The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-08
SAIL OR RIOT
IN OLD. DAYS
"Reminiscences Of the late Marshal
w c. Parkel

ing into Honolulu fairly loaded down
with oil and bone; every barrel and
container that could be used WAS full
| the decks We're even being used for
storing bone. AS the fleet at this time
numbered some two hundred vessels.
| the harbor was completely filled with
them, they being moored in two lines
| so. close to each other that it was said
one could walk from one vessel to the
Iother all the way from the water front
| to the entrance Of the harbor Only a
narrow passage-way was left between
the two lines, to enable the vessels to
put to sea. The crews numbered over
three thousand men, composed of diff
ferent nationalities, many of them be-
ing hard characters. When ashore in
large bodies it was difficult to keep
them in order, as the native police were
not always to be depended on, and the
number of resident foreigners subject
to be called upon for assistance was
not large.
Naturally, with SO large number
of sailors in the town, there was more
or less drunkenness, fast riding, and
quarrels. 1t did not take much TO cause
a disturbance or riot, as there was a
good deal of bad feeling between the
sailors and police; and In such an
event the former, as matter of
COURSE. WOulu dill SldliQ ny OuG dHOIU6T.
On the evening of the 9Th of Novem-
Der, sailor manner Burns, of the ship
Emerald was arrested FOR drunken
ness and disorderly conduct, and lock-
ed up in one of the cells in the Fort,
in which there were already some eight
or ten disturbers, as all the other
lock-ups were full. During the night,
Burns, who was crazy drunk, tore up
the bricks in the floor of the cell, and
- IL
jailor, George Sherman, who was Just
on the point of leaving the Fort, hear
ing this noises or Tow as he called
it, went to the door and called out to
Burns and the others to STOP AS they
paid no attention to him, he opened
the door and stepped in. The cell was
pitch dark, and fearing the men might
set on him, he swung his club or cane
from one side to the other; in doing SO
he struck Burns in the temple, the
blow, together with his drunkenness,
causing his death in three or four
hours. l was not informed of this oc-
currence until the next morning, when
1 Immediately summoned a coroner's
jury to inquire intosthe cause of Burns.
death, who brought in the following
verdict:
We, the undersigned, summoned by
the marshal of Honolulu to hold an
inquest upon the body Of Henry Burns,
seaman, and to decide upon the prob
able cause of his death, have all agreed
after due reflection upon the state
ments of the witnesses produced, that
Henry Burns death was caused by a
blow, inflicted with club in the hands
of constable George Sherman, on the
evening of November Sth. We believe
that the blow was not given with mall
ice aforethought, but rather from cow
ardice in quelling the disturbance,
which was the cause of his visit to the
cell where Burns and others were con-
fined.
julius A. Anthem, foreman; John c..
Buttons. James K. Turner, Thomas
Spencer, G. S. Barlow, J. B. Cleveland
H. Smith, Benjamin CIough, A. C. Ed
wards.
Honolulu, November 9, 1852
While the jury was hearing the evil
dence, the news that Burns had been
killed by constable was spread
among the sailors and caused good
deal of talk Many of them assembled
about the Fort, until there was quite
a crowd. They demanded that Sher-
man should be given up to them; but
informed them that this could not
be done; that the man would be tried
by the courts of the country, and that
they need not fear but that Justice
would be melted out to him. The sail
ors were not at all satisfied with this
statement, and the excitement over
Burns death, together with their de-
sire to avenge themselves on Sherman
increased hourly. plainly saw that
this state of feeling and excitement
among the sailors might lead to a Sc
rious disturbance, unless decisive ac-
ton were Immediately taken to dis
perse the crowd then and there.
therefore ordered all the soldiers and
constables in the Fort under arms,
picked out seventy-five of the best men
with the purpose of going out and dis
persing the crowd, thereby preventing
any further opportunity OF trouble. L
was just on the point of marching out
with my men, when I received an order
from the government. through Cover
nor kekuanaoa, to remain within the
Fort, but if the sailors attacked it or
tried to break in the gates, I was to
nre. The government was in hopes
that the excitement would be uuieted
without any demonstration or resort to
force; perhaps it was right in taking
this view, but I believe if 1 had been
allowed to carry out my intention. the
trouble would have been checked In
the bud. / was disappointed in being
Obliged to remain inactive, but of
course it was necessary to obey nv
oruerS. l therefore took measures to
secure the Fort from attack; a strong
guard was placed on duty, and two
feld-pieces loaded with grape and can
lister We're trained on the gate, SO that
II the crowd had attempted to force 1t
| think they would not have gone very
FAR into the Fort. The men hung
around all day, but did not make any
attack, as | think they had an idea
that they would get the worst of it if
they did so; some of their captains and
officers. although they did not actually
encourage the men in their acts. did
not attempt to dissuade them. On the
following day, in the afternoon. Burns
was buried in Nuuanu Valley, a large
number of the sailors attending.
On the same day, about S o'clock a
number of the sailors got the idea thai
some OF their fellow-seamen who were
n the United States Hospital build
ng which stood just below the present
British Club premises on Alakea street
Under the charge of Mr.. John Laid
we're being ill-treated. For some reason
Inc sailors had a grudge against Mr..
Ladd; they therefore set out for the
hospital with the intention of rescuine
heir comrades and getting square with
aim As there had been rumors of |
their coming, together with threats of |
injury to him Mr. TodS ~ |