Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-19
HONOLULU IN MOURNING
Grief Over the Death of the
Hawaiian King.
PREPARING FOR A ROYAL WELCOME
Kalakaua's Subjects Express
Their Gratitude.
To the United States Government--The
Daughter Succeeds to the Tbrone--The
Kings Widow Shows the Public How
Great and Deep is Her Grief

Honolulu, HAWAII, via San Fran
cisco, Feb. 15.-Workmen were busily
engaged in preparations for welcoming
King Kalakaua, who was expected to
return from the United States improved
in health, when the United States steamer
Charleston was sighted early on Thurs
day morning, January Goth. Decora-
tions and arches of welcome have been
torn down or turned into emblems OF
mourning. The Charleston, under COM
mand Of Rear Admiral Brown, and
bearing the body of the dead king, ar
rived in Honolulu harbor on January
Goth, seven days from San Francisco.
The flagship steamed into port with
Hawaiian and American flags at half
mast. Crowds of natives and foreigners
gathered at the landing to obtain the
first news.
The United States ship Mohican and
her majesty's ship Nymphe flew flags
at half-mast and crossed their yards as
signs of mourning. Business houses,
manufactures and government offices
were closed and schools dismissed. The
native women, as the Charleston came
to anchor, set up loud wailing. At
o'clock Thursday afternoon, amid the
booming of minute-guns from the war
ships and the batteries on shore, the
kings body was landed and received by
a guard of honor composed of sailors
from the Charleston, Mohican and
Nymphe, headed by the Charleston's
band playing funeral dirge. A pro-
cession was formed and moved to the
palace. The streets were packed with
people and the air was filled with wall
ings and lamentations as the cortegc en-
L. IlFrt afFnF
Kapiolani appeared on the balcony and
gave way to the most violent demon
strations of grief. Queen Lilinokolani
also appeared on the balcony and was
greatly moved.
The coffin was placed on the bier in
the middle of the throne ROOM On it
were placed the kings crown of state,
his sword and royal feather cloak. That
evening the cabinet met and issued a
proclamation proclaiming the Princess
Lilinokalani queen of the Hawaiian Is
lands, with the title of Lilinokalani.
The body lay in state in the throne room
of Iolani palace, and the people of every
class and distinction were allowed freely
to gaze on the face of their dead sover-
eign. The body will continue to lie in
state until Sunday, February 10th, when
a grand procession will convey the re-
mains to the cemetery.
The Honolulu Weekly Bulletin says
editorially:
"The American government has ever
stood the friend of Hawaii and belief in
Hawaii that America is our best and
truest friend on principle without refer
ence to national politics has long since
become an inseparable part of our pop
ular creed. No matter how local or
national prejudice has been stirred up
| among us, native Hawaiians have at all
times felt and expressed from the depth
| of their hearts that our ultimate depend
ence for authority of government lay
mainly within the arbitrament of the
great republic"
The ministry appointed by the late
King, with the approval of the legisla-
| ture, is likely to remain in office until
another legislature meets in 1892. The
cabinet under the provisions of the late
law can be removed only upon the vote
of want of confidence passed by ma
| iority of all the elective members OF
one legislature, consequently the present
cabinet will not resign, but will continue
in office until the new legislature is
elected. Although the new queen is
known to have profound leaning to-
wards the English, no trouble is feared
on that score The queen is surrounded
by the councillors, who are well known
for integrity and honesty of purpose. 1t
is generally understood that X. w. Will
cox will be installed as Chamberlain.
An immense mass-meeting was held
at Kaumakapi Church, Honolulu, on
Thursday, February 9th, at which res
olutions were adopted expressing graf
itude of the Hawaiians to the United
States, to Admiral Brown and the off,
GERS Of the Charleston for the sun
bounded courtesy and kind attentions"
offered to the king, both before and af-
ter his death. Copies of these resolu-
tons will be sent to the President of the
United States, the governor of Cali
fornia, the mayor of San Francisco and
Admiral Brown. The same evening a
meeting of the chamber Of commerce
was held and adopted similar resolutions.
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