Affidavits of John A. Cummins and W. T. Seward.
No 4.
Hawaiian Islands, Island of Oahu, City of Honolulu, ss:
On this 19th day of June, A. D. 1893, personally appeared before me John A. Cummins and Major W. T. Seward, who being by me duly sworn, deposed and said, that on Saturday, the 14th day of January, A. D. 1893, the city of Honolulu was perfectly quiet, there being nothing unusual and no signs of disturbance; that on Monday, the 16th day of [Page 635] said month of January, a small faction of foreign residents called a meeting in the Rifles Armory, on Beretania street, at 2 o’clock p.m., which was attended by from six to seven hundred persons, a large proportion of whom were neither voters nor taxpayers; that at the same hour a mass meeting attended by about twenty-five hundred persons (mostly Hawaiians) was held in Palace square, at which resolutions were unanimously passed and ordered to be presented to Her Majesty the Queen assuring her of the loyalty and cordial support and sympathy of her people; that both of said meetings were orderly, and no sign or threat of disorder was seen or heard anywhere throughout the city; that, at about five o’clock on the same afternoon, a strong force was landed from the U. S. S. Boston and quartered on property belonging to an Englishman j that no portion of the force landed was assigned to the protection of either American lives or property; that said forces were camped in virtual possession of the Government building, within less than one hundred yards of the front entrance of said building; that the landing of the American forces was a matter of great surprise to the public generally; that a band concert was held at the Hawaiian Hotel at eight o’clock in the evening which was very largely attended by the general public, men, women, and children turning out in large numbers to enjoy the music, as it was a beautiful moonlight evening; that no disturbance or breach of the peace occurred at any time now under consideration, except the shooting of a policeman while in the discharge of his duty at Hall’s corner by a man in the employ of the conspirators; that said policeman was endeavoring, in accordance with orders, to prevent the transportation of arms from Hall & Son’s store to the armory on Beretania street, and was unarmed; that the Provisional Government did not issue their proclamation till after they had consulted with both Minister Stevens and Captain Wiltse.
- J. A. Cummins,
- W. T. Seward,
[seal.]
Notary Public, Island of Oahu.