New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-18
.ANDING OF THE TROOPS.
SWINBURNE TELLS THE
STORY OF THE INCIDENT.
He WAS IN COMMAND or THE LANDING PARTY
How TIE PROTECToRATE WAS

He WAS IN COMMAND OF TIE LANDING lAhll
How TIE PRoTEcToRATE WAS
ESTABLISHED.
! Washington. Jan. 1.-THE Senate Committee on
Foreign Rela TONS which is investigating Hawaiian
c.fairs, resumed work this morning. the only
| witness being Lieutenant Commander Swinburne'
While witnesses nave not been before the COM
! mlttee daily, 1t Is understood the committee Is
devoting considerable time to an inquiry into the
legal proposition incorporated In Mr. Hoars resolu-
| ton and referred to this committee. 1t Involves
| the question of the legality of Mr.. Blounts APP
pointment commissioner paramount, and con-
| seouent thereto. the validity Of his acts such
commissioner
Commander Swlnburne gave testimony, In COM
mon with other naval officers. concerning the i'm
portance 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 charge OF the troops that landed on January
| i6, and remained shore during those exciting
days. Commander Swinburne's testimony was i'm
portant. All OF the events attending the establish
ment of the Provisional Government and the par
ticipatlon therein 60 the United States troops were
given by him In detail.
| 1t the 10th that Lieutenant-C Commander
| Swinburnc received order from Captain Wiltse
| directing him to take command 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 great pru-
dcnce must be exercised 10y both officers and men.
and action taken that is not fully warranted by
the condition Of affairs and by the conduct OF those
who may be nimical to the treaty rights of Ameri-
can citizens" by virtue OF this order this naval
officer put in position where he could not fail
20 all that going and become cognizant
OF much that done and said by the citizens Of
Honolulu. His recital Of great interest and
corroboratod much that had been told to the com
mttee by previous witnesses who were in Honolulu
at the time.
Commander Swinburne stated that the total num-
Der OF men under his command 49, not includ-
Ing eleven officers This battalion. fully equipped
for active work. formed. and. In accordance
win the verbal Instructions OF Captain WiItse.
marched first the United States Consulate whore
Lieutenant Draper with hts company was de-
tached, with orders 10 proceed 10 the legation anu
leave hall Of the command returning with the re-
ua!"uf 70 IN. c1iisuIte uh'il iurthrI orttlS IN
ret Of the BATTALION he said then marched GOWN
city IN passing the palace the battalion gave a
'rufics'' In honor OF the royal standard which was
dying there. The battalion was marched out 10 the
home OF j. T.. Atherton an American. where. after
permission was obtained, the men were marched
into the grounds. arms stacked and ranks broken.
About o'clock that night January is, orders
came 70 march the battalion 20 Arion Hall ana
camp there. which order was obey"i Alon Han
fronts the side of the Government building from
which Il is separated only by a narrow street Dur
INK that night The men were Kept ready Tor an IN
slant CALI but there was no disturbance Of any Kind
The next day was not however devoid Of incident
appear, from the evidence OF this witness that
about 21O o'clock Of the day January 10
a 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 forces enrolled by the
Committee 81 safety were then assembling. anu
that 4 large crowd was collecting on the street
Upon hearing this. Commander Swinburne said he
assembled his battalion under arms IN the yari IN
the rear % tue building and very shortly after
at the camp. witness said the men leading the
citizens movement, assumed charge OF the Govern
civilian companies under arms marching in and
establishing guards about the Government building
While this going on. Commander Swinburne
S,t,' vim tt arms a. stockcI when CAPTAIN Wiitse
LETT the camp. about o'clock. ne notified Com
mander Swinburne that Provisional Government.
OF which Mr : H. pole was At ,he nrad. was IN
ter from the United States Minister recognizing II
as the de f%c9 G IN o. the hw sa6 n
action. but the city was perfectly quiet The next
day january IS this officer said the royal standard
was hauled down from oyer me palace and the
guard ~ honor. who accompanied the eX-Queen TO
On January 10 new quarters were provided at
unoccuped house In King-si.. into which the
troops moved early in the afternoon. The battalion
remained here a week or more when the events
happened that led to the hosting of the American
nag. In accordance Win orders from Captain
W!itse. Commander Swinburne put his command In
,ighi marcnng ORDER on tn morning OF February
Wiltse to take possession Of the Government
building and the American nag viii be hosied at
the battalion marched To the Government building.
whore they were received by the civilian troops In
line. who presented arms they entered. Com
mander Swinhurne described this scene In detail.
He said that President Dole and his Cabinet and the
Advisory Council were present. The order OF Cap
tain Wiltse shown to the commander OF the
Provisional troops. who. witness said ut once turned
10 him the custody OF the building. Then by
order Of Captain Wiltse. proclamation from Min
lister Stevens. establishing protectorate In the
name OF the United States pending negotiations
with the Hawaiian commissioners at Washington.
was read. and at o'clock the United States ensign
was h0lse1 over the building. the troops OF the
United States and OF the Provisional Government |
presenting arms. The civilian forces OF the Pro-
ysional Government were then withdrawn. and the |
custody OF the building turned over to Lieutenant
Draper. with his company OF marines.
Commander Swlnburne said that during the three
rumors OF a threatened attack on the Government |
building by sympathizers with the late monarchy |
and all the troops OF the Provisional Government |
were kept In the Government building with patrols
about the place The hostlng OF the United States
flag had the effect at once OF stopping these ru- |
mors and restoring confidence and appeared 10 be |
approved by everybody. Commander Swlnburne |
said he issued orders to Lieutenant Draper 10 con-
slider himself responsible for the custody and safety
the building. to consult freely with the officers
OF the Provisional Government and to carry out |
their wishes "a who should be admitted to IN" !
building. and 70 DO everything 10 facilitate public
business ON the morning OF February 4. al the |
request Of President Dole the gates of the grounds
were thrown open and everybody allowed access |
between . n. m. and p. IN. subsequently Com |
nlander Swinburne WAS relieved from duty on shore
n,