The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-20
.BLOUNTS REPORT
A Synopsis of 1t Made
Public.
THE CASE OF THE QUEEN.
Some Evidence Taken by the
Commissioner.
WHAT INFLUENCED CLEVELAND.
A Growing Belief That Minister Will
lis Will Not Act
Hastily.

NEW YORK, Nov. 20.-The Herald this
morning prints under Washington date
what purporis to be large portion of the
report of Commissioner Blount. 1t sums
up as follows:
Commissioner BloCnt's report will show
Minister Stevens landed troops from the
Boston long before there was any valid
excuse for their presence on Hawaiian
soil.
He declined to remove them when re-
quested to do so by the Government, and
Informed the authorities he was willing
and able TO preserve order aud protect
American interests. The troops were sta
toned across the street from the Govern
ment building, in which Minister Stevens
knew reYolutiOniSts about 10 read the proc
lamation and the revolutionists' committee
relied upon the American troops TO protect
them in the act of the rebellion; that Ste
vens recognized the Provisional Govern
ment according To a preconcelved pro-
gramme before that Government obtained
possession of the department and mill
tSrY power at Honolulu, and the mill
tary power surrendered, a the Queen
surrendered, oniy through awe of the su-
perior force OF the United States. Com
missioner Blount did the work with great
thoroughness. During his five or six
months stay in Honolulu he worked with
single purpOse-to ascertain the truth.
He secured statements from members of
the Cabinet of the deposed Queen. from
member of the committee of safety which
brought about the revolution. from officers
Of the Boston and from other persons, in
Guiding the Queen herself. Sope Of these
persons were examined by Blount, a
tenOgrapher being present.
In one of his reports to the State De-
partment Commissioner Blount said: Il
send you a written statement from F.
WundeDburg. who says his information
was derived from being personally present
at all conferences of the committee of safety
and his utterances are based on his per-
sonal knowledge.
=, He appears to be an intelligent man.
lie says he acted with the committee in
good faith until the American flag was
hoisted and then he ceased communication
with them. He at this time. April 26. was
Deputy Clerk of the Supreme Court.
. The statement of Wundenburg was as
follows: The committee of safety met
in the Office of W. q. Smith, on Fort street,
at o'clock on the afternoon OF Monday,
January IS. 1898, for the purpose of dis
cussiDg the steps necessary to be taken in
the formation OF a new Government,
Shortly after the committee met they
decided they were not for the landing of
American troops, and a 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 Boston's men.
ssThn onmuiftaa raturnad shor,Iv opd
said Stevens said to them: Gentlemen,
the troops of the Boston land at 5 o'clock
this aftern Ooh, whether you are ready for
them or n0t.' The committee of safety
adjourned to meet the same evening at
the house of Henry Waterhouse.
"At 1880 o'clock the American troops
landed, as Stevens told the committee they
would, and marched up Fort street to
Merchant and along Merchant, halting in
King 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 people were in the
streets. There was nothing un usual to be
seen, except in the landing of 50 formid-
able an armed force with Gatling guns.
evidently fully prepared to remain on
shore an indefinite length of time, as the
men were supplied with double cartridge
belts filed with ammunition, also hayer-
sacks 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 younger, more par
ticularly. followed the troops. to see what
1t was all about. Nobody seemed to know.
30 when the troops found quarters the
people dispersed, most of them going to the
band concert at the hotel, which was very
fully attended, as it was bright moon
light night. and all who were not in the
secret were wondering at the military
demonstration. The committee met at
Waterhonse's residence.
AT halt-past the formation of som .,
sort of government was under discussion,
and it was decided a commander-in-chefo of
the forces supporting the new Govern
ment should be appointed.
>, The position was offered John FL. Soper.
who demurred, not seeing and backing
whatever to support the movement. Soper
was answered by members of the commit
tee that the American Minister would sup
port 1t and move with troops from the Bos-
ton.
Soper still doubted, so a couple of the
committee escorted him to the legation.
winch, by the way, is in the adjoin-
ing. premises, and the three came
oack after time. reporting Stew
: ems had given them full assurance
that any proclamation of the Government
put forward at the Government building.
or any other building in Honolulu for that
matter, would receive his immediate rec
ognitlon and support of the forces of the
Boston. This assurance seemed to satisfy
Soper and he accepted the position.
On Tuesday afternoon, January IL. the
committee of thirteen of the committee of
safety proceeded from the office of w. O.
Smith NOW Attorney General in the Pro-
visional GovernmenD TO the Government
building and there read the proclamation
of the new Government
"At 20 minutes of o'clock, there being
practically DO audience whatever as the
reading proceeded, dozen or so loungers
gathered, and near the close of the ceremony
about thirty supporters variously armed