Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-09
LANDING OF THE TROOPS
The Story Told by Naval officers on the
Witness Stand
Testimony Taken Before the Senate
Investigating Committee - Trip
Of the Boston.

There was much of interest for the men,
bers of the Senate committee On foreign re-
iations to discuss this morning when they
reconvened for the purpose OF continuing the
investigation OF Hawaiian affairs, besides
the mere estimony of the witnesses that had
been summoned to appear before the COM
mittee today. The news from Hawaii
brought by the steamer Warrimoo gave the
situation a most sensational turn, and one
member of the committee who was seen
before the doors closed upon the executive
session, remarked that 1t appeared as If the
diplomatic waters were getting muddier and
muddier every day .There can ne little
doubt of the fact" said this Senator, that
the time has come when matters concerning
aHairs at Honolulu since the retirement OF
Minister Stevens can be kept in the back
ground no longer The Investigation OF this
committee will doubtless be given even a
broader scope than was expected by any
began"
Three Witnesses Of the Committee.
However. there was little time for the
members to discuss the situation free from
the Intrusion Of outsiders, for the witnesses
summoned for today were on hand promptly,
as naval officers usually are and the in.
vestigation proceeded in its customary way,
an additional interest being given to the
questions and answers by the Information
that came before Senators and the general
public this morning through the dispatches
OF the United Press. Greater precautions
.or secrecy than ever were taken. and not
to the public. The witnesses Were how.
ever, but three in number-iieuts Lucien
Young and E. X. Moore and Paymaster
Hobbs who were attached to the Boston
during the time Of the revolution in Hawaii
Lieut.. Swinburne who was in charge Of
the marines that were landed under the d.
rection of Minister Stevens. was not called
today but will be before the committee at
subsequent meeting. Much OF the testi-
money taken today showed plainly that II
was the intention Of the chairman to either
establish or disprove the existence of any
conspiracy between Mr.. Stevens and the
members of the committee of safety, as is
claimed by the friends of the queen The
facts touching this phase Of the case were
gone into fully. The testimony of the
naval officers, 1t Is understood. 30 far COR
roborates the statements made by Mr.
Stevens and denies the accuracy Of the re-
port Of Mr.. Blount.
The Trip of the Boston.
Mr.. Young. who appears to have been the
principal witness today, told of the trip of
the Boston to the island of Hawaii. 800
miles from the island of Oahu, upon which
Honolulu is situated This trip was made
January a. and was taken for the purpose
OF engaging in target practice. The effort
was made to show by this that there was
nothing like conspiracy going on and that
If there had been the vessel would not have
left the port Of Honolulu at so critical a
period. 1t was also shown as that gentle
man has heretofore stated, that Minister
Stevens himself was on board the vessel
and away from the city during all this
time.
The vessel returned to Honolulu on the
morning of the 14th Of January, 1898, ar
irving just in time to witness the pro-
The officers Of the Boston. including the
witnesses before the committee today. were
invited to witness this ceremony and re-
paired to the government building at noon
for that purpose. 1t Is understood that
these facts-about which there appears to
be no dispute-were testified to by ali these
naval officers and that in response to d.
rect questions they denied knowledge OF ex-
istence Of any conspiracy or agreement
with the committee of safety or other per-
sons representing the provisional govern
ment which was afterward established.
The Landing of Troops.
Lieut.. Young. who was the first witness.
and his associates later on, gave a detailed
account Of the landing Of the troops on the
10th. about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. after
the large mass meeting and after the COM
mittee of safety had partially organized.
1t was shown that a total of 162 men from
the Boston had been landed. These con-
sisted of three companies of blue Jackets of
thirty-six men each; one company of ma
rines, twelve musicians. nine naval officers
and one officer of marines Lieut.. Young
further testified. 1t Is said. to the positive
fact that orders had been issued to the
troops and their commanders to remain
neutral and take no part in any trouble
that might arise. their sole duty being to
pIotect the lives and properties of Ameri-
cans and American citizens
The details of the landing were gone into.
and the committee was told how the troops
were first sent to the grounds of an Amert-
can. j. B. Anterior, and then. after
Halh across the street from the govern
ment building. 1t was also denied today
that they were drawn up when the procla-
nation Of the provisional government was
read. The renting of this hall and how
II came to be taken Is understood to have
been brought out by Paymaster Hobbs.
who would naturally have charge Of that
duty.
Lieut.. MOOre's Story.
Lieut.. Moore is said to have had charge
of one of the landing parties. although
his duties were more those of a navigating
officer he having been the officer who made
the elaborate survey of the harbor Of Hobo
lulu. Lieut.. Moore's duties took him on
shore q great deal, and he mingled with the
people there and knew from daily contact
with them what the feeling was. Much OF
his testimony bore upon this point and re-
lated particularly to the alleged discomfort
and the action Of the queen and the acts
of the legislature alleged to have been
passed at her bidding.
1t is said that all of these witnesses gave
strong testimony favorable to the side OF
the provisional government in this conten-
ton, and that though naval officers are
naturally averse to discussing questions of
American diplomacy. they talked freely
before the committee.
| A member Of the committee said later In
| the day that the committee was very well
| satisfied with what they had brought out
| at today's hearing.
Mr.. BlOunt May Be q Witness.
| Commissioner Blount reached the Senate
end Of the Capitol a little after noon, and
went at once to the rooms of the commit
tee, where he remained for short time.
He said that he called merely to pay an
official visit to the committee, the infer
ence being that his call was the result of