The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-04-20
CALLS
ON WIRELESS
''Hello, B. P; report Boston off Mo.
okai. Best regards to Cross

lokai. Best regards to Cross
The "B. p" or Barber's Point
wireless telegraph station of the local
company received the above message
from the L. S. cruiser Boston about t
o'clock yesterday afternoon. That was
of the approach of the warship on
her trip from San Francisco to this
port. About 1 o'clock, however, the
operator at Lahaina, Maui, became
aware that an ouside wireless outfit
was butting in on the local system,
and then came distinctly the words,
"Report Boston, The message was
for Honolulu.
About O'Clock yesterday afternoon
Captain Niblack of the Naval Station
received wireless message from the
Boston announcing she was off Molo-
kai and would be in during the even
ing The Boston, however. will not
arrive in port until this morning.
The Boston's presence here in '93
forms an interesting page in Hawaii S
history, and the beginning of the story
dates back to the time when the legis-
lative session of 1892 was protracted
to eight months by persistent struggles
between the opposing parties, during
which four changes of ministry took
place. During the last week of the
session, says Prof. Alexander, in his
history of Hawaii, bill granting
franchise to establish a lottery was
passed, as well as an act licensing the
sale of opium.
Meanwhile the queen had caused
new constitution to be privately drawn
up, by which the principal checks on
the power of the crown We're to be re-
moved. Only Hawaiian subjects were
TO be allowed to vote.
Preparations had been made to pro-
claim the constitution at the palace
on the Nth, shortly after the ceremony
of propagation. in the presence of the
Legislature, the chief officers of state
and the diplomatic corps. The gov
eminent troops were drawn up under
arms, and large crowd of sympa-
thizers with the project assembled in
and around the palace. However, the
cabinet refused to sign the document,
and appealed to the leading citizens for
advice and support. After a long and
exciting contest with her cabinet, the
queen partially yielded, and made a
speech to the assemblage, stating that
with deep regret she had consented to
postpone for a few days the execution
of her design.
Meanwhile an informal meeting of
residents was held to consider the sit
at which a Committee of Safe |
ty was appointed. The committee call
ed mass meeting, which met on the |
afternoon of the 10th.
The .. S. S. Boston. which had un.
expectedly arrived from Hilo on the
14th, landed force on the evening of
the 10th, to protect the lives and prop
erty of American citizens in case of
riot and incendiarism. On the next
day, the 18th, the organization of the
Provisional Government was completed. |
By the advice of her ministers the
queen surrendered her authority under /
protest, to avoid bloodshed, in view of |
the landing of United States troops,
to the government of the ,
United States to reinstate her in au-
thority.
The Advertiser of January II, 1893,
says:
"About o'clock in the afternoon,
the L. >. >. Boston landed about three
hundred men. Each man had two belts
IF cartridges about his waist, and was
armed with rifle. The men marched
Up to the Office of the Consul General,
where halt was made. The marines
we're detached and sent to the Ameri-
IAN legation on Nuuanu avenue, while
he sailors marched out on Merchant
street with two Calling guns and made
/ halt in front of J. \. Hopper's resi-
lence. About shutdown they moved to
he grounds of Mr.. J. B. Atherton,
md after a stay of several hours Te
urned to Arion hall, where they camp
ID over night
Captain Wiltsze was in command of
he Boston at the time. The Arlington
Hotel premises, now the park opposite
he Young Hotel, was used as camp
ng ground by the troops.
Captain Niblack received another
wireless message about o'clock last
vening to the effect that the Boston
would not reach port until this morn
ng, and would come in on the early
ide, unless Captain Niblack had other
lans for the disposition of the vessel
The warship will, however. be brought
nto the harbor and moored at one of
he naval docks. Another message also
sked when the next mail would leave
honolulu for the coast.