Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-17
THE NAVAL OFFICER
In Command of the American Forces
at Honolulu.
COMMANDER SWINBURNE A WITNESS.
The Senate Committee Hears His
Story of the Revolution.
AN IMPORTANT WITNESS.

The Senate committee on foreign relations,
which Is investigating Hawaiian affairs, re-
sumed its work this morning, the only wit
ness being Lieut.. Commander Swinburne.
1t is understood that the committee is de-
voting considerable time to inquiry into the
legal propositions Incorporated in Mr.
Hoars resolution ard referred to this COM
mittee. 1t involves the question of the legal
ity Of Mr.. Blount's appointment as commits
sioner paramount, and, consequently there
fore the legality of his acts as such COM
missioner.
Commander Swinburne gave testimony in
common with other naval officers concern,
ing the Importance Of the Hawaiian Islands
from commercial and strategic point of
view and then proceeded to detail the events
attending the revolution. AS the officer in
charge of the troops that landed on the 10th
of January and remained on shore during
those exciting days. Commander Swinburne's
testimony was important. All of the events
attending the establishment of the provis-
ional government and the participation
therein of the United States troops were
given by him in detail. 1t was on the 10th
that Lieut.. Commander Swinburne received
an order from Capt Wiltse directing him to
take command of the battalion to land I'm
Honolulu. for the purpose of protecting the
american lega ton, consulate and the lives
and property of American citizens, and to
assist in preserving order. He was eau
toned that great prudence must be exer-
cised by both officers and men, and no ac-
ton taken that is not fully warranted by
the condition of affairs and by the conduct
OF those who may be inimical to the treaty
rights OF American citizens
He Saw 1t ALL
by virtue of this order this naval officer
was put in position where he could not
fail to see all that was going on and be-
come cognizant of much that was
done and said by the citizens of Honolulu.
His recital was of great interest and cor
roborated much that had been told the
committee by previous witnesses who were
In Honolulu at the time.
Commander Swinburne stated that the
total number of men under his command
was 153. not including IL officers They
were divided as follows: Company A. ar
ullery, 40 men, Lieut.. Lucien Young COM
manding; company B. infantry. % men.
Lieut.. Chas. Laird; company c, infantry.
IA men. Lieut.. ID. Cofferman; company ID,
marines, 30 men, Lieut.. II. l.. Draper:
color guard hospital corps. &C.. IA men,
This battalion, fully equipped for active
work, was formed, and i'm accordance with
the verbal instructions of Capt. Wiltse
marched from the L. s. consulate, where
the lieutenant commander with his COM
pany was detached with orders to proceed
to the legation and leave half of his CON-
mand, returning with the remainder to the
consulate himself, and remain there until
further orders
The remainder of the battalion, he said
marched down King street. one of the lead
ing thoroughfares of the city. In passing
the palace the battalion gave a marching
salute, the trumpeters sounding four ruff
fies" 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. Anterior, an American, where
were marched on the grounds. arms stack
ed and ranks broken. to wait further ord
ers from Capt. Wiltse.
The Troops I'm Readiness.
1t appeared from Commander Swinburne's
story that night January 16) orders came
to march the battalion to Arion Hall and
camp there, which order was obeyed Arion
Hall, Commander Swinburne says, is a
long one-story building, containing a long
room, and having verandas on the two long
sides, separated from the street by a mar
row yard and fence. but with moderately
large yard in the rear. 1t fronts the side
of the government building from which il is
separated only by narrow street. During
that night, this officer says, the men Were
kept ready for an instant's CALI but there
was no disturbance of any kind The next
day was not, however, devoid of incident
1t appears from the evidence of this wit
ness that about 2:30 the next day, January
IL, civilian, armed, reported to him that
policeman had been shot while attempt
ing to stop wagon load of ammunition
that was being conveyed to the armory
where the civilian forces enrolled by the
committee of safety were then assembling
and that large crowd was collecting on
the street.
Upon hearing this, Commander SWIM
burne said he assembled his battalion un-
der arms in the yard in the rear of the
building and very shortly after Captain
ha fn,a
Wiltse was at camp-until almost O'Clock
witness said. the men leading the citizens
movement has assumed charge of the GOV
eminent building without opposition of any
KIND. The civilian companies under arms
had. during this time. marched in and es-
tablished guards about the government
buildings. While this was going on, Com
mander Swinburne stated that ne kept his
battalion in the rear of their camp with
arms stacked.
The Government Recognized.
When Capt. Wiltse left the camp. about
q o'clock, he notified Commander Swim
burne that a provisional government. of
which 5. b. Dole was at the head WAS in
complete possession, and showed the wit
ness a letter from the United States minis
ter recognizing it as the defacto govern
ment of the Hawaiian Islands. and directed
him to consider it as such. During thar
night the troops Rere again kept ready for
! action. bNt the city was perfectly quiet.
The next day. January is, this officer said.
the royal standard was hauled down from
over the palace. and the household troops
were dlsbanded, except small guard of
| hcror who accompanied the ex-queen to her
residence.
After having been in the immediate vicin-
fty OF the government building since the
night OF the 10th, new quarters We're pro-
vided at an unoccupied house on King
street into which the troops moved earIv
in the afternoon. The battalion remained
! here week or more. when the events han
/ pened that led to the hosting of the Ameri-
can flag. In accordance with orders from
Capt. Wiltse, Commander Swinburns mn
his command in light marching order. on
| the morning of February /. when orders
were received by him from Cant Vil,sa a.
take possession of the government bujIdip,
and the American flag will be hoisted AT 3
o'clock.
| The Flag Raised.
In obedience to these orders, he said. the
| battalion marched TO the government build-
| ing, where they We're received by the civil
/ ian troops in line, who presented arms as
| they entered. Commander Swinburna de-
| scribed this scene in detail He said that
President Dole and cabinet and the adj
visory council were present The order
! of Capt. Wiltse was shown to the CON,
mander of the provisional troops, who Wit
| ness said. at once turned over to him the
custody of the building. Then by order Of
| Capt. WiltSe a proclamation from Minister