Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-21
EXTRACTS From THE REPORT.

ton tending to show that they have been
badly treated.
EXTRACTS From II REPORT.
Some of the Reasons why Biount Arrived
at the Conclusions Brought In.
Yesterday morning The BEE presented a
summing up of Minister Blount's report,
as published in the New York Herald.
In arriving at these conclusions Commits
sioner Blount relied principally on the state
ments of several witnesses who took n prom
inent part in the events of January II, last.
Among these was Mr.. +. Wundenberg,
whom Mr.. Blount describes as apparently an
intelligent man" Mr.. Wundenberg's state
ment, which is submitted with one of the
reports to the State department., speaks for
itself:
Landing of the Troops.
"The committee of safety met at
the office of w. O. Smith in Fort street
about 4 o'clock in the forenoon of Monday,
January ~, 1898, for the purpose of discuss
ing The steps necessary to be taken in the
formation of q new government. Shortly
after the committee met they decided they
were not for the landing of the American
troops, and Il committee of three, with
Thurston as chairman, was at once dis
patched to the American legation to prevail
upon Minister stevens to delay the landing
OF the BoSton'S men. The committee re-
turned shortly and said that Minister
Stevens had 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 MIR.
Henry Waterhouse at 7:30 o'clock. n
American troops landed at 5 o'clock, as Mr..
Ste vens told the committee they would, and
marched up Fort street to Merchant street,
along Merchant street, mating 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 eX-
cept the landing of a formidable armed force
with CABLING guns, evidently fully prepared
to remain on shore an indefinite length of
time, rs the men were supplied with double
cartridge Delts filled with ammunition, also
haversacks and canteens, and were attended
by Il hospital corps with stretchcrs and mod
lcal 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 dispersed, most of them going to
tho band concert at the hotel, which was
very fully attended, as it was II bright moon
light night, all who were not in the secret
wondering at the military demonstration.
Assurances f.om MIR. stevens.
"Ihe committee met at Mr.. Warehouses;
residence that evening at 1880. The forma-
ton OF some sort of Il government was under
discussion, and it was decided u commander
ll-chle1 OF the forces supporting the pro-
posed new government should be appointed.
The position was offered to John ii. Soper
VINO demurred, not seeing any backing
whatever to support the movement. MIR,
Soper was answered by members of the COM
mittee that the American minister would
support the move with the troops of the
Boston. Mr.. Soper still doubted, so a
couple OF the committee escorted him over to
the legation. which, by the way, was in the
adjoining premises, and the three came
back after u time reporting that MIR.
Stevens had given them full assurance that
anS proclamation OF the government, put
forward Mt The government building or any
other building in Honolulu for that matter,
would receive his immediate recognition
and the support OF the forces of the Boston.
This assurance seemed to satisfy MIR.
Soper and he accepted the position. On
Tuesday Afternoon, January II, the com
mittee of thirteen, or committee of safety.
proceeded from the office of W.. O.. Smith
(Low attorney general in the provisional
goVernment) to the government building and
there read the proclamation of a new gov
eminent at twenty minutes of 3 o'clock,
there being practically no audience what
ever. As the reading proceeded n dozen or
so loungers gathered, and near the close of
the ceremony about thirty supporters, yari-
ousiy armed came running into the side and
back entrances to The yard and gathered
about the committee.
AT this moment the United States
troops, In the temporary quarters in the
rear of the music hall, less than 100 Yards
away from where the committee stood, APP
peared to be under arms and were evidently
prepared for any emergency.
during all the deliberations of the COM
inlttee and, IN fact, through all the proceed
ilngs connected with the move up to the final
issue, Tue OASIS OF action was the general
understanding that Min,eta, ovo ...,l
keep the promise to support the movement
with the men from 5he Boston and the state
lnent Is now auvisedly made with full
knowledge OF the lack of arms, ammunition
ana men, also the utter absence of organiZa-
ton at all adequate TO the undertaking.
mat without the previous assurance Of sup
port IRON the American minister and the
actual presence of the United States troops
no movement would have been attempted,
anu II attempted would have been a miser-
able failure, resulting in the capture or
death OF the participants in a very short
time.
Having been present at the several meet
lngs referred 10 In this statement, 1 hereby
eertilS that Tue sam Is correct in every
essential particular. Il. WUNDENBuRG.n
Wundenburg Corroboratea.
Mr.. Blount also sends TO the State depart-
ment an account Of 4 long interview had by
nm with >. A, Damon, who Is president of
the advisory council Of the provisional gov
crnthe"l' Inc report OF the Interview was
signed by Mr.. Damon MS being correct. He
was ono OF the men who went up 10 the
government house Tuesday afternoon, Janu-
AIRY IL, TO read the proclamation declaring
the queen deposed ana q new government in
control hr. Damon corroborates the state
ment made by Mr.. Mnnden burg.
IN response 70 MIR. Blount's questions, MIR.
Dauoh SAID that he and another member of
the revolutionary committees went TO the
station house 10 hold a conference. with the
queens representatives. n tx
Nir' biount endeayored To draw from Mr..
Damon an admisson that the argument used
70 induce the queens ministers To surrender
was that United States troops were across
sna street from the government building
ana IN full sympathy with the revolution
Mr.. Damon unwillingly admitted that this