THE RIOT AT HONOLULU.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 154, 31 March 1874, Page 2

THE RIOT AT HONOLULU.

THREE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES KILLED. THE KING’S ELECTION DECLARED VOID. (by an eye-witness.) Our informant, who is a thoroughly reliable gentleman, and one who has long lived in Honolulu, supplies us (New Zealand Herald) with the following account of the fracas :— On the occasion of the present election, he says, the largest assemblage of natives ever witnessed in Honolulu crowded the town, and considerable excitement had been prevalent, owing to the belief which obtained currency that the “people’s choice,”’ Queen Emma, was through some political manoeuvring of the representatives, in whose hands the selection of a successor to King Lunalilo lay, was to be put aside in favor of the Hon. D. Kalakama. Prior to the election taking place there had been considerable haranguing by politicians on the subject, but only those who spoke in favor of Queen Emma elicited both the smpathy and applause of the attendants, European and native. Immediately the result of the ballot was made known, viz., that the Hon. D. Kalakama had been chosen successor to King Lunalilo, a rush was made by the mob for the door of the Council Chamber. On the right-hand side of the building a staircase is situated on the outside, after the American style, and up this one party of Kanakas rushed pellmell, whilst another lot made for the front door. Having no heavy weapons they were unable to make any impression on the door: but the rioters upstairs, gaining admission to the - several rooms, made short work of their contents. Systematically they threw out everything they could lay their hands on—lounges, chairs, tables, books, glassware, &c., Ac., and as fast as these were thrown into the court-yard, those below slightly disfigured them by rather roughly taking them to pieces with the assistance of stones, &c. A rush was made for the justice’s room. With the assistance of an old shovel and the heavier remnants of furniture, they succeeded in forcing a door open. The fittings of this room—desks, books, shelves, chairs, legal literature and fixings, papers, &c., were thrown out, smashed up, and torn to pieces. All this was executed coolly and systematically.

A little later one of the representatives was seen making his way down stairs from the building, but as he was crossing the court-yard twenty or thirty of the mob came upon him. They were armed with legs of chairs, sofas, &c., and amidst the shouts of the mob, they pounded their victim and left him almost lifeless, but without any chance of his recovery. He was battered frightfully about the head and face, and could scarcely hai e hail a whole bone left in his body. A few minutes later another member of the House, attempted his escape. He hod only succeeded in getting away a few yards, when the inob observed him and made for him. One blow on the head stunned and felled him, and twenty or thirty others left him also lifeless. After despatching the second representative, the mob once again made for the stairs, and rushing up, the first men caught a third member at the head of the stairs, who whs in the act of attempting to leave the building. Tliis poor fellow received the most frightful treatment of the lot. He was “ pounded almost to a jelly,” amidst the yells of the mob, and left lifeless. The next thing our informant observed was the appearance on the balcony of one of the whites connected with the Government. He briefly addressed those present, advising them to disperse, and assured them that the present election having been illegal, another one would take place, when Queen Emma would have another opportunity of being proposed for election to the throne. This short speech was received with cheers, and from that moment the excitement began to calm down. Soon after this, the American marines made their appearance, and were allowed by the Kanakas quietly to take possession of the building. A few minutes later the British marines were seen marching up with fixed bayonets. The marines were drawn up in front of the building, and a few minutes later a detachment of British “ blues,” armed with revolvers and cutlasses, appeared on the scene. They were likewise cheered by the crowds. It was generally understood in the Island that if Emma was not elected, a disturbance would occur. The Government looked forward to such nn occurrence, inasmuch as special police were told off for the duty of preserving order. These, however, evidently played the Government false in siding with the rioters. Hud not the marines coine to the rescue, and the Government informed the rioters that the election just concluded was null and void, the mob would probably have fired the building, and the end would certainly have been more serious than that narrated.

It will doubtless be recollected by some of our readers that Kalakama contested the throne with Lunalilo, and then only obtained one vote.