RECENT   INSURRECTION   IN   THE   HAWAIIAN   ISLANDS.     1393


No. 2. 

Mr. Gresham to Mr. Willis.
No. 54.]								Department of State,
Washington, November 26, 1894.
Sir: I have received your No. 75 of the 10th instant, transmitting a copy of a communication addressed to you on that 
day by the Hawaiian minister for foreign affairs in regard to a supposed filibustering expedition being fitted out at 
San Francisco, and confirming your cipher telegram of the 17th instant, which reads:
Steamer Rosalie or Alexandria reported to be shipping arms at San Francisco against this Government.
On the 19th instant the Hawaiian charge d'affaires called at the Department on my invitation, and in reply to an 
inquiry said he had no information that arms had been or were to be shipped from San Francisco for use against the 
Government of Hawaii. I then handed him your telegram, which he read, and remarked that on the same day he 
received a telegram from his Government via San Francisco, but that it contained no such information. Mr. Hastings 
further remarked that he was familiar with our neutrality laws and that he did not think your telegram required action 
looking to their enforcement.
It does not appear why Mr. Hatch did not communicate to the United States through the Hawaiian legation at 
Washington information in his, possession which he thought tended to show that a filibustering expedition was 
being fitted out at San Francisco against his Government. I am, sir, your obedient servant,
W. Q. Gresham.

No. 3.

Mr. Willis to Mr. Gresham.

[Confidential.]

No. 81.]							Legation of the United States,
Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, January 11, 1895.
Sir: I have this day forwarded, through United States Dispatch. Agent Cooper, the following telegram addressed to 
you:
At Waikiki Beach, 5 miles from executive building, night of January 6, uprising of Hawaiians, reported several 
hundred well supplied with arms and ammunition, commanded by Captain Nowlein and E. W. Wilcox. Hon. C. L. 
Carter, late commissioner, killed first night. Desultory fighting every day since, without further loss of life or 
property to Government. Three Royalists killed and fifty taken prisoners, Over 50 noncombatants, mostly white, 
arrested, including 3 ex-attorney-general and many prominent citizens. Martial law declared January 7. No vessels 
allowed to leave. Other islands reported quiet. Crisis thought to be over, but excitement still intense. President Dole 
expressed to me his gratification that no national ship has been in port during this disturbance. Arms reported to 
have been brought from Vancouver by Norma.
As reported to you in my No. 79 of January 5, there have been for several weeks rumors of revolt, many of which, as 
therein stated. I considered well founded. On the 6th instant the first actual encounter took place.
A squad of Government police (Hawaiian), accompanied by Deputy Marshal Brown, Hon. C. L. Carter, and several 
others, undertook a


F R 94-APP II--88

Return to Top