Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-02-23
PUT TO TORTURE.
Inhuman Methods Said to Have
Been Employed In Hawaii.
1t Is Alleged that Government oaiciais
Strung an American Up by tho
Thumbs to Force Evidence
from Him.

SAN Francisco, Feb. ls.-The follow
ing story from Honolulu is printed in
the San Francisco Call:
THE success of the government OF Hawaii
in conducting its treason cases was due TO
the discriminating evidence given by Capt.
William Davies of tho 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 ar
rested on the morning of January >. Knud-
son made q confession, telling what Ettle ne
knew Davies, who Is an American citizen,
refused any information, and while protesting
his innocence demanded an interview 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 uni
formed inquisitors OF the government then
gave the captain to understand that II COM
plete confession was not forthcoming ne would
be strung up by the thumbs.
Davies did not finch, but said that IL 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. cord was placed below
| him, so that the unfortunate mans toes
| Just touched 1t. Davies was stripped
to the waist while Marshal Hiteh-
cock, Attorney General Smith and Sur
geon Cooper, with stenographer, awaited the
statement which they believed would be forth
coming.
They were mistaken. Davies would not
| weaken Sweat ooZed from every pore. The
strong man in his agony begged for water &c
slake the thirst that consumed him. The ten
4 dons of the victims limbs stood out like
strands of rope blood vessels knotted on his
arms and legs swelling us II ready to burst
His tormentors vainly urged him to implicate
oil known to be politically opposed tc
their methods. Davies refused to surrender
the secret he had sworn to protect At last
when it was apparent by his respiration tina
it would be impossible to hold out longer ma
ture succumbcd and Davies curstng the hend:
who were torturing him, tainted.
"Dr. Cooper used salts OF ammonia to re
vlve the captain who had passed
into the painless realms OF unconscious
ness, AS soon he revived tw'
negro convicts suspended him ag;lil
. by the thumbs This inhuman opera
ton was begun at noon, and it was o'clock Il
the evening before Davies, more dead tha
alive made the statement that respitcd hin
from the inhuman barbarity OF his prosecutor
Another case of torture was brought I
light in the military inquiry. young nativ
who was known to be irtimate wit
| Carl Widderman was handcuifed at til
wrists. Then he was. placed IN tank
ice-cold water and was kept there until Gil
culation OF the blood in his extremities ha
almost ceased, and DR.. Cooper who appear
r in the unenvable light OF an arch-inqu!sito
/ declared that action OF the heart was almoS
suspended. The chief OF police, Marshal Hitch
cock, had the young hanakn taken from tn
tank, and, after being restored from his cond
tion of semi-consciousnesS, the torture WI
e again admin stored. Flesh and blood coul
!. stand such inhumanity no longer, and IL
:, much-noeded confession was given
! WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-ln officii
A circles the telegraphic reports throug
private channels that American cit
\ zens are being tortured by the Do
=, Hawaiian military despotism to fore
them to give evidence again
!, suspects are not given serious or
= dence. There are many things connec
ed with this latest batch of Honolul
a news that stamp it as nine parts fal
y, to one part truth, and where the fal
- ends and the truth begins is perple
=, ing question. There is official co
frmation of the statements tn
the Dole government is resorting
unnecessarily harsh measures in til
emergency, but it is not believed tn
the leaders of the sham republic won
6, deliberately incite the disfavor of Il
y American people by committing atro'
ties of the sort indicated.