The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-06-17

The Hawaiian exiles are work
ing hard to create sympathy for
themselves and the royalist cause.
Almost every day San Francisco
papers contain some statements
from members of the colony.
P. M. Rooney, of Holomua fame,
recently executed a statement re-
garding his connection with the
January insurrection, arrest, incar-
ceration and subsequent release on
condition that he leave the coun-
try. The San Francisco Call, the
avowed bitter and INSCRIPTIONS
opponent of the Hawaiian Repub-
lie, prints in it's issue of June I'd
the following statement of Rooney:
/, p. NJ. Rooney, am an American
citizen. / was born in Duchess
county, State of New York, in 1919;
arrived in Californian 1868; resided
at Lincoln, Placer county, until 1879.
then went to the Hawaiian Islands
and became engaged in the sugar busi-
ness, during which time I was for
several years the chief overseer OF the
large Spreckelsville plantation and
was for four years manager of the Re
ciprocity plantation, both on the ISL
aud of Maui.
In 1891 / retired from said position
and removed to Honolulu and have
lived there ever since.
For several months prior TO my
arrest, hereinafter mentioned, ! was
business manager Of the Daily HOlO-
mua Publishing Company, which
concern published new spapers in the
English and Hawaiian languages,
whose policy was opposed to the eX-
listing Government.
On the 7th Of January, 1895, | was
at my home in Honolulu with my
wife and three children when two or
more members Of the Citizens Guard,
armed with rifles and belts OF cart
ridges, came to my house, arrested
me and told that the marshal had
sent for me and that ] must go. ]
asked if they had a warrant. They
said no, but pointing their guns they
said they had been sent to bring me
and / must go. ] was then taken to
the police station, searched, and
money and private papers taken from
my person.
! then asked the clerk Of police if
any charge was laid against me. His
reply was no. / was taken down i'm
the prison yard among many other
prisoners who had been similarly ar
rested.
] was detained there about an hour.
/ was ordered to fall into line, and
with fifteen others ! was marched
through the streets Of Honolulu under
a heavy guard Of armed men TO Oahu
prison and placed in a small cell with
out bed or bedding. During the same
night another prisoner (Carl Reime)
was placed ia the cell with me. We
asked for something to eat, and were
informed that the cooks had retired.
We begged through hunger, and ut
last succeeded in getting cup Of poor
tea and one hardtack each. We had
nothing more until u m. the next
day.
On the Sth / was supplied with bed
ding from my home and thereafter we
were allowed three hours exercise per
day. The rest of the time we were lock-
ed up in small cell u x5 feet in size.
The confinement was most irksome
and uncomfortable, the heat sitting
and the ventilation bad. / was con-
fined there for forty two days, during
which time ] was refused permission
to see my family or friends. Four
very brief visits from my wife were
allowed, in which our conversation
was listened 80 by the jailer.
/ sent for the American Minister,
who, with the American Consul Gen
eral, saw me several times, and at my
request urged the Government to
either release me or bring me TO trial.
/ was not informed as to the cause OF
my arrest all this time, or whether
any charge had been entered against
me, but / was denied either trial or
bail.
! was in no way concerned iu the
revolt of that time, nor had ] any
knowledge Of IL until ! read OF the
opening scenes Of the riot in the news.
pa pers Of Monday morning, January
9TH. / had no arms, was not MEM.
Der Of any organization nor party
formed for revolutionary or other pO-
litical purposes, and had at no time
attended any meetings or entered
into any plot or conspiracy revOlu-
tionary Of purpose.
After about six weeks impri-on-
meut / was offered by the marshal
the option of release if ] would agree
to 90 into exile. / had lost flesh and
and became partially Grip
pied from the close confinement and
lack Of sufficient exercise. Both my
self, wife and family had suffered
great mental distress from the uncer-
tainty Of my fate, based upon the