The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-06
Discomfort AT HONOLULU.
GRAVE PROSPECTS OF REVOLUTION IN
THE LITTLE KINGDOM

Have Been Quietly Armiug-They Want .
Kepubrc or Annexation TO the United
states-The Queen Piles sandbags Around
the Fsince and Doubles the Guard.
Ban Francisco. April 5.-Private letters from
Honolulu show that revelation Is In air. and
thatAn attempt will soon be made by large
body OF natives. headed By the half breed. Rob.
ert Wilcox. to overthrow the present Govern
ment and establish either republic or secure
annexation to tho United States. There has
been much talk recently. but It was only the
day before the steamer sailed that tho au.
thorities became alarmed and began to barri-
cade the palace
Wilcox. who Is half italian. half Kanaka and
who was sent to Italy to DO educated In mill
tary school, has been q sorehead for years.
When he returned from 1tnly he received a
commission in the Hawaiian army. but lie
proved refractory and was degraded.
Then he swore revenge. The revolution
which he headed four years ago proved a
flasco because Of insufficient preparation and
the fact that tho white rifle corps under Col.
Ashnord protected Kaakaua- One OF the
humorous features Of tho revolt was that the
insurgents were dslodged from tho corner Of
the royal palace which they had seized bv
dynamite bombs that wore hurled into their
stronghold by a san Francisco baseball pitcher.
Wilcox. after short Imprisonment. was re-
leased. He has boon actively working to stir
up discomfort ever since On Kalnksuss
death they thought their opportunity had
como. but the presence OF American and Brit.
ish men-of-war prevented any outbreak.
Now for several months It has been known
that the natives have been gathering arms
and ammunition. which have been smuReled
into the country like opium. Recently swift
col Inn onhN rxx,nn M In uox ifaV
coast, and soon after several bands OF revolu-
tlonistsAn Honolulu displayed Wholesalers and
other repeating rifles. and boasted that they
had a good stock Of ammunition. Honolulu Is
overrun with revolutionists who have come
from other islands, and meetings are held
nightly.
On Sunday. March ~. big meeting was
held. and the proceedings were SO violent that
the Queen became alarmed. and order was
given to barricade the palace. When It was
seen next day that q sensation was caused by
the barricade. It was ordered removed. and
the explanation was made that the work was
done to drill the palace guard. The Queen
used to 60 about like any OF her subjects. but
now she never stirs withouta guard.
The only thing which prevents an imme-
diate attack on the palace and the overthrow
OF the hated Ministry Is the presence OF the
United States ships San Francisco and Iro-
quols. On the night before the steamer
sailed. March %. a big force Of men
were engaged pillng sacks Of sand to make
breastworks around the royal palace. The
sentinels have been doubled. but these pre-
cautions will be Of small service in case Of at
tack. as the entire Hawaiian army consists Of
only fifty men.
From good authority It is learned that Ad-
miral Brown has prepared and mounted oil
available guns on the cruiser San Francisco.
ready to send them ashore and place thom In
the American Consulate grounds 1t Is also
understood that the Admiral has sent long
cipher message to the Secretary OF the Navy.
which was to be telegraphed from San Fran
cisco on the arrival Of the steamer. 1t is sup
posed to be request that the San Francisco
be allowed to remain at Honolulu and that
the American squadron be strengthened.
The British gunboat Pheasant has left Homo
lulu for Behring Sea, much to the disgust Of
tho English residents. The Iroquois. 1t was
expected. would sail soon for San Francisco
for repairs. but she will propably not leave I'M
til after the arrival Of the next mail. There
are many cases fever on board.
Ex-Minister Thurston and many prominent
sugar planters arrived here to-day on the
steamer. They come to confer with Claus
spreckcls over the future Of the sugar industry
on tho islands Unless they can get better
terms from the American Government they
will be ruined.