John Stevens, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, on “January 4 took passage for Hilo and the volcano on the U. S. S. Boston for the benefit of the health of himself and of his daughter …”
“… it being also desirable that the town of the second importance in the islands should have this attention at the time the Boston was making a visit to Hawaii, the chief island in the group.” (Stevens to Foster, Jan 18, 1893)
“The USS Boston arrived on Thursday morning with the American Minister, His Ex John L Stevens and daughter on board. As party is composed of Mr Stevens, daughter, and a number of officers of the vessel left on Friday morning for the volcano for a visit of three or four days.” (PCA, Jan 12, 1893)
“While many are familiar with the public tragedy of the overthrow of Queen Lili’uokalani, far fewer know of the private, personal misfortune that affected the fami[y] … of the key United States participants in the events of January 17, 1893.”
“The public actions of John Leavitt Stevens, American minister… especially during the establishment of a U.S. Protectorate over the Provisional Government, helped assure the success of the revolution that toppled the Kingdom of Hawai’i.” (Kam)
“Amidst the national turmoil, personal calamity would strike the American minister less than two weeks after the overthrow.”
“On January 30, 1893, Grace Louise Stevens, the thirty-seven-year-old daughter of John L. Stevens, and Mary Lowell Stevens (née Smith), drowned off Kūka‘iau Landing at Hāmākua, Hawai’i, while trying to board an inter-island steamer to return to O’ahu.” (Kam)
“Miss Stevens had during January visited the Volcano with her father”. John Stevens returned to Honolulu on January 14; Grace remained behind for a period of rest and “to visit friends in the beautiful district of Hamakua.”
“Hearing of the revolution in Honolulu, and of her father’s need of her wonted aid as his private secretary, she hastened to his help, heroically encountering the somewhat perilous, yet rarely disastrous transit from the precipice to the ship, in order to expedite her coming.”
“On the night when the terrible blow fell upon his household, the Minister was deeply engrossed in preparing for the morning’s mail his final despatches to his government respecting the revolution, and the raising of the American flag to take place the next morning by heroic effort of will, grief was postponed for duty, and the dispatches were completed.” (The Friend, March 1893)
Kūka‘iau Landing “consists of a twenty-ton derrick on a staging 20 feet above water at the foot of the bluff, and an incline cable railway to a second landing 195 feet above the sea.”
“This incline cable railway is on a 52 degree uniform slope, and consists of double tracks with 2 cars or car elevators, the top of which are tracked, connected by cable-one going up while the other goes down; the derrick and cable railway being operated by steam.”
“About 1,500 to 2,000 tons of merchandise, and about 100,000 feet of lumber per year are handled over this landing besides the sugar output of Kukaiau. This landing is seldom used for mail or passengers ….”
“About three Inter-Island steamers call at this landing each month at irregular intervals, the sugar being shipped to Honolulu.” (1910 ‘Report of the Commission Appointed to Investigate Private Wharves and Landings.’)
Grace “had been safely lowered into the boat of the Kinau, which had also pushed out towards the ship, but owing to a misunderstanding turned back. A heavy roller capsized the boat, which was shattered upon the rocks.”
“The native mate, a powerful man, seized Miss Stevens, but a second roller tore her from his grasp and hung her against the rocks. A second boat came in and rescued the live natives, who were good swimmers, and recovered the body of the unfortunate lady.” (The Friend, March 1893)
Following the incident, Stevens, “the other day presented the native boat steerer [Kumahoa] of the SS Kinau who heroically tried to save the late Miss Stevens, with a purse of $100. The Wilder’s SS Co also showed their appreciation of the noble conduct of their faithful employee by presenting him with $50.: (Hawaiian Gazette, Feb 21, 1893)
An investigation of Grace’s death by Deputy Sheriff George H. Williams included the facts that “the landing was ‘somewhat’ rough, but not dangerously so, if the boat contained a smart crew” and that “Mrs. Albert Horner was informed by Telephone that the party or parties using the landing would take their own chances.”
The testimony of Robert Horner, assistant manager of the landing, noted that the last time his father arrived at the landing it “was considerably rougher, and yet considered safe for landing.” (Kam)
“The funeral of Miss Grace Stevens, eldest daughter of Hon. J.L. Stevens, U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary, was attended at 4 p.m. yesterday at her parents’ residence in Nuuanu avenue.”
“There was a large gathering of ladies among whom Miss Stevens’ social gifts and graces had won for her a large share of affection and respect. …”
“Many were the heart felt expressions of sympathy for the bereaved family, and in fact the whole community is touched with a fellow-feeling of sorrow at the sudden death of one who had so graciously sustained the social amenities of her position in the American Ministers household.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, Feb 3, 1893)
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