Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-21
A VICTIM OF AWFUL TORTURE
Hawaiians Adopt Spanish In
QUESTION Tactics.
IN ORDER TO CONVICT REBELS
A Reluctant Witness Strung
Up by the Thumbs.
Tho Torture Continued Until He Com
scented to Give Testimony--A Native
Kept in Tank of Ice-coid Water Until
Almost Dend--A Horrible Story of In
human Brutality.

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Feb. 16.-The Call
prints the following from Honolulu:
The success OF the government of Hawaii
in conducting its treason cases was due to
the discriminating evidence given by Cap
tain William Davies OF the steamer Wal
nianola. The manner in which the sworn
statement was wrung from Davies is
interesting as showing the peculiar pro-
cesses at present existing in the Hawaiian
Islands.
Davies and his mate, Knudson, we're ar
rested on the morning of January 9th.
Knudson made a confession, telling what
little he knew. Davies, who is an Ameri-
can citizen, refused any information, and
while protesting his innocence demanded
an interview with the United States minis
ter. This was refused.
Davies was taken into the prison yard
where he was shown two ring bolts in the
wall above his head. The uniformed in
quisitors of the government then gave the
captain to understand that if complete
confession was not forthcoming he would
be strung up by the thumbs. Davies did
not finch, but determined that if the
American minister could not come the
consul-general should be informed that he
was ali American citizen and wished TO see
him. His protest was in vain. His legs
were bound below the knees and his
thumbs were dashed with whip-cord to
the bolts, so that the unfortunate mans
toes just touched the ground.
Davies was stripped to the waist while
Marshal Hitchcock, Encouragement
rapher, awaited the statement which they
believed would be forthcoming. They
were mistaken. Davies did not weaken.
Sweat oozed from every pore. The strong
man in his agony begged for a drop oil
water to cool the thirst that consumed
him. The tendons of the victims limbs
stood out like strands of rope, blood YES
sells knotted his legs and arms swelling as
II ready to burst with congested blood re-
| strained in its course by his abnormal
position.
His tormentors urged him to implicate
all known to be politically opposed to their
methods, but without avail. Davies re.
| fused to surrender the secrets he had sworn
| to protect At last, when it was apparent
by his respiration that it would be i'm
| possible to hold cut longer, nature sue
cumbed and Davies, cursing the iiends
who were torturing him, tainted.
DIR. Cooper used salts of ammonia to
revive the captain, who had passed into
| Inconsistencies. As soon as he revived
two negro convicts suspended him again
by the thumbs. This inhuman operation
was begun at noon and it was O'Clock in
the evening before Davies, more dead thar
| hllNe, Iuult tue SldtGluGnb tnhJ TehpltSt
him from the inhuman barbarity of perse
| uutors.
Another case of torture was brought t.
light in the military inquiry. A nativ,
who was known to be intimate with Car
Wilderman, was handcuffed at the wrists
Then he was placed in a tank of ice.colC
water. He was kept there until the circu
lation Of the blood in his extremities hat
almost ceased, and DIR. Cooper declared
that action of the heart was almost sus
pended. The chief oil, police, Marsha
from the tank and after being restored
from his condition of semi-consciousnes
the torture was again administered unit
| he confessed.