The semi-weekly messenger., 1898-08-26

Honolulu, August 12.-Precisely at
minutes to twelve o'clock today the
Hawaiian flag descended from the
fagstaffs on all the government build
ings and exactly at five minutes to the
same hour the stars and stripes float
ed to the tropical breeze from every
official Flagstaff.
The ceremony of today was a most
impressive one. To hear the strains
of Hawaii Ponoi'' for the last time
as a national anthem; to hear the
bugle blow taps as the Hawaiian en-
sign sank from it's position and to no.
tice the emotion of many who had
been born under it and had lived their
lives under it, was solemn; but then
came the bugle call for the raising of
Old Glory and the strains of Star
Spangled Banner" broke forth as that
banner was unfurled to the breeze.
Then the cheers broke forth and
eyes that had been dim a few min
utes became bright and lightened up
when the Stars and Stripes blew out.
In the grounds and around all the ap-
proaches were crowds of on-lookers of
number of Hawaiians. Within the
grounds the military and naval display
was fine. Hawaiian troops United
States marines, the mounted patrol,
the police and the citizens guard pre-
sented a splendid appearance, while
the platform for the exercises and the
Verandas of the executive building
were gay with brilliant summer
dresses, dancing feathers and ribbons
and the brightest faces that Honolulu
possesses. The uniforms of staff and
naval officers added brightness to the
scene. The weather was fortunately
propitious.
The ceremonies began with the pa
rade of the First national guard of
Hawaii from their drill shed at $50
o'clock. The parade was headed by a
detachment of twenty-six police under
command of Captain Kane and Lieu
tenant Warren. Then came the Ha-
waiian band and the drum corps.
The regiment marched to the boat
landing to escort the troops from the
Philadelphia and Mohican, which were
already drawn up on shore. The United
states forces were commanded by
Lieutenant Commander Stevens and
consisted of one company of marines
and two of blue Jackets from the Phil
adelphla, company of blue jackets
from the MOhican, and an artillery
detachment of two guns and forty-two
men, The naval detachment was head
ed by the fiagship's band. Several hun
dred of the citizens guard preceded
the troops up the main avenue and
took a station on the left of the stand
The United States troops were
stretched across the avenue in double
file, the marines being in front.
On the right of the main steps were
the halyards from which the big Ha-
waiian flag at the tower foated in the
breeze. The detail in charge of these
nalyards and the hauling down of the
Hawaiian flag were Corporal H. F. Kill
boy and Privates O. Winkler and A.
Spillner, of Company F.
The detail of men in charge of the
raising of the American flag was in
command of j. Ward, caxswain of the
admiraps barge. The flag itself was
in charge of G. H. Platt, gunner's mate
of the Philadelphia, and r. Winters,
boatSwain'S mate of the MOhican.
These are the men who actually raised
the Stars and Stripes over Hawaii. The
flag used for the occasion was the
largest sized in the navy, specially
made at Mare Island for the purpose.
AS soon as President Dole and his
cabinet came from the executive build
ing to the platform the justices of the
supreme court followed and then Ad-
miral J. N. Miller and United States
Minister Harold Sewell came down the
stairs, followed by Captain G. H. Wad-
leigh, of the Philadelphia, and S. M.
Book, of the Mohican, and their staff
officers, and Colonel Barber, of the
First New York regiment.
THE CEREMONIES BEGUN.
The ceremonies opened with prayer
by Rev. G. l.. Peterson, pastor of the
or oh Of oif fU
United States Minister Sewell then
rose and, addressing President Dole,
who had risen, presented him with a
certified copy of the joint resolution of
congress anneXing the Hawaiian is
lands to the United States. President
Dole answered, acknowledging the
making of a treaty of political union
and formally yielded to Minister Sc
wall, as the representative of the gov
ernment of the United States. the
sovereignty and public property of the
Hawaiian islands.
Mr.. Sewell replied: Mr.. President:
In the name of the United States ac-
cept the transfer of the sovereignty
and property of the Hawaiian govern
ment. The admiral commanding the
United States naval forces in these wa
ters will proceed to perform the duty
entrusted to him.
The Hawaiian band played Hawaii
Ponoi," the national anthem. Colonel
Fisher gave the order to the national
guard battery, stationed on the ex-
ecutive grounds, in command of Lieu
tenant Ludwig, to fire the national sa-
lutte of twenty-one guns, which was
also repeated by the Philadelphia AS
the echo of the last gun reverberated
in the hills, a bugle sounded and the ma
tional ensign of Hawaii came slowly
down until it reached the ground, new
er to go up again.
There was a short pause and then
the admiral nodded to Lieutenant
Winterhalter who gave the order:
"Colors, roll Off" The fagship's band
struck up the well-known strains of
1.-The Star Spangled Banner" and as
the Stars and Stripes slowly ascended
there was breathless SUSPENSE but as
1T reached the top, cheers broke forth
from the crowds below and salutes of
twenty-one guns were again fired by
y