Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-01-16
THE OTHER SIDE.
Statements OF Minister Damon and
Others--Assertions Contra icted.


at the Finance Department, and
asked for a statement on behalf Of
the Government and the Bishop
Estate. tie asked with a smile if
it was necessary to say much
about the matter, or was it get
ting hard to fiji the papers.
Upon being informed that
full statement Of the OBJ
jections of those aggrieved had
been obtained, and that it was
desired to give the other side
an equal opportunity, Mr.. Damon
proceeded TO explain the matter.
Mr.. Damon told of how the late
Mrs. Bishop had often expressed
the desire that II tomb should be
prepared to receive the remains Of
the kumehamehas including her
self as one of their lineage. She
foresaw a time when times would
change and generation arise in
these islands who would not
revere the memory of the
Hawaiian Aliis, therefore de-
sired that they might rest in
a tomb secure against oblitsration
or spuliation. Thus the idea of
the Tomb of the Kamehamehas
originated and was carried out
after its authors death.
The objection of Kalakaua, as
stated in the foregoing, to the re-
moval of the bodies of kameha-
meha II. and Ill, was mentioned
by MIR. Damon. Lately Charles r.
Bishop wrote to him from
San Francisco, suggesting that
the original plan of entombing
all the Kamehamehos together
should be carried out, Accord
ingly Mr.. Damon had consulted
the Executive about the matter,
with the result that the Minister
of the Interior issued an order for
the transfer of the bodies.
Mr.. Damon emphatically con-
tradicted the statement that the
Queen Dowager was grieved ut
the proceedings. On the con-
trary she was an interested OBJ
server throughout and exhibited
more than her usual cheerfulness.
The assertion that she walled
at the work was pure fic-
ton. Not only was the Queen
Dowager's demeanor as stated,
but she actually selected a spot
of ground near the place for a
tomb for herself.
The entire work was accom-
plished decorously without any
intended disrespect to the dead.
Mr.. Damon emphatioally contra
dicted a statement, given to our
reporter but withheld on occount
of its roundabout transmission,
that the collins were deposited In
two feet of water. There was q
little water at the bottom of the
vault, produced by conden-
sation OF the extreme dampness,
but the cottins were placed upon
blocks. In fact the atmosphere
was so dank in the vault that he
and all who entered were stricken
with headache.
AS to the complaint against a
common dray being employed for
the transfer, Mr.. Damon said it
was deemed the safest, way to
carry the heavy collins. In fact,
drays were used TO transfer the
same bodies with others, many
years ago from the old mausoleum
in the Palaces yard to the new one
in Nuuanu valley. Mr.. Damon also
remarked that what was claimed
by Kalakaua to be the body OF
Kamehameha l. was still left in
company with his own remains in
the mausoleum.
From other trustworthy sources
the following facts are learned:
Instead of a gang OF Portuguese
laborers, as stated in contem-
porary, Mr.. Hustace had seven
Hawaiisns to do the work and
four Portuguese in charge Of
the horses. Mr.. Mulch, superin.
tendent of buildings for the
Bishop Estate, had a force OF
native carpenters with him.
The collins were handled with re-
spectful care, but, when 1t is
stated that it took fourteen mon
to carry one of them, it will be real
lied how difficult was the whole
performance.