The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-11-25
MINISTER BL0UnI'S REPORT

Testimony Of Participants Showing How
the Change Was Brought About-.
Troops We're Landed Bsfora
TIE Queen Was Asked
to Surrender.
NEw York, Nov. aO.-The Herald
Sunday morning printed what purporten
to he large portion Of the report OF
Commissioner Biount, 1t sums up as
follows:
"Commlssioncr Blount's report will
show that Minister Stevens landed the
troops from the Boston long baforo
there was any valid excuse for their
presence on Hawaiian soil; that he de-
clincd to remove them when requested
to do SO by the government andintormed
thnt the authorities We're willing and
fully able to preserve order and to pro-
tect American interests; that these
troops were stationed across the street
from the government building in which
Minister Stevens knew the revolution
lists were about to read their proclama-
ton and that the revolutionists commit
tee relied upon the American troops to
protect them in this act OF rebellion;
provisional government according to a
preconceived arrangement before that
government went into power, and that the
military power was surrendered, as the
queen surrendered, only through awe Of
the superior force of the United States. y
'.Commissioner Blount did his work
with great thoroushness. During the
five or six months of his stay in Homo.
lulu he worked with single purpose, to
ascertain the truth. lie secured stata-
ments from members of the committee
of safety. which brought about the rev
olution, of the officers of the Boston and
from other persons, including the queen
herself. Some of these persons were ex-
amined by Mr.. Blount, stenographer
being present"
statement of Mr. Wundenburg.
In one of his reports to the state de-
partment Commissioner Blount said:
81 send you written statement from r..
Wundenburg, who says that his infor
NATION is derived from being personally
present at all the conferences of the
committee Of safety and that his
utterances are based on his personal
knowledge. He appears to be an intel
llgent man. He says he acted with the
committee in good faith until the Amer
can flag was hoisted and then he ceased
communication with them. He is at
this time (April 26) deputy clerk of the
supreme court. The statement of Mr..
Wundenburg is as follows:
."rhe committee of safety met at the
Office of w. o. Smith in Fort street about
1 o'clock in the afternoon of Monday
Jan. IA. 1898, for the purpose of discussing
the steps necessary to be taken in the for
nation of a new government. Shortly
after the committee met they decided they
were not for the landing of the American
troops and a committee Of three, with
Thurston as chairman, was at once dis
patched to the American legation to pre-
vail upon Minister Stevens to delay the
landing of the Boston's men. The COM
mittee returned shortly and said that Mr..
Stevens had said to them: Gentlemen,
the troops of the Boston landed at 5
o'clock this afternoon whether you are
ready for them or not" Tho committee
Of safety adjourned to meet the same
evening at the house of Mr.. Henry Water
house at $50 O'clock The American
troops landed at $ o'clock as Mr. Stevens
told the committee they would and march
ed up Fort street to Merchant, along Mer-
chant street, halting in King street be-
tween the palace and government build
ing, At the time the men landed
tho town was perfectly quiet, business
hours were about over aud the
people were in the streets. Nothing
unusual was to be seen except the landing
of a formidable armed force with Gatling
guns, evidently, fully prepared to remain
On shore an indefinite length Of time, as
the men were supplied with double cart
ridge belts filed with ammunition, also
hayersacks and caDtecns and were at
tended by hospital corps. with stretchers
and medical supplies The curiosity cf
the people on the streets was aroused and
the youngster more particularly followed
the troops to see what it was all about.
Nobody seemed to know, so when the
troops found quarters thepeople dispersed,
most of them going to the band concert at
the hotel, which was very fully attended,
as sitwasa bright moonlight night..all who
were not in the secret wondering at the
military demonstration.
Would Receive His Recognition.
The committee met at Mr.. Waterhouse's
residence that evening at 1880. The forma-
tion of some sort of a government was I'M
der discussion, and it was decided com
mander.in-chief OF the forces supporting
the proposed new government should be
Z appointed. The position was offered to
John H. Soper. who demurred, not seeing
any backing whatever to support the
movement. Mr.. Soper was answered by
: members of the committee that the Amer
ican minister would support the move
with the troops of the Boston. Mr. Soper
still doubted, SO couple ofthe committee
escorted him over to the legation, which,
by the way. was in the adjoining premises
and the three came back after time, re.
porting that Mr.. Stevens had given them
full assurance that any proclamation OF
the government put forward at the gov
ernment building or any other building in
Honolulu for that matter, would receive
his Immediate recognition and the sup
port of the forces of the Boston.
Read to q Small Audience.
This assurance seemed to satisfy Mr..
Soper and he accepted the position. On
Tuesday afternoon. Jan. II. the commit.
zoe Oh &c. committee OF safety, -.
ceeded from the office of w. O. Smith, now
attorney general in the provisional gov
srnment, to the government building and
there read the proclamation of a new gov
ernment at 2:40 o'clock, there being prac-
tieally no audience whatever AS the
reading proceeded a dozen or SO loungets
gs.hersd, and near tue close Of the cere
niony about 80 supporters, variousl,
armed, came running into the side an,
back eEtrances to the yard aud gathere.
about the committee.
At this moment the United State
troops in the temporary quarters in th,
rear of the music hall, less than 100 yards
away from where the committee stood
appeared to be under arms and ware evi
IDENTIFY prepared for an emergency.
steveus. Promise tho Basis OF Action.
During all the deliberations OF the corn
niittee and. in fact, through all the pro
ceedings connected with the move UP t
the dnal issue, the basis OF action was til
general understanding that Ministe
6tssAnA vsald keep the promise to sup