Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1895-02-24
Horrible Torture.


The Honolulu correspondent Of the
San Francisco Call gives the follow
ing account Of the torture to which
Captain William Davies, OF the steam
er Waimanol", wns subjected by the
Hawaiian authorities to extort a con.
fession from him. 1t throws some
light on the peculiar legal process
at present existing in the Hawaiian
Islands:
Davies and his mate. Knudsten,
were arrested on the morning OF Jan.
9Th. Knudsten made Il confession,
telling what little he knew. Davies,
who is m American citizen. refusedto
give my information, and, while pro-
testing his innocence, demanded an
interview with the United States
Minister. This was refused. Davies
was then taken into the prison yard,
where he was shown two ring bolts in
the wall above his head.
The uniformed inquisitors Of the
Government then gave the Captain
to understand that il Il complete con-
fession were not forthcoming he
would be strung up by his thumbs.
Davies did not finch. but demanded
TINT il tina American Minister could
not come, the Consul.G General should
be informed that he. as nm American
citizen, wished to see him.
His protest was i'll vain. His legs
we're bound below the knees and his
thumbs were dashed with whip.cord
to tho ring.bolts. 4 box WINS placed
below him so that the unfortunate
mans toes just touched it. Davies
was stripped to the waist, while Mar
shal Hitchcock, Attorney General
Smith and Surgeon Cooper, with IA
ste%nographer, awaited the statement
which they believed would he shortly
forthcoming.
They were mistaken. Davies would
not weaken. Sweat oozed from every
pore. The strong mnn in his agony
begged n drop OF water to cool the
thirst that consumed him. The ten
dons Of the victims limbs stood out
like strands OF rope; blood vessels
knottcd OF arms and legs. swelling rs
II readyto burst with congestcd blood
restrained in it's course by his abpor-
nal position.
HIS tormentors urged him 10 impli.
cate all known to be politically op.
posed to their methods, but without
avail. Davies refused to surrender
tho secret he Ind sworn to protect.
At last, when it was apparent by his
respiration TINT it would be impossible
to hold out longer, nature succumbed
and Davies, cursing the ficnds who
were torturing him, tainted. DIR.
Cooper used salts OF ammonia to re
vivc the Captain who had passed into
tile painless realms of unconscious.
ncss.
AZ soon as he revived two negro
convicts suspended him again by the
thumbs. THIS inhumnn operation
was begun at noon. and il was six in
the evening before Davies, more dead
than alive, made the statement which
respited him from the inhuman bar.
bnrity Of his prosecutors.
Another case Of torturc WINS brought
to light in the military inquiry. A
young native who was known TO DO
intimate with Carl Wideman was
bandcuiTcd at tho wrists and ankles.
Thon. with a refinement OF cruelty
which would shock II Persian satrap,
hc was placed in u tank Of ice.cold
water.
lilo was kept thcro until circulation
Of the blood in his cxtrcmities had al.
most ceased, aud DR.. Cooper. who
appears in tho uncnyiRblo light Of
IN arch. inquisitor, declared that AZ.
ton OF tho heart WINS almost suspend.
cd.
The Chief Of Police. Marshal Hitch.
cock, had tho .oung Knnaka taken
from tho tank, md, after being 70.
stored from his condition OF semi
consciousness. tho torture was ndmin.
lister ID again. Fle,h and blood could
stand such ~inhumanity no longer, and
the muCll.nccded confession was g,v.