The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-10

be interesting to note how the news was
! received by the people. Early in the
morning, when the ships came in sight
of the town, the soldiers were greatly
surprised at the profusiOn of American
flags. Everywhere old glory was &c
be seen flying in the tropical breeze. II
was not until the palace was reached
4 that the men saw a Hawaiian flag. On
! every street corner crowds gathered
and discussed the news, and by noon
! the demonstration was nearly as active
as when Utah received word of the
passage of the statehood bill In con-
gress a like demonstration was made
The senate met early in the morning,
but adjourned soon afterwards. Its
members then set about preparing the
palace for the use of the soldiers.
TWO THOUSAND LETTERS.
During the day over 1000 letters were
written in the legislative halls, some
soldiers even sitting on the throne
while writing. The Hawaiian govern
ment furnished the paper, envelopes
and postage for all these letters. And
she did it with a glad heart.
| One of the senators remarked, as he
| distributed the stationery, that it was
about the last act the government
would perform, and in a little while the
| stamps would only be valuable to a
4
well afford to give them to the boys
Those on the letters written in the pal
ace are only used on diplomatic occa-
sions. and persons in Salt Lake receiv-
ing them Will do we'll to preserve them
as mementoes of a dead government.
MET COLONEL FISHER.
While strolling through the palace
grounds, your correspondent had the
pleasure of meeting Colonel j. II.
Fisher, commanding the Honolulu ma
tional guard. His name will live as
long as memories live of the islands,
for it was he who's strategy overthrow
the monarchy and succeeded in estab-
lishing the republic. He has been in
charge of the military of the islands
for ten years, and has managed every
campaign and skirmish during that
time. He took me over the ground
where the fierce battles were fought in
1889, and showed how his forces work.
ed to repel the impostOr who had seiz-
ed the palace. He also showed where
the giant powder had blown up the
bungalow in which the enemy were
concealed and where each of the men
fell
lie described very wildly the liking
of the palace and overthrow of Liliou-
kalani. The committee of safety, as
the conspiratOrs called themselves, had
been in secret session continually for
nearly two weeks, and the day before
the blow was to be struck the ser
geants of Captain Fishers company
were let into the secrets. These SER
geants were instructed where to post
such men as they could depend on to
keep the matter secret, and they We're
given signals as to when to begin the
attack. At the appointed hour every
thing was prepared. The committee
had selected a. set of officers for the
new government, and had prepared a
proclamation to be read from the pal
ace pOrticO. Captain Fisher. with only
II men, was stationed back of the
castle in one of the side streets, While
the rest of the command was collect
ing. But a row was precipitated down
town in some way, and the whole plan
was spoiled.
The whole town and the native SOL
diers who held the palace were aware
of the intended attack. AS Colonel
Fisher stood there wondering what to
do. he noticed the guard leave the pal
ace for the scene of the
row down town. This was his
chance, and with his dozen men he
marched in and secured, the batteries
and palace. These batteries are now
stationed in the rear of the palace,
and they are a splendid collection of |
guns of the large size and six of a me-
dunn size. Besides these, there are a (
large number of gatling guns and !
Hotchkiss saluting rifles. AS the guns
are mounted on light carriages, they |
can easily be moved by hand. When |
the Monterey came in today two COM !
panies of native artillerymen ran /
their guns down to the coast and sa
luted here. The supernumerary men, /
who pull the guns, carry carbines, so /
that they can serve as infantry III an |
Colonel Fisher states /
that it is the wish of his life to be call
ed to take six batteries down to Ma
Mia, and prove to Uncle Sam that
native sons will be loyal to
him. This feeling is shared fully as
deeply by the men as by their colonel. |
Tonight one of them came aboard the
Colon and pleaded long and hard to be
allowed to go along with her, and tears
were in his eyes when he was refused.
There are 500 men in the guard, half of
whom are natives. AS they have all
seen considerable service and are eX-
equipped. Uncle Sam will
ind them valuable acquisition to her
Philippine forces.
NATIVES ARE SAD.
Amid the general joy and merry
making there are slight traces of sad
ness. / met one large native tonight
who wore woebegOne expression and,
IN inquiring what he thought of annex
alton, l was informed Instrumentation
could do no good. I'VE natives, said
ne. who have been descendants of ma
ives. and whose blood is pure. can't
lelp feeling bad to see our power go
rom us. What we want is to see the
I'D queen or the princess on the throne
again. We were powerful once, and it
S hard to see our power go from us.
With a native queen, we can live free
md independent, like Americans live,
md be our own rulers. Our embaSSa-
lors tell the congress at Washington
lbout these things, but they won't
listen, simply because our color is red,
md not white. If the pure blooded ma
ives could vote on the question, 1 am
ure they would prefer to have a queen
han be annexed.
But the natives are Indifferent to the
question. 1 am assured by white men,
nd their only objection is the mere re-
ret that they are no longer the pow
rful tribe they once were.
As a parting word to the parents and
riends of the boys, let it be remem- /
,ered that letter from home is the I
most welcome visitor he can receive,
specially if money is enclosed. The
,oys were more than disappointed at ]
ot receiving much mail at this port. !
heir friends in Utah seem to have
bought that they cannot get letters to
hem now All mail addressed care
Utah State Artillery. Philip ;
inc Expedition. will reach them.
RUSSELL, Battery a.
OUR BOYS AT HONOLULU.