The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-05
GAME-cOCK AND
HER PASSEN GERS

(From "reminiscences Of w. c. Parked
| On Saturday, November Is, 1851, the
ship Game-Cock arrived here from San
Francisco, with Mr.. Samuel Brannan
and twenty-four other gentlemen con-
nected with him.
This party came here with the idea
that his Majesty Kamehameha III was
SO hampered by the missionaries that
he would gladly give up his kingdom
and crown, and retire on an annuity
for life, with his chiefs, who were also
to be provided for.
| This was the reason given by Mr.
Brannan for coming, and the following
plan had been arranged between HIM
self and his friends: Mr.. Branna1a was
to be Governor General of the Islands;
and the lesser offices, such as Governor
of the different islands, were to be ap-
pointed among his party. One was to
be Collector of the Port, another, Com
mander of the Troops, and. SO on. On
| their arrival they moved into the
Bungalow, which stood on Richards
street, on the land now owned by Mr..
| Bolster. This house was built by Mr.
Theodore Shillaber, and was u nand-
some coral stone building, which Mr..
| Brannan purchased at once. N
| The vessel arrived in the morning,
and in the afternoon of the same day
one of the party was arrested for flu
rious riding.
| On being arrested he drew a revolt
yer. but was knocked down by the
constable, his revolver taken from him.
and he was brought to the Fort
In a short time Mr.. Brannan called
on me in regard to this man. L then
told him that the object of his mission
was known, and that he had been
misinformed as to the condition OF
affairs. I also advised Mr.. Brannan to
be careful Of his actions, as he and
the rest of his party were being
watched.
In regard to9the man arrested, I told
Mr.. Brapnan that the carrying of
weapons was prohibited by law. and
that to draw a weapon on an officer
was a serious matter; and further re-
quested him to inform the rest OF the
party Of this law
Matters remained quiet for a few
days. In the meantime I had become
acquainted with some of the party, and
found one of them who for consider
alton would dfvulge' their secrets; SO
was informed from day to day as to
their plans. At the time the party ar
rived here the King was at Lahaina,
consequently they had not been able to
interview him. STA
On the following day I was. told that
committee had been appointed by
them to go to Lahaina, to see the
King. and lay their proposition before
him.
This was on Monday, November "a,
and they were to go on the schooner
Maria. commanded by Captain Hebron
AS soon as I received this information
called on the Ministry and told them
of the proposed plan.
John Ii and Governor Kekuanaoa
were sent for, and it was decided that
should go up and forestall this
committee, armed with two letters-one
from John Young and one from John
II.
/ then made my arrangements, and
from the Fort watched the actions of
the committee. l saw them go down
to the schooner with their gripsacks,
place them on board, and then return
to their house. Seeing that the wind
was from the south, I supposed the
captain had told them he could not
get out. l then went to him and said
that 1T was very important that L
should proceed to Lahaina at once; so
if he would get two whaleboats to tow
the schooner out, would pay all the
expenses of hiring them. He agreed TO
this, and / went on board. He went
in search of the boats, and in ten min
utes we were on our way out of the
harbor. We had good run TO La
haina, arriving at 10 a. M the next
day. u
/ went to the Kings residence ana
delivered my letters, which advised his
Majesty to act as 1 should suggest.
then proposed to him that as the CONF
mfttee would in all probability come
up by the next vessel, that ne should
call out his Huiumanus, and have
them stand guard around his premises
which would prevent any person from
coming into the yard without permiSl
sion, ,-h, -.
I also suggested to- the King that ne
should send for Mr.. G. D. Gilman to
act as Interpreter, in case the commit,
tee arrived, which plan was adopted
After making other necessary arrange
ments, left the same night for Ho-
nolulu.. AS .thes sch Sener came np I'd
the wharf the next day the three COM
mitteemen were ctheEe2 and when they
saw me, they, said sC loudly that 1
could hear them, THAT. damned mar
shall has been to Lahaina, and prevent.
ed our seeing the King They started
however that day for Lana1na. and on
their arrival called ON the King, but
the guard sat the gate refused to allow
them to epter.li They then sent IN their
cards; meanwhile Mr.. Gilman had
been, sent, fer,1 and through him the
King declined to, see. them. u
The commit tee. therefore returned to
Honolulu greatly sdisgusted at the fail
ure of their plan. 4,
At the meeting held that evening.
my informant told me that my name
was mentioned by them in anything
but complimentary terms aIe7
By this time the party saw their
game was up; they also consulted a
number of the residents, who told them
they were on the wrong track
There was at this time a large fleet
of whale-ships in the port, the can
tains and officers of which were not
in very friendly state OF FEELING to-
ward Brannan and his party wing to
the fact that the mailba,e which
came down in the Game-Cock had
been broken open, and all letters to
them destroyed; in consequence Of this
they came very near giving some of
the party a coat of tar and feathers.
A few days after my return from La
haina there was found one morning a
large placard posted on the fence In