, 1889-08-11
THE PLOT FAILS.
Futile Attempt to Depose the
King of Honolulu.
Excitement on the Island at a
Pretty High Pitch.
The Kings Faithful Followers
Win the Day.
Attempted Insurrection.

steamer Alameda, that arrived Friday
evening from Australia, brings news of a
daring although futile instruction in
Honolulu on July 30. Two half breed
Hawaiians, Albert Wilcox and Robert
Boyd, who had been sent at the govern
ment expense to be educated at the Italian
military school, had been plotting insur-
rection for some time. but the rumors
were little needed until the movement cul-
minated in an armed band of about 1870
native Hawaiians marching from Pelema
to Honolulu, two miles, and securing en-
trance to the palace grounds in Honolulu.
1t was quiet during the night, although in
most of the native houses lights were seen
burning at midnight. At about | a. m.
an unusual number OF natives and China
men were seen on the streets as if some
thing very uncommon was about to hap
pen, but the white people went to bed as
usual.
The rebel rioters formed at Palema and
at about 3 a. IN. Tuesday marched from
that suburb to the city, arriving at the
Manka gates of the palace at 4 a. M.
They knocked at the gate and demanded
admittance, when after some parleying
they entered the grounds unopposed. The
Palema rioters were Joined by other
squads from other localities and at one
time the rebels upon the palace grounds
must nave numbered about $50. The
king was absent from the palace at the
time the alarm was sent to him by tele
phone. The royal party then FASTENED
to the king boat house where they re-
manned during the day guarded by a
dozen household troops.
Meanwhile the rebels summoned Lieut..
Parker to surrender the palace, but that
officer refused to surrender although re-
peated demands were made by Wilcox to
do 80. A general alarm was spread
throughout the city by means of the tele-
phone and the Honolulu rifles were i'm
mediately ordered to report at their arm
DRY. There was a great deal of excite
ment. A number of families fled to the
top of the hill and a few ladies took ref
uge at the American legation. where the
corps of marines from the United States
steamer Adams was stationed. A cabinet
council was held and with the three min
listers present were convened the Ameri-
can, British, French and Portuguese COM
m~issioners, also Capt. Woodward of the
United States steamer Adams. The cab
tiSb S%ihC CBlhh AhO oulASbNOA vi
/, Wilcox.
S. M. Damon was appointed to carry
out the demand, but his mission proved
to be unsuccessful.
Several shots had now been exchanged
on both sides. By IL a IN, the rioters
had all taken shelter in q house termed the
Bungalow" situated in the palace grounds
while the Honolulu rifles had secured a
splendid position commanding this. Shots
were fired from both sides at intervals.
Finally the corps of the government vol
unteers began hurting giant powder
bombs at the bungalow. About this time
thirty or more rioters surrendered, one of
whom had been fatally shot early in the
skirmish. Robt. Boyd, chief lieutenant
of Wilcox, was seriously rounded in two
places. 1t is stated that Wilcox shot two
of his men whom he noticed were about
to desert.
While this bombardment against the
bungalow lasted the sharpshooters from
the opera house kept up a steady and
furious tusilade until finally, after hours
of bombardment, the rioters rushed from
the building waving a white sheet upon
a pole and shouting "peace!" "surren-
derl' The gates were then thrown open
and a force of volunteers entered and
took the whole of the rioters prisoners.
Firing ceased about I p. m. and Wilcox
was marched to the station house at 7:l5.
his comrade prisoners arriving at the lock
up a few minutes later.
Among those opposed to the rioters the
only serious casualty was a wound in the
shoulder received by Lieut.. Parker and 1t
is supposed it was from a shot fired by
Wilcox. On the side of the rioters there
we're seven natives killed and twelve
wounded, several seriously. An armed
patrol was organized to watch n city
during the fight and afterwards, composed
of the Honolulu rifles, blue jackets and
marines from the United States steamer
Adams, and citizen volunteers as special
~constables besides the whole police force.
There were, however, no attempts at in
cendiarism.
Tins was a part of the programme said
to have been formed by Wilcox. One
report was to the effect that he intended
to secure the person OF King Kalakaua
and compel him to abdicate in favor of
his sister, Lilinokalani the heir apparent,
and demand a new constitution and a new
cabinet. Honolulu papers state that this
was probably the plan proposed either in
a whole or modified form, but matters
were kept so very secret that the exact
reasons are yet unknown.
Commenting on the insurrection the
Honolulu Commercial Adpertiser says:
THE instruction, although long premed.
itated and planned, was one of the most
silly and hopeless attempts to overturn
thu Hawaiian government that could be
attempted. Nothing but gross ignorance
OF the situation could have prompted any
such attempt"
From the remarks Of passengers on the
Australia it seems it had been arranged to
have 400 or 500 more persons participate
in the insurrection. among them some OF
the best standing both among the whites
and natives. Letters were taken from
Wilcox which led to the arrest of several
well known people, among them it is said
J. e. Brown, editor of the Hawaiian
newspaper. The general impression is
that the leaders OF the riot will never be
convicted as they will demand a jury trial
by natives and a majority of these are in
! oymnathv with the movement.