Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-08-14
AIMED At THE THRONE,
Attempt to Overthrow King Kala-
kaua of Hawaii.
ARMED UPRISING IN HONOLULU,
Insurgents Alta elk the Governm emit Troops
and Sharp Battle Ensues-Regiment
of Regulars Overpower the Mob
Five Hundred Persons
in the Plot.

daring although futile instruction
that broke out in Honolulu on Tuesday,
July 80. Two half-b Hawaiians
named Robert W. Wilcox and Robert
Boyd, who had been sent at govern
ment expense to be educated at an
Italian military school, had been plot
ting instruction for some time. but
needed until the movement eliminated
in an armed band of about 100 natives
marching from Palama to Honolulu, two
miles, and securing an entrance to the
palace grounds in Honolulu. All was
quiet during the night, although in
most of the native houses lights were
seen burning at midnight. About l A..
NJ. an unusual number of natives and
Cinnamon were seen on the streets as if
something very uncommon was about
to happen. But while people went to
bed as usual, the rebel rioters formed
at Palama. and about 8 A. NJ Tuesday
marched from that suburb to the city.
arriving at the Manka gate OF the palace
at A. NJ. They knocked at this gate
and demanded admittance. When,
after some parleying, they entered the
grounds unopposed, the Palama rioters
were joined 10y other squads from the
street and ott er localities, and at one
time the rebels upon the palace
grounds Immediately must have num-
bered about $50.
The King was absent from the palace
at the time the alarm was given. He
was telephoned. The royal party then
fastened to the Kings boat-house
where they remained during the dav,
guarded by dozen Of the household
troop. Meanwhile the rebels sum-
moned Lieut.. Parker to surrender the
palace, but the officer refused to sur
render. The general alarm was spread
throughout the city by means of the
telephone, and the Honolulu Rifles
were ordered to report at their armo-
ries. There was great deal of excite
ment among the Portuguese and China
men. A number of families fled to
the top of the hill, and lew ladies took
refuge at the American legation where
q corps of marines from the United
States steamer Adams was stationed. A
Cabinet council was held and with the
three ministers present, were convened
the American, British, French and
Portuguese commissioners, also Capt.
Woodward, of the United States steam
er Adams, being present. The cabinet
decided to demand the surrender of
Wilcox. S. NJ. 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 II A. NJ. the rioters had all taken
shelter in house termed the "bunga-
low" situated in the palace grounds,
while the Honolulu Rifles had secured
splendid position, commanding this.
Shots were fired from both sides at in
tervals. Finally force of government
volunteers began hurting giant powder
bombs at the bungalow. At about this
time thirty or more rioters surrendered,
one of whom had been fatally shot.
Early in the skirmish Robert Boyd,
chief lieutenant of Mr.. Wilcox, was Sc
verely wounded in two places.
It is stated that Wilcox shot
two of his men who he no.
ticed were about to desert. While
this bombardment against the bunga7
low lasted, sharp-shooters from the
Opera House kept up steady and
furious fusilade, until finally after hours
of bombardment, the rioters rushed
from the building, waving a white
sheet upon a pole and shouting Peace"
Surrender" The gates were thrown
open and a force of volunteers entered
and took the whole of the rioters pris-
oners. The firing ceased apout p. NJ,
and Wilcox was marched to the station
house at :l5 P. NJ, his comrade prison
ers arriving at the lookup few min
utes later.
Among those who opposed the rioters
the only serious casualty was a wound
in the shoulder received by Lieut..
Parker, and it is supposed that it was
from q shot fred by Wilcox. On the
side of the rioters there were seven ma
eral seriously. An armed patrol which
was organized to watch the city during
the fight and afterwards was composed
of Honolulu Rifles, blue jackets and
marines from the United States steam
er Adams, and citizen volunteers as
special constables, besides the whole
police force. There were, however, no
attempts at incendiarism.
There are several versions of the pro-
gramme said to have been formed by
Wilcox in the rash riot that he made.
One report was to the effect that he in
tended 20 secure the person of King
Kalakaua, compel him to abdicate n
favor of his sister Lilluokalani, heir APP
parent, anu u0mauu new constitution
and new cabinet. Honolulu papers
state this was probably the plan pro-
posed, either in whole or in modified
forIn, but matters were kept SO very
secret that the exact reasons are yet
unknown.
Commenting on the instruction the
Commercial Advertiser (of Honolulu)
says: 'The instruction, although long
premeditated and planned, was one OF
the most silly and hopeless attempts to
overturn the Hawaiian government that
could be attempted. Nothing but gross
ignorance of the situation could have
prompted any such attempt, and had
the rioters been white men, lunatic
asylum or hempen cravat would have
been the most suitable punishment that
could have been melted out to them"
The opera house, palaces, govern
ment buildings and many private dwell
ings were more or less damaged by
bombs. The inquest was in progress on
the bodies of those killed in the riot
when the steamer Alameda left Homo
lulu, August 2. A cabinet meeting was
held, but the officials decline to state
the result of their conference as regards
the probable tate of the instigators of
the riots.
Ero,o tba rop,orkc Of y,ocoopooro o,,