The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-06
BLOUNr ARRIVES AT HONOLULU.


HONOLULU. March g9.-It is stated that
the provisional government has recalled J.
Mott Smith. minister to the United States
at Washington City. and also Consul Gen.
eral Pratt at San Francisco:
Honolulu. March 29-The United
States revenue cutter Rush arrived here
this morning, nine days from San Fran
cisco, having on board ex-Congressman
Blount. of Georgia. who was appointed
commissioner to investigate the existing
conditions in Hawaii and report as to the
expediency of the annexation Of the is
lands to the United Staes. As soon as
the cutter was sighted off Koko head at 8
q. m. the business men went to work and
in short time the streets and buildings
were covered with flags and bunting. The
tOwnspeople turned out and by IL
O'Clock, when the Rush anchored in naval
row, the docks and streets were crowded.
The mail steamer Australia, which was
scheduled to leave at noon, was held back,
and from her deck the band Of the pro-
visional government welcomed the new
arrivals with the strains of ''The Star
Spangled Banner"
A delegation from the Annexation Club
hastily formed and welcomed the commits
sioner at the boat landing. A party Of
about seventy-fve Hawaiian women from
q branch of the Hawaiian Patriotic
League, bearing American and Hawaiian
flags, also proceeded to the dock. DR.. J. S.
McGrew, chairman, and Prof Scott, and
Gen. Hartwell, as a committee from the
Annexation Club. United States Minister
Stevens, F. P. Hastings, secretary of the
foreign Office and aide to President Dole.
Maj. Robertson, the queens chamberlain,
and newspaper correspondents, put of to
the Rush to pay their respects to the COM
missioner. The news that but one person
had been sent in that capacity to the
islands spread to the shore and occasioned
much surprise.
Commissioner Blount declined to be In
terviewed for publication. but from casual
conversation it would seem that his labors
here may cover period of several weeks.
The Rush will probably return to San
Francisco in the meantime. Commits
sioner. Blount did not leave the steamer
for several hours and consequently the re-
ception by the Hawaiian League and An
nexion Club did not take place. The
Rush brought dispatches from Washing
ton City to Admiral Skerrett and also 20
tho provisional government, but the na-
ture Of them could not be learned. After
the first feeling of surprise had passed
away an expression of satisfaction at the
personnel of the commission prevailed
among the annexationists.
The past two weeks have been fruitful Of
political matters. The general leth argy Of
the Haw aiians prior to March has given
way to action. The Civil Rights League
and Hawaiian Patriotic League have held
frequent mass meetings. at which either
annexation or disfranchisement were tho
respective subjects of denunciation.
The shooting in cold blood of d. 8.
Huntsman, associate editor of the Liberal.
by August Herring, a half.white, on
March 18, stirred up the community. and
a secret meeting was held on the night Of
March 20. following Huntsman's death, at
which proposition was made to lynch
Herring, but it was finally determined to
await the result of jury trial. Huntsman
was accused by Herring of undue inti-
macy with his wife. but the deceased in
his ante-mortem statement denied this.
The escape Of Imada:: asaci, Japanese
murderer. to the cruiser Naniwa on March
Is, and the refusal of Capt. Togo, of the
Naniwa, to give him up on the request of
the provisional government. caused con.
siderable excitement tor time. especially
when baseless rumor was circulated that
the Boston's guns would enforce the de-
mands of the provisional government.
The provisional government, recognizing
the fact that it had no extradition treaty
withJapan and must therefore rely on inter-
national courtesy to turn over convicted
criminal, did not unduly press the matter.
Capt. Togo has referred it to his govern
ment and will act in accordance with the
instructions he ma y receive.
Ponapeans at War With Spanish.