“In the morning of the 7th of May (1792,) the Dædalus (a supply ship to Vancouver’s expedition) arrived in that bay where the Resolution and Discovery had anchored in 1779, but Mr Hergest declined anchoring there, as he considered the inhabitants of that neighbourhood to be the most savage and deceitful of any amongst those islands.”
“For this reason he lay to, and purchased from the natives some hogs, vegetables, and a few gourds of water. In the evening he stood off shore, and desired that the inhabitants would bring a farther supply of water and refreshments the next morning …”
“… but it falling calm, and the current setting the ship to the westward, it was near noon on the nth before they regained the shore, when Mr Hergest receded from his former wise determination, and, unhappily for himself and those who fell with him, ordered the ship to be anchored.”
“The cutter was hoisted out and veered astern for the better convenience of purchasing water from the natives, but before three casks were filled, which was soon done, he ordered the cutter alongside, the full casks to be taken out and replaced by empty ones …”
“… and then, accompanied as usual by Mr Gooch, he went on shore, and another boat was hoisted out for the purpose of obtaining water, while those on board continued making purchases until near dusk.”
“At this time the cutter returned with only five persons instead of the eight who had gone on shore in her, from whom was learned the distressing intelligence that Mr Hergest and Mr Gooch, and two of the boat’s crew, having landed, unarmed with two of the water-casks to fill …”
“… their defenceless situation was perceived by the natives, who immediately attacked them, killed one of the people, and carried off the commander (Hergest) and the astronomer (Gooch.)”
“The other, being a very stout active man, made his escape through a great number of these savages, fled to the boat, and with two others landed again with two muskets, and with the intention to rescue their officers and to recover the body of their messmate. “
“They soon perceived that both Mr Hergest and Mr Gooch were yet alive amongst a vast concourse of the inhabitants, who were stripping them and forcing them up the hills behind the village: they endeavoured to get near the multitude …”
“… but were so assailed by stones from the crowd, who had now gained the surrounding hills, that they were under the painful necessity of retiring -, and as night was fast approaching, they thought it most advisable to return on board, that more effectual means might be resorted to on this unfortunate occasion.”
“Mr New immediately assembled all the officers, to consult with them what was best to be done. It was agreed to stand off and on with the ship during the night, and in the morning to send the cutter well manned and armed on shore, and if possible to recover their unfortunate commander and shipmates.”
“An old chief belonging to Attowai, who had been on board since the Dædalus entered the Bay, and had been promised by Mr Hergest a passage to his native island, went also in the boat, to assist as an interpreter, and to employ his good offices. He was first landed, and went towards the natives, of whom he demanded the absent gentlemen …”
“… on which he was informed they were both killed the preceding night. Having delivered this message, he was sent back to demand their bodies; but was told in reply, that they had both been cut in pieces, and divided amongst seven different chiefs; at least it was fa understood by those in the boat from the language and signs which the chief made use of.”
“After this conversation the savages came in great numbers towards the sea side, and threw stones at the party in the boat, who fired several times and at length obliged them to retire. Finding their errand to be completely fruitless, the boat returned on board, in which the old chief re-embarked, and the vessel bore away …”
“… they filled their sails, and having then no business at Attowai, they made the best of their way towards Nootka, agreeably to my directions.” (Vancouver)
In the spring of 1793 Vancouver returned from the coast of America to Hawai‘i …
“On the 18th March Vancouver left Lahaina with Kamohomoho on board. After examining the southern and western shores of Molokai, he anchored off Waikiki, Oahu, on the 20th March 1793.”
“The main object of Vancouver’s visit to Waikiki was to see that the remaining murderers of the officers and man of the ‘Dædalus’ were apprehended and punished. Kamohomoho, who had accompanied Vancouver as high commissioner from Kahekili to attend to this business, secured the apprehension of three natives, who were brought on board the ‘Discovery’ for trial.”
“A native – whom Vancouver calls Tohoobooarto, who had been a voyage to China with some of the foreign traders, who spoke a little English, and who said he had visited the ‘Dædalus’ in Waimea Bay, and went ashore in the same boat as Lieutenant Hergest after dissuading him from landing – was the principal witness who identified the prisoners to Kamohomoho, by whose orders they were apprehended.”
“A Mr Dobson, who had been midshipman of the ‘Dædalus’ on the occasion, identified one of the prisoners as having been very turbulent and insolent on board of the ‘Dædalus’ before Lieutenant Hergest went ashore, and who immediately followed him thither …”
“… and whom the crew of the ‘Dædalus,’ after the occurrence, accused of having been the ringleader or principal actor in the murders committed on shore.”
“Adding to this the general belief of the chiefs present that the prisoners were concerned in and guilty of the crime they stood accused of – an opinion confirmed by Kalanikūpule himself, who, however, pleaded sickness as an excuse for not attending the trial – Vancouver considered himself justified in sanctioning their conviction and punishment.”
“The three prisoners denied their guilt, and stoutly asserted their ignorance of the whole occurrence. ‘This very assertion,’ Vancouver thinks, ‘amounted almost to self-conviction …”
“… as it is not easy to believe that the execution of their comrades by Titeeree’s orders for the same offence with which they had been charged had not come to their knowledge, or that it could have escaped their recollection.’”
“On the 2nd March the prisoners were placed in a double canoe alongside of the ‘Discovery,’ and, in sight of the shore and of numbers afloat in their canoes, were publicly executed, a chief, whom Vancouver calls Tennavee, shooting each one of them with a pistol.”
“It is very probable that the three first natives who were punished with death by the order of Kahekili for the murder of the ‘Dædalus’ people were more or less concerned in the affair …”
“… and that when Kahekili learned from the foreigners residing with him that such an outrage on an English national vessel would surely, sooner or later, meet with condign punishment and prove highly injurious to himself, he then ordered the execution of the three first offenders as an expiation, and to put himself right on the record, as it were.”
“And it is equally probable – their protestations to the contrary notwithstanding – that the three last offenders, who were executed in the presence of Vancouver, were also implicated in the murder.”
“But we have the positive declaration of SM Kamakau, who in after-life conversed with one of the parties participating in the murder, that Koi, the head and instigator of the whole affair, and his immediate subordinates, were neither apprehended, punished, nor even molested …”
“… and that the parties executed were criminals of other offences, who, their lives having been forfeited under the laws and customs of the country, were imposed upon Vancouver as the guilty parties in the ‘Dædalus’ affair.” (Fornander)
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