The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-17
CLEVELAND WAS RIGHT
Stevens Did Assist the Pro-
visional Government in
Hawaii.

which is investigating Hawaiian affairs, re-
sumed it's work this morning, the only witness
being Lieutenant Commander Swinburne.
While witnesses have not been before the
committee daily, it is understood the COM
mittee is devoting considerable time to an
inquiry into the legal proposition incorpor-
ated in Mr. Hoar's resolution and referred
to this committee. 1t involves the question
of the legality of Mr.. Blount's appointment
as commissioner paramount, and, conse-
quent thereto, the validity OF his acts as
such commissioner.
Commander Swinburne gave testimony IN
common with other naval officers concerning
the importance of the Hawaiian islands
from a commercial and strategic point of
view, and then proceeded to detail the events
attending the revolution. As the officer in in
charge of the troops that landed on
shore during those exciting days,
Commander Swinburne's testimony was
important All of the events attending
the establishment of the Provisional Govern
ment and the participation therein of the
U. S. troops was given by him in detail
COMMANDER SWINBURNES STORY.
1t was on the 10Th that Lieutenant Com
mander Swinburne received an order from
Captain Wiltse directing him to take COM
mand of the battalion and land in Honolulu,
for the purpose of protecting the American
legation, consulate and the lives and property
of American citizens, and to assist in pre-
serving order. He was cautioned that
s'great prudence must be exercised by both
officers and men, and no action taken that is
not fully warranted by the condition OF af-
fairs and by the conduct of those who may
be inimical to the treaty rights OF American
citizens"
Commander Swinburne stated that the to-
<ol Of md
153, not including II officers. They were
divided as follows: Company A, artil-
lery, 40 men; Lieutenant Lucien Young,
commanding; Company B, infantry, 35
men, Lieutenant Charles Laird; Company
c, infantry, "a men; Lieutenant D. Goffnan,
Company D, marines, 80 men; Lieutenant
H. L. Draper, color guard, hospital corps,
etc., IA men. This battalion, fully equipped
for active work, was formed, and, in ac-
cordance with the verbal instructions of
Captain Wiltse marched first to the United
States Consulate, where Lieutenant Draper,
with his company, was detached, with orders
to proceed to the Legation and leave half OF
his command, returning to the Consulate
himself, and remain there until further
orders.
The remainder of the battalion, he said,
then marched down King street, one of the
leading thoroughfares of the city. In pass
ing the palace, the battalion gave marching
salute, the trumpeters sounding four 'truf-
fes' in honor of the royal standard, which
was flying there The battalion, he went
on, was marched out to the residence of Mr..
j. B. Atherton, an American, where, after
permission was obtained the men were
marched into the grounds, arms stacked and
ranks broken, to await further orders from
Captain Wiltse.
READY FOR INSTANT CALL.
1t appeared from Commander Swinburnes
story that about eight o'clock that night
(January 10y orders came to march the bat
TALON to Arion Hall and camp there, which
order was obeyed. Arion Hall, Commander
Swinburne says, is long, one-story build
ing containing one long room and hav-
separated from the street by narrow yard
and fence, but with moderately large yard
in the rear 1t fronts the side of the govern
ment building, from which it is separated
only by narrow street. During that night,
this officer says, the men were kept ready for
an instants call, but there was no disturb
ance of any kind The next day was not,
however, devoid of incident.
1t appears from the evidence Of this witnes
that about half past two o'clock of the next
day january ~ civilian, armed, reported
to him that policeman had been shot
while attempting to stop wagon
load of ammunition that was being
conveyed to the armory, where the civilian
|
were then assembling, and that a large
crowd was collecting on the street. Upon
hearing this, Commander Swinburne said
he assembled his battalion under
arms in the yard in the rear of the building
and very shortly after Captain Wiltse
arrived During the time Captain Wiltse
was at the camp-until almost six o'clock
witness said the men leading the citizens
movement had assumed charge of the
government building without opposition of
any kind The civilian companies under
arms had, during this time, marched in and
established guards about the government
building.
RECOGNIZED THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.
While this was going on, Commander
Swinburne stated that he kept his battalion
in the rear Of their camp with arms stacked.
When Captain Wiltse left the camp, about
six o'clock, he notified Commander Swim
burne that provisional government, OF
which Mr.. S. B. Dole was at the
head, was in complete possession,
and showed the witness a letter
from the United States Minister recognizing
it as the de facto government of the Ha'
waiian Islands, and directed him to consider
troops were again kept ready fol
action, but the city was perfectly
quiet. The next day, January 1S this officer
said the royal standard was hauled down
from over the palace, and the household
troops were disbanded, except small guard
of honor who accompanied the eq-Queen te
her residence.
HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FLAG
January 10, after having been In the inn
mediate vicinity of the Government bilild