New-York tribune., 1894-01-10
NAVAL OFFICERS TESTIFY.

| THEIR EVIDENCE UNDERSTOOD TO CONFIRM
MINISTER sTEvENs's STATEMENTS
Washington Ian. 9.-There was much Of interest
| for the members Of the Senate Committee on For
egn Relations to discuss this morning when they
reconvened for the purpose OF continuing the in
vestigation OF Hawaiian affairs. besides the mere
testimony of the witnesses that had been sum-
monod to appear before the committee to-day. The
news from Hawaii brought by the steamer War
rimoo 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
getting muddier and muddier every day. There
can be little doubt Of the fact" said this Senator.
that the time has when matters concerning
affairs at Honolulu since the retirement OF Minister
Stevens can be kep1 in the background no longer.
The investigation of this committee Will doubtless
be given q broader scope than was expected
by any member when the work of taking testimony
began" -.
However. there was little time for the members
Of the committee 10 discuss the situation free from
the Intrusion Of outsiders, for the witnesses sum-
moned for to-day were on hand promptly, as naval
officers usually and the investigation proceeded
In Its customary way. The witnesses were three
In number-Lleutenants Lucien Young and X. X
Moore and Paymaster Hobbs. who was attached to
the Bostonydurng the revolution In Hawaii Lieu
tenant Swinburne. who In charge OF the ma
rlnes that were landed under the direction OF Min
ster Stevens was not called to-day but will be
before the committee at a subsequent meeting
Much of the testimony taken to-day showed plainly
that 1t was the intention Of the chairman either
to establish 10 disprove the existence Of any con-
spiracy between Mr.. Stevens and the members Of
the Committee OF Safety The facts touching this
phase Of the case were gone into fully. The testl-
nony of the naval officers Ii Is understood so far
corroborates the statements made by Mr. Stevens
and denies the accuracy OF the report Of Mr. Bloun
m hava haop fha
cipa witness to-day told of the trip OF the Boston
to the Island OF Hawaii. 200 miles frcm the Island
of Oahu, upon which Honolulu Is situated This
trip was made on January 4. and was taken for
the purpose of engaging In target practice The
effort was made to show by this that there
nothing like conspiracy going on, and that II
there had been the vessel would not have left the
port Of Honolulu at SO critical period II was
also shown that gentleman 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
January IA, 1893, arriving just In time to witness the
proroguing OF the Parliament by the Queen. The
officers Of the Boston. including the witnesses be-
fore the committee to-day. invited to witness
this ceremony. and repaired to the Government
Building at noon for that purpose. 1t is understood
that There facts-about which there appear to be
no dispute-were testified to by all these naval
officers and that In response to direct questions
they denied knowledge of the existence of any
conspiracy or agreement with the Committee of
Safety or other persons representing the Provs-
ionai-Go'ernment which was afterward established.
Lieutenant Young. who the first witness,
ana his associates later gave a detailed ac-
count OF the landing Of the troops the 10th,
about o'clock In the afternoon, after q large
inass-meetlng and after the Committee Of Safety
haa partially organized. 1t shown that q total
OF loZ men fr m the Boston had been landed.
inese consisted Of three companies OF bluejackets
OF thrty-six mtn each company OF marines
twelve musicians nine naval officers and one officer
OF marines. Lieutenant Young further testified Il
is said to the positive fact that orders had been
issued 70 the troops and the commanders to remain
neutral and take no part in trouble that might
arise their sole duty being to protect the lives and
property OF Americans and American citizens The
details or the landing gone into and the
committee was told how the troops were first sent
TO the grounds Of an American J. b. Atherton
and then after a search for quarters, were lodged
In Arion Hall, across the street from the Govern
ment building 1t was also denied that they were
drawn up when the proclamation 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
ni NATURALLY haye charge Of that duty. Lieutenant
ing parties although his duties were more those OF
navigating officer, he having been the officer who
made the elaborate survey OF the harbor at Homo
lulu Lieutenant Moores duties took him on shore
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 related particularly to the alleged
discontent at the actions OF the Queen and the acts
or 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 contention and that although
questions. Of American diplomacy, they talked
freely before the committee.