DAN O’CONNEL’S SELL.

A Clever Hoax in the Interests of an Increase of the Hawaiian Army.

The San Francisco Alta of December 15th has a cleaver hoax entitled, “Piracy, Honolulu Captured and Sacked by an armed Force—etc., etc.” It was written by Mr. Daniel O’Connell whilom editor of the Advertiser ; and copies of the hoax were struck off in San Francisco (or else the matter sent here in electrotype blocks) and issued as an extra by the P. C. A. with all possible expedition and a fine parade of “enterp rise.” The hoax is really an ingenious one and caused no little excitement in ‘Frisco. Copies of the Alta sold on the street for 25 cents a copy and were still in brisk demand at the time the steamer sailed. Ex-Mayor Alvord, president of the Bank of California, sought George Macfarlane and asked with some excitement if the story was at all worthy of credence. Mr. Alvord was especially interested because of his friendship for Mr. C. R. Bishop. Our unruffled George (who, of course, was in the secret of it) replied gravely that the story was probably a canard; though not at all impossible.”

The hoax would be merely amusing if is were not for its possibly serious consequences. It is well known that the distinguishing feature of the present reign is a passion for toy-soldiery and for military display. That passion has been encouraged by the administration. There are those who think they see in the recent Alta canard the dextrous yet sinister hand of the “premire.” Stranger things have happened. The essay is in his line ; and Mr. O’Connel’s clever pen has done it cleverest to further the pernicious doctrine that these islands need protection from foreign foes—protection by an increased military force or by such a naval armament as would render a piratical swoop like the one mentioned either a mightily hazardous experiment or sheer madness. But there does’nt seem to be any great danger that the nation has enough two-legged asses within its borders to carry such a scheme to realization —unless Mr. Gibson and King Kalakaua are willing lo mortgage their private estates to set up the costly playthings.

(Saturday Press, 12/27/1884, p. 3)

Saturday Press, Volume V, Number 17, Page 3. December 27, 1884.

THE PIRACY HOAX.

An hour’s sensation was produced, upon the arrival of the Alameda, by an imaginary account, in the Alta California of the date the steamer left, of the capture and sacking of Honolulu, on the afternoon of Dec. 1st, by a pirate vessel’s crew. “Hoax” is stamped upon the face of the article, as it is too circumstantial and exact in details and names for news conveyed orally by the sea captain represented to have informed the Alta. Yet without the following editorial paragraph in tho some issue, the canard might have been tho occasion of cruel anxiety to many people: “The narrative on the first page shows what might be accomplished in tho Hawaiian Kingdom by a small body of desperadoes.” Whether the motive was amusement, profit or political effect, the hoax can hardly fail to have injurious results, of more or less degree and duration, upon Hawaiian securities abroad. It is mischievous as well as absurd to say that tho proceedings described could be accomplished here by “a small body of desperadoes.” Tho work is generally ascribed to Mr. Dan O’Connell, late editor of the Advertiser, an opinion that is strengthened by the issue of an extra with the article, in similar type to the original, from the office of that paper, within an hour after the steamer’s arrival. It is to be feared the author has made the sale of this Government’s bonds abroad more difficult than ever by his practical joke.

[I wonder what the motivation was…]

(Daily Bulletin, 12/23/1884, p. 2)

The Daily Bulletin, Volume VI, Number 901, Page 2. December 23, 1884.