The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-08
A BIG SECRET ON The CUTTER.
Minister Has Probably Received His
Passports From Hawaii.
In Reply To His fnsoient Reaaest-The
News Discreditabie tn the Aamtnfs-
tration. Hence Suppressed I've
Steamers Expected Tuesday.

nis passports by the provisional govern
ment and that he arrived =; this port on
TIE corwin IS current here. Though il il,
considered quite probable that the minis
ter has been rendered his passports. il Is
not believed be Is on the Co-win now or
that he vas a passenger on her.
The unprecedented action Of the Corwin's
officers, hosever. might indicate the
truth OF the story. for they are
certainly concealing some important fact
from the public, and It may be that the
minister 10 Hawaii is hidden in the cut-
ter's cabin. When the Corwin steamed in
through the Golden Gate her commander
refused to receive even the officers of the
revenue patrol steamer Hartley, telling
them they were not wanted The cutter
then changed her course and steamed
south, approaching the southern shore. and
st s point of Harhor View small boat
was lowered and = man sent ashore. This
individual was never seen by any news
paper man nor was he recognized by any
one else. 1t was supposed. however. that
the man put ashore was an officer OF the
cutter. with dispatches for the Washing
ton City authorities. So far as known
the man never returned TO 10 the Corwin..
As soon as the cutters small boat returned
from shore the CorwIn steamed directly
across the chanel TO Sausalito and thence
TO San Qnenfin, where she now lies. No
one else has left her. so far as known. II
Minister Willis was the man put ashore.
careful search has failed TO bring his where
abouts to light. II Is almost a forgone
conclusion. however, that Minister Willis
would not sail from Honolulu and leave
Mrs. Willis behind. That she has not
landed here Is almost beyond doubt, nor IS
IL believed any woman Is on board the
Corwin. else a glimpse wolld have been
had by the many reporters who have
closely watched the cutter since her ap-
pearance IN the harbor. The story from
Washington City finds few believers here.
SAN Francisco, Jan. The attitude of
Capt. Munger, of the revenue cutter Cor
win, toward representatives Of the press
and the public in general - without prece-
dent in this port. From the moment the
Corwin arrived the men on board have
been as inaccessible as il they were in mid
ocean, save fer a brief interview that
reporter had with Capt. Munger yesterday
evening. when the captain went ashore at
San Quentin in his gig TO mail packet Of
letters. The captain saw fit TO go ashore
with the letters himself rather than trust
a messenger, who might let some iota of
news drop. by accident or otherwise, un-
der reportorial pressure. Ii was when on
shore this time for a very few minutes that
the Corwin's captain talked with reporter
and verified the correctness Of the Auck-
land cablegram TO the Associated Press.
He also stated that the Corwin left Homo
lulu December "a The reporter quotes
Capt. Munger as follows:
II can tell you no more than came in
that Auckland dispatch. Ii is no pleasure
for me to hold news or information from
the people, but then you must remember
that am poweFless in the matter myself.
Even if knew the contents of the secret
dispatches, as an officer and Q gentleman
could not reveal them without permis-
sion. Here / arm within twenty minutes
of my home. and cannot get away. it Is
no pleasure, | assure you, but | will have
to stay here for three or four days, or
maybe week"
When asked directly whether any revo-
luton had occurred at Honolulu, and
whether the provisional government was
still IN power. Capt Munger would only
reiteraie his statements that he could say
no more than was contained in the Anek-
land dispatch.
The cutter is stili lying off Red Rock.
about a mile out from San Quentin peni-
Tertiary. and over ten miles from this city.
As for getting any news from her. she
might as well be ia Bering sea. No one 10
allowed on board. and not one of her crew
has been allowed over the side of the ves-
sci since her arrival. The cutter has been
besleged hy reporters in Whitehall boats.
but all along the approach of small boats
has been the signal for one Of the cutters
officers TO appear on deck. when the sailors
would be ordered from the rail and eau
toned TO MAINTAIN silence. Once the Off
GERS were caught unawares and a seaman
started the talk. A reporter asked him
the latest news from Honolulu. "Heifs
a-porpln' down there, was the decidedly
expressive reply OF the sailor, but he was
allowed 20 say no more. for an officer ap-
peared and ordered him below.
Just y hat this strange silence means no
one here seems 10 comprehend, but people
generally believe there have been stirring
times In Honolulu. The unhsard-of se-
crecy on board the Corwin, despite The
eagerness of the sailors TO talk. would
seem 10 indicate that the sailors have an
interesting story to tell if they are only al
lo@ed 3 ghost OF show 10 yentllate their
information.
The san Francisco papers are bristlin z
with severe criticism Of the authorities re-
spousihle for the suppression Of the ness
that the Corwin's men might make public
The CkroWiels tRep.l po.ntedly asks:
ssWhy does President Cleveland insist on
yelling The Has allan situation in profonnd
rz4vsserye Why should the commander of
the revenue cutter CoFwin decline 20 in
form the press OF the Tai;ed States Of the
facgs as they existed when he
left Honolulu 80 long as ne
gotiations purely diplomatic are
rendlug. il is easy 10 understand that ma.-
.ers OF detail may be properly held IN re-
serve. bat when il comes 20 4 statement
Of an actually existing condition of affairs,
secrecy Is very much cut OF place. Where
il any need for all this mystery and con-
eeaImentg What iaterest can Mr. Cleve-
land have ia Hawaii IN which the peopse
Of the United states do rot share ," The
Fraaimey Dem says: ''Ii the Hawaiian
repuellc we're situated in cave Of which
Mr.. Cleveland held the only key, we could
understand the euyioa. performances Of
the CaYwi1 since her arrival ~ this port.
The nsss from the islands being unpl-Gs-
ant and hamillaiing - the administration,
IL xoald nsta-aliy occur 10 the president
20 conceal it from THE pahlic. bar as
uawali res IN the open ocean. free 20 al
comers, we can not refrain iEom asking