Hawaii Holomua, Volume II, Number 1, 2 January 1894 — THE STORY OF WILTSE! [ARTICLE]

THE STORY OF WILTSE!

— . I Peeuliai Hallucinaticns oftne Dead Naval OflBcer It is a strango story, that of Capt. Gilbert C. Wiltse and his eonneelion with the hoistiug of the flag at Honolulu last January. It is appropriate to tell it just now, for it shows how uufortunate it waa for cause of annes- . ation that he was in coramaud of the United Statos steamship Boston. Not that he lacked in bravely—the records disprove that; uot that he exceoded or did not eome up to his duty. No, not an aspersion ean be castupon his raemory from any such atandpoint. But the tronble rested in tbe fact that his sayings were x considered as those coming from t a man in full health, both mental j and physical, says the San Fraucisco Chrouicle, whereas such was not the case. No reflections are cast npon the memory of tho dead naval officer by this recital. but perhaps this story, for the r first tirae made pnblic, will show reason whv acis and saying during the last few months of his life should be considered lenientIy Hnd his splendid record, made uutil eighteen months .before, ' servc as the ouly siandard by whieh to judgo him. Gilbert C. Wiltze was born in New York. Nov. 29. 1838 He ? was appcinted from that State to I the Naval Academy Sept. 20, I 1855, and sened the full terra of fonr vears. He serve<i witb dis1 * tinction duriug the war and had a j*orfect record. When the white cruiser Boston stearoed out of New York early in 1891, Capk Wiltse was in eommand. The autumn of that year j saw the beginning of the trouble with Chiii. With other vessels ihe Boston was ordered to proceed soutliward. Stopping at Rio de Janeiro for eoal, they were detained for some time by ' the illness of their commander. * For, one morning as he was s issuing onlers, C*pt. Wiltse fell * to the deck and lay as oue dead. Surgeon Magrt»der diagnosed it s as apoplexy. Days passed and * the invalid hovered between life 7 and death. Fmally the ship sailed and as tho winds ol the ? Soctb Seas fought back the sultiy equator ; al atmasphere * Capt. Wiltse rcgaiued his physi- > eal well beiug. Bat meutally he * was never the same again.

Thedetailsof sh ,»*ib> bothrred him. “Swiabome.” ho w<>nM say to fa»s execat:ve. * attea i to tfaese matters yonrself. wony me,” and be wonld pre-« : fais hand to his head «s if « sharp pain dweit there. So littie by little. the officers took upon themselves the capt*in s daties an d he seemed williug they sbooid do so. From Valpan»iso the Boston ; steamed to Oallao aud then to San pmneiaeo. arriving the latter part of June. 1S9’2. Sbe went \ into dock, anderwent repair and then was ordered to Honolulu. arrlving there in the Fall of that vear.

iLeo eame tbe exciting times d of Jannary, 1803. Minister J. L. Stevens or.;lercii the eom- J mander of tbe Boston to !and his forces, protect life and property of Ameneanaanel b'>*."t tue St:rs ami Stripes ovēr tbe Government baikling. In doing so Captiin Wiltse did bis duty, nothing raore nor less, for hisorders e&me from bis superior officer, tbe j Fresideut s representative at tbo Hawaiian eapi tal. Frora tbe day tbe American flag was boisted Gilbert C. Wiltze becarae a cbanged raan. He becarae nnnaturaliy gay, unnatnrallv commnnicative, and tbe onlv tbing he wonkl talk of w,is bis action in daimiug tbe islands for tbe Luited Sbites. He woukl walk about on sbore. and, pointing to the Stars aud Stripes, wonld say “Look! i put it there and I will keep it thero; no mun will dare to haul it down!” Tbe veteran comraander had becorne a monomaniae ou the snbject of hoisting the flag ftt Houolulo. Stopping a newspaper correspondent on tbe street bo woold say: “We'l, well, what’s new, ; ray boy? Notbing, aye? INell, what ean there be until tbe news , of annevation comes? And by i the way, don t yon tbink a vote ; of tbanks by Cougress will be in order? ’’ So be wonld go about tbe streets, laughing and chatting, perfectly rational .on even r sub- I ject—save one. To new arrivals he would say: “I raised tbat flag. Pretty big tbiug, wasn’t it? , The Ameiiean people know now j tbat the rigbt man was iu the j rigbt plaee, eb? The enrlv uews from home was filled with pr,iise of Steveus’ action, and, of course, Wiltse’s name was mentioned. These : newspapor articles be would read aloud and wind up with, “By | Jove. sir! I raised tbat flag. I dkl it?” There ho stood in front of tbe Hawaiian Hotel and he waved bis arms wildly as he talked. Somo tarned away and smiled; otbers | wbispered: “Why does bo make 1 j sucb an exhibition of himself!’’ i We wondered at the silenca of j the Boston’s officers, but tbeir reticence īs now explained. lu February his tirne was up, bis tbreo years’ service ended and the last of tlie montb be was rolieved by Capt. Day. The Australia was due to sail and friends of annexation crowded the pier. According to the custom of tbe countiy tbe departI ing officer was decorated with | garlands of flowors. On the deck | was stationed the band, and tbe ' glorions strains of “The Star i Spangled Banner” rang ont as • tbe hawsers were loosened. On I deck stood Capt. Wiltse. and ! tears were flowing from his eyes. | To bis distorted imagination he was leaving a scene of conquest ; of victon-; leaving a plaee where be had won immortal fame. There were sad bearts on tbe Boston tbat nigbt. “We will never see the old man again,” said one, and many a glass was raised to wash down that lurap whiek woukl rise in the throat. So tbo Austr.i1ia sailed eastwanl. There were those on board who did uot know Capt. Wiltse save for a f«w days in Honolulu. i To them be was an object of mirtb. He seemed well snd I $trong aud tbey thonght be was only , ‘tnakinga fooI of himself.” j He was an amnsing iustmment j to while away a tedioos sea ; J voyage yri th, a«d tbey twanged j tfae oue string tfaat answered their , : touch; they faarped npon tbe flag ; | incident.

•• D » v > i tb.«»k ■ a ban 1 it ’■ 1 •’ , • A huul’ exc{al<MK|B« ® q r»*stic»aed. < l * ■ H i Wby, man ;tl \e. 1 , have done. There R i ■ ooarae of pwple . sion and feasting. f u Congress wlll be there.^^^9 Ami so he arrived at | | cisco. Here he receit<B first blow. His dreains , > naaght. Slow!y he left »1 sh*P|( r | and went to a hotel. • t 1 they 'will snrprise me

ington,” he said to a friel9k He went East. Frorni||opi£*r Hawaii he was shifted to*lt ington on a’ cloud, day. From a country whi*e I ' cleed had been raagnifie|| 5 •' false praise bestowet.l «P 0 ! he entered the eapiUl of th«| United States. The Administration had jnst enterv upon its term aud a cold shoahk.r was tnrned to\vard aunexation. Capt. Wiltsec.dledatthe hik House aud was refused adu»itlanee. He went to the N»vy Departmout and there was eeosured. The next day o uue tbe news that the ti.«g had been baoled down at Honolulu. Forty-eight hours later be die* ; - ‘A stroke of apoplexy,” tbe doctor said.