
Tuesday afternoon the King and a high chief by
name of TIE Kabuuare were called on board, and
received with honor. On being shown into the
cabin, Capt. Pugh asked Te Kaiea If he was King
of Apaiang. He said he was. When shown the
written promise of protection he had given Mr..
Keyes he said &" That is it. / know what it means,
| signed that with my Own hand Capt. Pugh
then asked him why be did not promptly arrest
and execute the murderer. The answer was Il
was at Butaritari at the time Why did you
not said Capt. Pugh " send to Marakai as soon
as you got back and bring him over here and exc
cute him Now mark the answer: 1.-The mis-
sionary told me that | ought to do so, and that a
British man-of-war would be here TO settle about
it if l didn't but | didnH know whether you
would really come. Ny mind was that if a man
of-war should come it might execute the man, if
not he might EiUe.i Capt. Fugh, looking ut his
watch said, {" Within two hours q large canoe filed
with men must be on the way to Marakai TO get
the murderer. If you think the people there will
try to protect the man send canoes enough and
men enough to overcome all opposition. Don't
return without him. Tie kaiea asked: But what
if we don't bring him. The reply was such as
the commander of a war vessel should have made,
- If you do not bring him you will not see my
face again" And through us told him his village
would be destroyed at once if the canoe returned
without the murderer. A canoe with only Eve
men. bearing letters to kanoho-the Hawaiian
missionary-and q trader on Marakai instructing
them to tell the natives to give up the criminal or
have their whole island destroyed by the man-of-
war--lett within two hours. Thursday evening it
returned with the murderer. He was secured on
the Renard " that evening. Many of his friends
came, armed, from the North, saying they would
rescue him. And TIE Kaiea said the people of
Apaiang would fight if the Captain landed with
his crew. Friday morning at a quarter OF eight
two boats put off from the "Renard (which had
dropped down and was lying directly under the
Kings house-and landed Lieut.. Com. Pugh,
Lieut.. Reese, fourteen of the "Renard's" crew
(there were but twenty six all told) and the muir
derer with q rope around his neck, and his hands
firmly tied behindhim. The crew formed on the
beach, loaded will ball cartridge, fixed b~ayonets,
and marched directly in front of the crowd of
Eve hundred or more natives, and, turning their
backs on the crowd, stood facing the cannon to
which the man was to be bound. The natives who
were armed skunk off through the crowd, and all
were so frightened they didn't know whether to
StalQO or run. ne murderer was lleQ TO the mOuluO u
the gun, the torch vas applied-all by the natives. at
the command of the king, and without a moments
suffering Tekeaua passed to the next world, and his
mangled remains lay on the beach where he used to
play when q boy. The mode of execution seems
horrible, but may it not be that just such a lesson
was needed by fine peoplef At first I felt as many
do now, but afterwards l saw the good effect of it.
Capt. Pugh's ohers were strict; he must see the
king execute the murderer, and he did. By threat
ening to destroy lis village if the murderer was not
secured. And if lie fired the captain was compelled
to fire on the kings village, because the king had
given Mr.. Keyes a written promise of protection.
Threatening to destroy the whole village. l think
was not wise. Fr in SO doing he would necessarily
destroy the nilsson premises, and have a bill Of
some $4,000 b pay, which would have injured
the effect, on the natives, Of their punishment.
The whole people were guilty, because not more
than fifty wanted to have Tekeaua executed. If
Capt. Pugh had replied to TIE Kaiea, IF you do
not bring the murderer, you will lose our confidence
and respect, and we will have nothing more to do
with you, the canoe would not have started to Marakei,
Tekeaua would now be living, and no native would
fear to kill a while man on the slightest provocation.
That would havebeen greater injustice than to blow
the man from the lannon's mouth.
Yours truly, HORACE j. TAYLOR.
Last year when the Star left Apaiang. the natives
talked ahnnt driving all the whifas off the island,
and felt the missionaries were in real danger.
This year when we arrived at Apaiang, was great
ly surprised to see the change in the appearance of
the natives. They were very respectful and kind
to us and to the missionaries, and | soon learned
the cause ; it was the execution of the murderer of
Reyes. They were compelled to do it by the
Captain of an English man-of-war, and it had the
best effect of anything that has been done there
for a long time.
Men have to be persuaded sometimes according
to their education, and this people that have
learned to eat one another can be persuaded
quickest by the voice of a cannon.
There is yet the sum of $500 due from the King
of Tarawa to the American Board for mission
property destroyed if there is an American man.
Of-war sent down there right away, it can be col
lected no doubt without blood shed, but il it is
put off for a year or so, it is my opinion. as we'll as
Mr.. Taylor's, that the natives will kill the Hawai-