The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-07-30
HISTORICAL
DATE THIS
Seventeen Years Ago
Since the Wilcox
Uprising.

Today is the 18th anniversary of the
Wilcox uprising, in which seven Ha-
waiian insurrectionists were killed and
were Robert Boyd and George Mark
ham. lieutenants of Wilcox. All of the
police on the route of the rebels, from
Falama to the palace, We're captured
by Wilcox save one. This fellow raf
to the station and reported the move
ment to Captain Larsen, who in turn
notified Marshal J. H. Soper. This was
between and 8 a. m.
Wilcox's drilled men numbered so OIL
100, but natives joined them at the
palace to bring the number entering
the grounds up to anywhere from Isl
to 200. Estimates of the time differed
Col. V. V. Ashford was able TO muster
the Honolulu Rifles, the white volun-
teer militia for some time previous
dormant, to fairly good strength by
a. m. He was vigorously aided In
handing the troops by Major H. F
Hebbard. Sharpshooters, including
some very prominent men, occupied
the Opera House, from which the first
fire was exchanged with the rebels
The top of the Government building
now the judiciary building, also Ka-
waiahao church tower and the roofs
of houses, were similarly invested and
before noon the rebels were effectually
trapped in Iolani palace grounds. then
surrounded by an eight-foot-high coral
wall
Comparatively mere handful OF
been taken prisoners in attempting to
get over the wall, or killed and wound
ed by the sharpshooters-were huddled
up in the Queens bungalow at dusk,
fearful fire then being poured into
that structure from all sides. They
We're in this situation when a couple
of improvised hand grenades, thrown
from Richards street by the champion
baseball thrower of the town, exploded
with fearful detonations at intervals
of few seconds against the bunga-
low. Immediately a white sheet was
displayed from the building in token
of surrender. An order to cease firing
passed around the Gordon of Govern
ment forces. Wilcox and the remnant
of his band were marched under
strong guard to the police station.
AT the very opening of the fight the
rebels fired two or three shots from
the Austrian field pieces at the Opera
House. The charges of grape were
overshot, causing a shower of lead in
the harbor at the marine railway.
round shot, however, went through the
front of the building and lodged close
to the proscenium arch a few feet
above the stage inside. Rifle bullets
quickly stopped service Of the guns.
1t was while firing the field pieces that
George Markham was hit in the Shout
der and put out of the game and Rob-
ert Boyd received a scalp wound.
Captain Robert Parker of the House
hold Guards, now captain of police,
within the palace enclosure
and refused to admit Wilcox to the
palace. For his action in this respect
Captain Parker was presented with a |
silver cup by the late Theo. H. |
Davies The native soldiers retreated |
1t the outset to the barracks over the |
way, but some of them showed the
'ebels where the breech-blocks of the !
cannon were kept.
King Kalakaua also retreated to his |
penthouse, where he had men erecting |
barbados during the day. A |
lay or two later he wrote to Hon. S.
Il. Damon. Minister of Finance, deny
ng a report that he was privy to the
Uprising. Another report was that
Wilcox intended to have Kalakaua de-
'osed in favor of Princess Liliuoka-
AMI his sister and the heir apparent.
he general heller, however. which
violence at the trial of the rioters for
reason sustained, was that the object
7as to restore tn kings prerogatives
f which he had been deprived in the
evolution of 1887. At the same time
he kings disclaimer to Mr.. Damon
AIRED badly, for the verdict of &C
Initial in favor of Wilcox and those
led with him was practically direct
by the court. it's charge to the jury
lstructing them that treason was an
ffense against the king and. the evil
ence showing that the king had been .
)nsulted in advance about the upris- :
,o the defendants could NOT Justly |