The herald., 1894-01-08
That Seems to Be the General
Impression.
The Next Mail Steamer Will
Tell the Story.
TantaIizing secrecy Maintained by
the Authorities.
A Rumor That Minister Willis Is on the
Corwin-No Official News Given
Out-Great Excitement at
Washington.
By the Associated Pres.

By the Associated Pre.s
SAN Francisco. Jan. 7.--The attitude
of Capt Munger OF the revenue cutter
Corwin toward the representatives OF the
press and the public in general is with
out precedant in this port. From the
moment the Corwin arrived the men on
board have been as inaccessible as if
they were in mid-ocean. cave for a brief
interview that reporter had with
Capt. Munger yesterday evening when
the captain was ashore at San
Quentin in his gig to mail
packet OF letters. The captain saw
fit to 20 ashore with the letters himself
rather than trust messenger who
might lei some iota of news drop by
accident or otherwise, under reportorial
pressure. 1t was when on shore this
time for very few minutes, that the
Corwin's captain talked with a reporter
and verified the correctness Of the Auck-
land eahlegram to the Associated Pfess.
He also stated that ths Corwin left
Honolulu December oath. The reporter
quotes Captain Munger as follows:
Il can tell you no more than came in
that Auckland dispatch. 1t is no pleas
ure for me to hold news or information
from the people, but then you must re-
member that | am powerless in the
matter myself. Eveq if / knew the con-
tents of the secret dispatches, as
officer and a gentleman l could not
reveal them without permission. Here
am within 20 minutes of my home and
cannot get away. 1t is no pleasure,
ASSURE you, but / will have to stay here
ior three or four days or maybe week."
When asked directly whether any
revolution had occurred at Honolulu,
and whether the provisional government
was still in power. Captain Munger
would only reiterste his statements that
he could cay no more than was con-
tanned in the Auckland dispatch.
The cutter is still living off Red rock,
about mile from San Quentin peniten-
tisry and over 10 miles from this city
So lar as getting any news from her is
concerned. che might as we'll be in
BeriDg sea. No one is allowed on
board. and not one OF hsr crew has been
allowed over the side of the vessel.
Since her arrival the cutter has been
beseiged by reporters in whitehall
boats, but all along the approach of
small boats has been signal for one of
the CUTTERS officers to appear on the
deck, when the sailors would be ordered
from thu rail and cautioned to maintain
silence. Once the officers were caught
unawares, and a seaman started to
talk. reporter asked him the la atest
news from Honolulu. ''H Hell . a. poppin'
down there,' WAS the decidedly ex-
pressive reply Of the sailor, but he was
allowed to say no more, for an officer APP
peared and ordered him below.
Juet what this strange silence means
no one here seems to comprehend, but
the people generally believe there have
been stirring times in Honolulu. The
nheard-of secrecy on board the Cor
win, despite the eagerness Of the sailors
to talk, would seem to indicate that the
sailors have an interesting story to tell,
if only they were allowed the least
chance to ventilate their information.
The San Francisco papers are bristling
with severe criticisms OF the authorities
responsible for the suppression OF the
news that the Corwin men might make
public
The Chronicle (Republican) pointedly
asks: "Wh hy does President Cleveland
insist on yelling the Hawaiian situation
in profound mystery? Why should the
commander oil the revenue cutter Corwin
decline to inform the press of the United
States of the facts as they existed when
he left Honolulu? So long as negotia-
tions purely diplomatic are pending it ia
easy to understand that matters of de-
| tail may be properly held in reserve, but
when il comes TO q statement OF the
actually existing condition of affairs,
ecrecy is very much out of place.
Where is any need for all this mystery
and concealment? What interest can
Mr.. Cleveland have in Hawaii in which
| the people OF the United States do not
share ?"
The Examiner (Democratic) says: ssIf
/ the Hawaiian republic were situated in
a cave of which Mr.. Cleveland held the
/ only key, We could understand the Curl
I Gus performances of the Corwin since
her arrival at this port. The news from
the islands, being unpleasant and humil-
iating to the administration, it would
naturally occur to the president to con-
ceal it from the public, But as Hawaii
| lies in the open ocean, free to all corners,
we cannot refrain from aeking what the
administration thinke il is to gain by
iorbidding it's officers and sailors to give
the American people hint OF the ma
! ture OF public events in Honolulu. 1t ia
not state secrets we are asking for, but
information about happenings hat are
open and notorious in Hawaii now, and
will be here as soon as the next mail
steamer arrives. Allthe administration
haS succeeded in doing by ite portentous
secrecy with the Corwin has been TO put
the public to little annoyance and de-
| Law. II has not gained 80 much by its
efforts at mystifying the public hitherto
that it should feel repaid for persisting
in them"
wAsHISGrVN GOssIP.