HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS.	591
As a result of the conference, there was then and there prepared the protest which has been cited.
The time occupied in this conference is indicated in the following language by Mr. Damon:
We went over (to the Palace) between 4 and 5 and remained until 6 discussing the situation.
Mr. Damon and the cabinet returned to the Provisional Government, presented the protest, and President Dole 
indorsed on the same:
Received by the hands of the late cabinet this 17th day of January, A. D. 1893.
SANFORD B. DOLE,
Chairman of the Executive Council of Provisional Government.
After this protest the Queen ordered the delivery -up of the station house, where was an important portion of the 
military forces, and the barracks, where was another force.
The statements of many witnesses at the station house and at the conference with the Queen, that the reply of Mr. 
Stevens to the cabinet on the subject of recognition had been received when Mr. Damon and Mr. Bolte called there, 
and also the statements at the conference with the Queen that the recognition had taken place, are not contradicted 
by Mr. Damon; but when inquired of touching these matters, he uses such expressions as " I can not remember. It 
might have been so."
Mr. Damon says that he is under the impression that he knew when he went to this conference with the Queen that 
the recognition had taken place.
Mr. Bolte, another member of the Provisional Government, in a formal statement made and certified to by him, shows 
very much confusion of memory, but says: " I can not say what time in the day Mr. Stevens sent his recognition." He 
thinks it was after sunset.
Mr. Henry Waterhouse, another member of the Provisional Government, says: "We had taken possession of the 
barracks and station house before the recognition took place."
It will be observed that I have taken the communication of the Queen's ministers and the memorandum of Mr. 
Stevens as to his reply and the time thereof, to wit: "Not far from 5 p. m. I did not think to look at my watch."
This information was then transmitted to the station house, a distance of two-thirds of a mile, and before the arrival 
of Messrs. Damon and Bolte. This fact is supported by nine persons present at the interview with Mr. Damon and Mr. 
Bolte. Then another period of time intervenes between the departure of Mr. Damon and the cabinet, passing over a 
distance of one-third of a mile to the Government building. Then some further time is consumed in a conference with the 
Provisional Government before the departure of Mr. Damon and the cabinet to the palace, where was the Queen. The 
testimony of all persons present proves that the recognition by Mr. Stevens had then taken place. Subsequent to the 
signing of the protest occurred the turning over of the military to the Provisional Government.
Inquiry as to the credibility of all these witnesses satisfies me as to their character for veracity, save one person, 
Mr. Colburn. He is a merchant, and it is said he makes misstatements in business transactions. No man can 
reasonably doubt the truth of the statements of the witnesses that Mr. Stevens had recognized the Provisional Govern-
ment before Messrs. Damon and Bolte went to the station house.
.Recurring to Mr. Stevens's statement as to the time of his reply to the

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