Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-21
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. rTUEsDAY, NOVEMBER u, 1893

the same thing having been done when Ad-
miral Skerrett landed troops in 1874.
Captain Wiltze and MIR. Stevens thought
IL better that they should be located in the
opera house. Failing. to get this building,
Arion hall, which isbh a line with IL and adj
joins 1t, and is across the street from the
government building, was obtained. The
men were placed ln the rear of Arion hall,
but In full view oil the palace. a street in
tervened betweentthe government building
and the palace. twas about $50 yards from
one Of these buildings to the other.
The American troops were on the same
side OF the street with the provisional
government troops, which did not number
100 men. II the queens troops should have
attacked the provisional governments troops
our men were in danger OF being injured,
which might have brought them into col
lision with the queens troops. The same is
true OF the provisional government troops,
had a fight taken place. The troops were
there to protect American property and
citizens. Their location at this place unfor-
t%unately. signiiied a different purpose. The
queen, her cabinet and her followers uu-
doubleday believed from the location of the
American troops and the quick recognition
OF the provisional government by Mr..
Stevens that the United States troops
would aid the provisional government"
what skerrett Thought OF 1t.
Admiral Skerrett addressed the following
to Mr.. Blount:
II have examined, with a Wow of inspec-
tion, the premises first occupied by the
forces landed from TIE Y. s. S. Boston
known as Arion hall, situated on the west
side OF the government building. Tho posi-
tion OF this is location in the rear of a large
brick building known as Music hall. The
street 1t faces is n comparatively narrow one,
the building itself facing the government
building. In my opinion II was unadvisable
to locate the troops there IL they were landed
to protect American citizens, being removed
from the business part of the town and far
from the United States legation as well as
being distant from the houses and residences
of United States citizens. Had the pro.
vislonal government troops been attacked
from the east such attack would have placed
them in the line of fire.
Had the Music hall been secured by the
queens troops they would nave been under
their fire had such been their desire. 1t is
for these reasons | consider the position &C.
cupied as lily selected. Naturally, if they
were landed to support the provisional
government troops then occupying the
government building. it was u wise choice,
as they could enfilade any troops attacking
them from the palace grounds in front.
There is nothing further for me to say,
and as IL has been called by you to my at
%tention, all is submitted for your considera-
tion. iF'' J. S. S%KERRETT,
Rear Admiral, U. S. N"
FROM the koyaIlst Standpoint. .
MIR. Cornwall member of the queens
cabinet, made a statement detailing the
facts leading to the proclamation and at
tendant thereon in which he says: 4.
ION Sunday morning, January 10, Mr..
Thurstop, the head of the revolutionary
party, called upon my colleagues, Ministers
Colburn and Peters. and asked them to Join
with himself and others in deposing the
queen, assuring them such a movement
would be safe, as Minister Stevens had
promised the support of the United States
forces and also that he would recognize ana
support a provisional government os soon as
such a step could be taken
o Tuesday, THO 18th, we were informed
the insurgents would proclaim n provisional
government in the Afternoon and the C binet
called upon Minister Stevens, asking him if
he would afford any assistance to the legal
and lawful government to which he was
accredited in case such help should be re-
quired. He refused ana made us under
stand he would acknowledge the revolu-
tionary government as soon as it was estab-
lished." -ggty -
Mr.. Cornwall explains the government
did not place foGces. lin the government
buildings because of the presence of United
States troops across the street. We realized
then, said he, thar any steps from our side
to dislodge and arrest the rebels would be
unavoidablv fatal and'lead to trouble with
the United States troops. M,
1T was after /, o'clock p. m. when the
ehA'S aHN hhiu WIN ~ WV dhSCuo SpNSiu-
nent was turned over to the provisional
| government, or about three hours after Min
ister Stevens had recognized the revolution
airy government" ="
In a letter to the State department dated
May "a, Mr. Blount denies the allegation
that improper relations existed between
Marshal Wilson and the queen.
In a letter to the State department dated
June IL, 1893, Mr.. Blount says: sit may be
of interest to know that in an examination
this afternoon of Colonel Soper, command
ing the military forces of the provisional
government since January II last, he stated
that a meeting at the house of Henry
Warehouse, January 16, composed of the
committee of safety and some persons called
in, he was offered the command of the mill
tary forces, that he declined to accept it
till the next day, that at this meeting IL was
accepted as true that Mr.. Stevens had
agreed to recognize the revolt when the
party secured the government building, that
he (Soper) never accepted the command
until after he had knowledge of this fact,
that he is a citizen of the United States and
claims allegiance thereto"