SANDWICH ISLANDS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume I, Issue 28, 9 February 1853, Page 3

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

RIOT AT HONOLULU. [From the Polynesion, Nov. 20.] On Wednesday morning last, Henry Burns, & teaman, brought into the fort for drunkenness tho preceding evening, was found dead with his skull fnctured. A great excitement immediately arose, and the rumour spread in all directions that he had been killed by the gaoler. A jury was rapidly summoned by the marshal, but while they wer» sitting, a crowd of teamen on shore on liberty and on duty assembled before the fort, and for the first time— and we sincerely hope the list— was heard in Honolulu the ominous, soul-ippslling cry o/ " The publio demands the murderer t Hand him out I" &c. The jury postponed their rerdlct till next day i meanwhile ev.ry boat that landed from the sbip. ping added freih numbers to the clamorous crowd. Towards evening the interment took pltce, followed ■ by an Immense congregation, of teamen, who, on

their return from the cemetery, commenced parading the itrcetii burning «nd vowing vengeance. Ter* ror and consternation spread through (he city, anil the direst apprehenii on a entertained. The attention of the crowd was at ln«t directed to the police station home. Constable Williams being there in attendance, wai threatened with instant death, and with having the house burnt down over hit head. Not choosing to surrender on such terms, he made a desperate remittance, until the building was fired, and he made hit escipo from the clutches of such would-be redreisors of wrong. The burning; building now became the rallying point of everybody. The fire companies wcro promptly on the apol, and— .trange to tell — many of those who had cheered on tire perpetration of the oufragc, worked alterwaraVwith a hearty good will at ih» brakes of the onc'ine. Tlio building, ho* ever, was entirely destroyed, and the danger to the troweled shipping was imminent, but luckily the wind was light. Next rr.ornlng the coroner's verdlot was made known through a printed address of the American Conwl, which was to the effect that the blow was not given premcdltntcly, butwaiaccidently inflicted by a club In the hand of the police constable; An -appeal to the seamen by Mr. Commissioner Scvornncehnd the good effect of olming down any fuithtr excitement, and the usual quiet pervaded the strectf.