The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-21


the American flag was hoisted, and then
he ceased. connection with them. He is
at this time, April 26, deputy clerk OF
the supreme court"
AS evidence of the esteem in which Mr..
Wundenburg is held in Honolulu, Com
missioner Blount mentions that the Pro-
visional government had just rendered
him an appointment as collector of GUS
toms, place which Mr.. Wundenburg
declined. The statement of Mr.. Wunden-
burg is as follows:
1.-The committee on safety met at the
office of W. o. Smith, in. Fort street, at
about O'Clock in the afternoon OF Mon
day, January 16, 1888, for the purpose of
discussing the steps necessary to be taken
in the formation of new government.
Shortly after the committee met they
decided thay were not ready for the land
ing of the American troops and a COM
mittee of three, with Thurston as the
chairman, was at once dispatched to the
American legation to prevail on Minister
Stevens to dalay the landing of the Bos-
toms men. The committee returned
shortly and said Mr.. Stevens had said to
them: Gentlemen, the troops of the
Boston land at O'Clock this afternoon
whether you are ready or not The COM
mittee of safety adjourned to meet the
same evening at the house of Mr.. Henry
Waterhouse at 80 o'clock. The Ameri-
can troops landed at O'Clock, as Mr..
Stevens told their committee they would,
and marched up Fort street TO Merchant
and from Merchant street, halting in
Kings street, between the palace and
the government building.
AT the time the men landed the town
was perfectly quiet business hours were
about over and the men women and
children were in the streets and nothing
unusual was to be seen except the land
of IL III .x,f+ IL,
Calling guns evidently fully prepared to
remain on shore an indefinite length of
time as the men were supplied with
ammunition, also haversacks and can
teens and were attended by a hospital
corps with stretchers and medical sup
plies. The curiosity of the people on
the streets was aroused, and the young
to see what it was all about Nobody
seemed to know, SO when the troops
found quarters the people disappeared,
the most of them going to the band con-
cert at the hotel which was very fully
attended, as it was bright moonlight
night, all who were not in the secret
wondering at the military demonstration.
".The committee met at Mr.. Water
houses residence that evening at half
past seven. The formation of some sort
of government was under discussion and
twas decided Omn1ander-in int chief of the
forces supporting the proposed new gov
eminent should be appointed. The
position was offered to John n. Soper,
who demurred, not seeing any backing
whatever to support the movement. Mr..
Soper was answered by members of the
committee escorting him over to the
legation which, by the way was in the
adjoining premises and the three came
back after a time. They reported that Mr..
Stevens had given them full assurance
that any proclamation by the govern
ment put forward at the government
building or any other building in Homo
lulu, for that matter would receive his
immediate recognition and the support
OF the forces of the Boston. This assur-
ance seemed to satisfy Mr.. Soper, and he
accepted the position.
On Thursday afternoon January 10
the committee of safety proceeded from
the office Of W.O. Smith (now attorney
the general In provisional government to
the government building, and there read
the proclamation of the new government
at twenty minutes to o'clock there being
practically no audience whatever AS
the reading Proceeded dozen or so
lounssers gathered and near the close of
the ceremony about thirty supporters,
variously armed, came running into the
sIde and back entrance to the yard and
gathered about the committee.
AT this moment the United States
troops Ia the temporary quarters in the
rear of the Music hall, less than 100 wards
away from where the committee stood,
appeared to be under arms and were
EVENLY prepared for any emergency.
During all the deliberations of the
committee and, in fact, through all the
proceedings connected with the move up
to the final issue, the basis of action was
the general understanding that Minister
Stevens would keep the promise to SUD-
port the movement with men from the
Boston, and the statement is now ad-
visedly made with full knowledge of the
lack of arms, ammunition and men, also
the utter absence of organization at all
adequate to the undertaking. that with.
out the previous assurances of the sup
port from the American minister and the
actual presence of the United States
troops no movement would have been
attempted, and il attepted would have
been miserable ft,ilure, resulting in the
capture or death of the participants in
very short time
Having been present at the several
meetings referred to in this statement,
| hereby certify that the same is correct
in every essential particular
(Signed) F.WUNDENBURG.n
In report to the State Department,
dated May "a Commissioner B1ount says:
There frequently occurs in Mr.. Stevenss
ment the allegation that the Queen was
paramount of ex-Marshal Wilson. Ordi-
narily such scandalous statement would
be unworthy of attention. Its use to
prejudice the minds of the American
people against her in connection with the
question of annexation has caused me to
make some inquiry into the su bject. A
number of reputable gentlemen have
stated in writing their utter disbelief in
this allegation. She has been received
with apparent admiration through ali
the years of her reign in the most refined
circles of this city. The white people
have resorted eagerly to the palace to par
ticipate in it's social enjoyments without
any reservation ON account of the Queen $
character"
In his report to the State Department.
dated May 6, Commissioner Blount de-
scribes at some length the difficulties
which he encountered in obtaining from
Minister Stevens copies of his correspond
ence with the Hawaiian government.
Mr.. Stevens made various excuses for not
producing the documents or records Mr..
Blount adds -"This same difficulty oc-
CURED when 1 called upon him for the
communication from the committee on
safety asking for the landing of troops
from the Boston"