The herald., 1893-11-20

in the office of W. .. Smith. Fort street,
at o'clock the afternoon of Monday,
January Is, 1898, for the purpose OF dis
GUESSING the steps necessary to be taken
in the formation OF the new govern.
ment. Shortly after the committee
met, they decided that they we're not
for the landing of American troops, and
. committee OF three, with Thurston as
chairman, was at once dispatched to the
American legation to prevail on Minister
Stevens to delay the landing of the Bos-
toms men. The committee returned
shortly and said Stevens said to them :
"Gentlemen, the troops of the Boston
land at 5 O'Clock this afternoon, whether
you are ready for them or not"
The committee of safety adjourned to
meet the same evening at the house OF
Henry Waterhouse.
The American troops landed at 5
O'Clock, as Stevens told the committee
they would, and marched up Fort street
to Merchant and along Merchant street,
hating in King street between the pal
ace and the government building. At
the time the men landed the town was
perfectly quiet; the business hour WAS
about over and people were in the streets.
Nothing unusual was to be seen ex-
= cept the landing of formidable armed
force, with gatling guns, evidently fully
y prepared to remain on shore an indeh-
mite length of time, as the men were
supplied with double cartridge belts
filed with ammunition, also haversacks
and canteens, and attended by hos
pital corps with stretchers and medical
supplies. The curiosity OF the people
on the streets was aroused, and the
youngsters, more particularly, followed
the troops to see what it was all about.
Nobody seemed to know, so when the
troops found quarters the people dis
persed, most OF them going to the band
concert at the hotel, which was very
we'll attended, as it was bright moon
light night. ALI who were not in the
secret were wondering at the military
demonstration.
The committee met at Waterhouse's
residence at z 80. The formation OF
some sort OF government was under dis
cussion and it was decided that a COM
mandsr-in. chief of the forces supporting
the proposed new government should
be appointed. The position was
offered to John II. Soper. who
demurred, not seeing any backing
whatever to support the move
ment. SoPer was answered by members
minister would support the move with
the troops of the Boston. Soper still
doubted, so q couple OF the committee
escorted him over to the legation. which,
by the way, was in adjoining prem
ises, and the three came back
after a time, reporting that Stevens
had given them full assurance
any proclamation the government would
put forward at the government building
or any other building in Honolulu for
that matter, would receive his immedi-
ate recognition and the support of the
forces OF the Boston. The assurance
seemed to satisfy Soper, and he accepted
the position.
Tuesday afternoon, January 18th, the
committee of thirteen, or committee of
safety. proceeded from the Office of W.
o. Smith (now attorney-generel in the
provisional government) to the govern
ment building and there read the proc
lamstion of the new government at 20 |
minutes OF O'Clock, there being prac-
tically no audience whatever. As the |
reading proceeded dozen or so |
loungers gathered and near the
close OF the ceremony about
50 supporters, variously armed, /
came running into the side and back !
entrances to the yard and gathered \
about the committee. AT thls moment I
the United States troops. in their tenn
porary quarters less than 100 yards |
away. appeared under arms and evil
IDENTIFY prepared for any emergency.
During all the deliberations of the
committee, and in fact through all the i
proceedings connected with the move
up to the final issue, the basis Of action
Minister Stevens would keep his prom
ise to support the movement with men
from the Boston, and the statement is
now advisedly made with the full
knowledge OF lack Of arms, ammunition
and men, also the utter alb
sence OF an organization at all
adequate to the undertaking. that
without the previous assurance of
support from the American minister and
the actual presence of United states
troops, no movement would have been
attempted, and if attempted would have
been miserable failure, resulting in the
capture and death OF the participants In
avery short time.
Having been present at the several
meetings referred to in the statement,
hereby certify the same is correct in ev-
cry essential particular.
(Signed,) +. WUNDENBURG.
Commissioner Blount sends to the
state department long interview had
by him with S. A. Damen, who was
president of the advisory council of the
provisional government. Damon's in
terview is reported stenographical-
ly and signed by him as being
correct. He was one of the men who
went up to the government house Mon
day afternoon. January 18th and read
the declaration declaring the queen de-
posed and the new government in con-
troll. Damon corroborsted the state
ment made by Wundenburg. In re-
Bponse to Blount's questions Damon
eaid that he and another member of the
revolutionary committee went to the
btatian house to hold a conference with
the queens representatives.
Blount endesvored TO draw from Da-
mon the admission that the argu-
ment used to induce the queens minis
ters to surrender was the United States
troops across the street from the govern
ment building and in full sympathy
with the revolution. Damon unwillingly
admitted that this was true, saying:
"While / was in the station house a
man named Bowler said to me: We're
Rll prepared to resist, but | will never
fight against the American flag"
Being again pressed for information
Rs to whether the sympathy of the
Tpitad Stotao iata me 70 lHoJ b0uf