Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-02-18
FORCED TO TALK.
Alleged Torture of a Witness al
Honolulu.
HUNG HIN UP BY THE THUMBS

captain Davis, an American Citizen,
the yictfm-Demand to Communicate
with the American Minister or Consul
Refused.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 1S-The follow
ing story from Honolulu is printed in the
San Francisco Call: The success Of the
government Of Hawaii il conducting its
treason cases was due to the incriininat.
ing evidence given by Captain William
Davies of the steamer WaimanolO. The
manner in which the sworn statement
was wrung from Davies is interesting as
showing the peculiar process at present
existing in the Hawaiian islands. Davies
and his mate, knudson, were arrested
on the morning of Jan. o. Knudson
made q confession, telling what little he
knew. Davies, who is an American citi-
zen, refused any information and while
protesting his innocence demanded an in
terview with the United States minister.
This was refused. Davies was then taken
into the prison yards, where he was shown
two ring bolts in the wall above his head.
The uniformed inquisitors of the govern
ment then gave the captain to understand
that IL complete confession was not
forthcoming he would be strung up by the
thumbs.
Protested in Vain.
Davies did not finch, but said that if
the American minister could not come
the consul general should be informed
that he was an American citizen and
wished to see him. His protest was in
vain. His legs were bound below the
knees and his thumbs were lashed with
whipcord to the bolts. A cord was'placed
below him, SO that the unfortunate man 3
toes just touched it. Davies was stripped
to the waist, while Marshal Hitchcock,
Attorney General Smith aud Surgeon
Cooper, with n stenographer awaited the
statement which they believed would
be forthcoming. Thoy were mis-
taken. Davies would not weak.
en-. Sweat ooGed from every pore.
The strong man in his agony begged for
water to slakc the thirst that consumed
him. The tendons of :he victims limbs
stood out like strands of ropes; blood ves-
sells knotted on his arms and legs, SWELL
ing as if ready to burst His tormentors
vainly urged him to inplcate all known
to be politically opposed to their methods.
Davies refused to surrender the secret he
had sworn to protect. At last, when it
was apparent by his respiration that it
would be impossible to hold out longer,
nature succumbci and Davies, cursing
the fends who Were torturing him,
tainted.
Suspended Again by the thumbs.
DR.. Cooper used salts of ammonia to re.
vive the captain, who had passed into
the painless realms of Inconsistencies.
As soon as he revived two negro convicts
suspended him again by the thumbs. This
inhuman operation was begun at noon,
and 1t was o'clock in the evening before
Davies, more dead than alive, made the
statement that respited him from the in
human barbarity of his prosecutors
Another case of torture was brought to
light in the military inquiry. \ young
native who was known to be intimate with
Carl Widderman, was handcuffed at the
wrists. Then he was placed in a tank of
icc-cold water and was kept there until
circulation of the blood in his cxtremities
had almost ceased, and DR.. Cooper, who
appears in the unenviable light of an
arch inquisitor, declared that action of the
heart was almost suspended. The chief
of police. Marshal Hitchcock. had the
young kanaka lusSen from the tank and,
after being restored from his condition of
semi-consclousness, the torture was again
administered. Flesh and blood could
stand such ifhumanity no longer, and
the mnch-needcd confession was given.