Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-11-24
ment could be maze simple anu easy py
constituting them a part of the State Of

ment could be maze simple anu easy py
constituting them a part of the State Of
California.
ar. Wundcnburg's Testimony.
In n of his reports to the state de-
partment Commissioner Blount said: II
send you a written statement from F. |
Wundenburg, who says that his infor-
NATION is derived from being personally |
present at all the conferences of the COM
mittee of safety, and that his utterances
are based on his personal knowledge.
He appears to be an intelligent man. He
says he acted with the committee in
| good faith till the American flag was
hoisted, and then he ceased communica-
ton with them. He is at this time april
28) deputy clerk of the supreme court.
The statement of Mr.. W%undenburg is as
follows:
The committee of safety met at the office
of w. o. Smith in Fort street ut about 4
o'clock in the afternoon of Monday, Jan.
10, 1893, for the purpose of discussing the
steps necessary to be taken in the forma-
ton of q 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 despatched to
the American legation to prevail on Minis
ter Stevens to delay the landing of the
Boston's men. The committee returned
shortly and said Mr.. Stevens had said to
them: Gentlemen, the troops of the
Boston land at S 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 Mr..
Henry Waterhouse at 1880 o'clock. The
American troops landed at 5 o'clock, as
Mr.. Stevens told the committee they
would, and marched up Fort street to
Merchant, along Merchant street, hating
in King street between the palace
and 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. Nothing
unusual was to be seen except the landing
of a formidable armed force with Calling
guns, evidently prepared to remain on
shore an indefinite time, as the men were
supplied with double cartridge belt filled
with ammunition, also haversacks and
3 canteens, and were attended by a hospital
, corps with stretchers and medical supplies.
: Curiosity Was Aroused.
The curiosity of the people on the streets
was aroused, and the youngsters more par.
: ticularly, followed the troops to see what
: it was all about. Nobody seemed to know,
SO when the troops found quarters the
people dispersed, most of them going tc
the band concert at the hotel, which
was very fully attended, as it was
r q bright moonlight night, all who were
l not in the secret wondering at the mil
itary demonstration. The committee me-
at Mr.. WAREHOUSES; residence that even
~ ing at 7:3O. The formation Of some sor,
= of a government was under discussion
9 and it was decided a commander-in-chie
of the forces supporting the proposed new
government should be appointed. The pc
sition was offered to John H. Soper, VIII,
demurred, not seeing any backing what
ever to support the movement. Mr.. Sopel
was answered by members of the commit
y tee hat the American minister would sup
Il port the move with the troops of the Bos
ton. MI. Soper still doubted, SO a coupl,
II of the committee escorted him over to thu
legation, which, by the way, was in TIN
adjoining premises, and the three cam,
! back after Il time, reporting that MI
- Stevens had given them full assurance
u that any proclamation of the government
= put forward at the government building
or any other building in Honolulu, TO-
that matter, would receive his immediate
recognition n the
y, support of the Boston Forces.
- This assurance seemed to satisfy Mr.
Eoper, and he accepted the position. o.
y Tuesday afternoon, Jan. II, the committe
d of IL, or committee of safety, proceeded
from the office of w. o. Smith now at
torney general in the provisional govern
ment) to the government building, AM
% there read the proclamation of a new gov
eminent at 1920 o'clock, there being prac
tically no audience whatever. AS the read
ing proceeded u dozen or so loungers gath
: cred and near the close of the ceremon,
y about 80 supporters, v%ariously armed
came running into the side and bacl
e entrances to the yard and gathered abou
Ic the committee. At this meeting tn
United States troops, in the temporar
quarters in the rear of the music hall
less than 100 yards away from wher
the committee stood, appeared to b
under arms and We're evidently pre-
pared for any emergency. During all tn
le deliberations of the committee, and, i,
IT fact, throughall the proceedings connected
~. with the move up to the tinal issue, tn
basis of action was the general und
~ standing that Minister Stevens would keel
- the promise to. support the movement witt
d the mn from the Boston, and the state
ment is now advisedly made with full
knowledge ofthe lack of farms, ammunition
and men, also the utter absence OF organi
cation at all adequate to the undertaking.
l. that without the previous assurance o
le support from the American minister ant
to the actual presence of the United State
troops, no movement would have beef
attempted, and if attempted would hav'
10 been II miserable failure, resulting in tn
capture or death of the participants in
= very short time. Having been present a
- the several meetings referred to i'll thi
n statement, l hereby certify that the SAM
ID is correct in every essential particular.
+. WuNDENRuEG."
re- ~Corroboratcd MIR. Wundcnburg.
,r Commissioner Blount sends to tin
d state department a long interview hat
d by him with S. A. Damon. who is presi
dent of the advisory council Of the pro
visiOnal government. MIR. DalnOns Ill
is terview was reported stenographicall,
and signed by him as being correct. III
d is one of the nen who went up to tn