Peshwar Lancers Redux: Kingdom of Hawaii

[chris N]

1878 Prime Minister Walter M Gibson returned to his office on January 2, to catch up on some paperwork. On His desk was a document stating that the Locomotive had been delayed but should be shipped to the island in late January. This was the second delay. The Ministry of Military/Naval Affairs reported that the Armory had acquired the ability to produce ammunition for the Martin Henry Rifles. The Gatling guns had arrived from the US and were being checked out.
Work on several power projects were nearing completion. The Public Health authorities had dealt with a water contamination problem due to run off from a sugar processing plant.
The planting of some Oak trees seemed to be doing well. There had survived so far but experts would not know until some time in the future. The same held true of some pine trees. There the experts, with that the Prime Minister laughed and said aloud- Why do all these people keep referring to themselves as experts and then not want to give a definite answer to my questions- Enough.
With that the Prime Minister looked for the report from the Attorney General but could not find it. He then got up and went to the door and said to his Secretary- Louisa, did the report from the Attorney General come or is he late again?
With that Louisa gave him a look and sighed saying that the Attorney General was away on Vacation and had sent a note before leaving that the report would be late. The Police Commissioner would however, be in his office latter that morning to give him an update.
The Prime Minister thanked her and told her to let him know when the Commissioner arrives.

 

[chris N]

The Observatory Had been completed in Hawaii and the Telescope was in place. Viewing from Hawaii was very good as the Islands lacked the problems of the more industrial work still it was rather a new thing for the Islands and the team of Astronomers was not exactly the best or most well known. Still by the beginning of February they noticed something in the distant sky. At first the so called Scientist were convinced that it was a defect in the telescope so they sent for an expert to come and look at it. That took time and it was nearly April before the person said that the telescope was in perfect order. By that time the object was getting closer but what was it. There was no telegraph connection to the US from Hawaii.

The Hawaiian Government had managed to have laid telegraph lines between the Islands and there was a proposal to lay a line to Midway. But word of the going on in the world continued to be by ships that would deliever news that could be months old. Even a trip between California and Hawaii would take some time.

 

[chris N]

From the Observatory there was some discussion as to what they were seeing. They had an idea that it might mean something but what exactly they were not sure of. They would keep track of it but until they were sure there was no use setting off alarms.

In the meantime Captain William P'ao of the Royal Hawaiian Army had just returned from a 3 month Visit to the United States. There he had had a chance to Met Colonel Hazen,who had been a General during the Civil War and one of General Grants friends. They had spoken much about the War.

 

[chris N]

The Cabinet was meeting and the Prime Minister discussed what would be the legislative agenda for the next session of parliament. The government had been making a lot of progress and he was hoping that the plans to purchase railcars from the US might be completed. The country was still receiving immigrants. Everything appeared to be normal. He wondered if the nation had wasted money on that telescope.
He did read a report that the Minister of Military/Naval Affairs had forwarded to him concerning Captain William P'ao's visit to the US and his meeting with Colonel Hazen.

 

[chris N]

Hawaii had not suffered at all that much but it had little idea as to what was happening in the rest of the world. Almost all information would have to come to it by sea and that could mean months might pass.

The First hints at what had happen came from a whaling ship that came back from the North. despite having been in the warmer climates it had Ice aboard it. Its captain reported that the weather had been great one moment and then it had been a mess. He had immediately headed south. He would be staying in Honolulu until his ship was ready for sea again.
The Next ship that stopped at Honolulu was a ship from Canada. It had a lot more news as the connections with the Canadian Capital was still working. The Devastation to the East Coast was something to horrible to believe. A lot of the East Coast and its population had been wiped out.
The American Capital was gone.

 

[David S Poepoe]

I think you are moving a little too fast and should probably reread the spots in Peshwar Lancers regarding The Fall since it appears, from what I can recall, that the Hawaiians are a little too cognisant of what is going to happen. Also I doubt there would be any 'shaking' in Honolulu from any impact on the other side of the globe.

Shipping with California probably wouldn't be really disrupted until the advent of winter. Actually, there may be an exodus from the West Coast to Hawaii, much as we saw with Britain to India and other portions of the Empire.

 

[chris N]

Hawaii had little indication that anything had happen. The people at the observatory were too inexperienced to know that what they had seen had been asteroids heading toward the Earth.

Ships arrived in Honolulu but everything remained normal. The First unusual event was the arrival of a Whaling ship that had been near Alaska and had been struck with Rain that appeared to be muddy. He returned to Honolulu before planning on returning to Norway.

Then the firsts ship arrived from Canada with news of the disaster.

 

[chris N]

A picture was only slowly being put together of what had happen in North America. The Hawaiian Kingdom had no idea that the Fall had impacted Europe.
Still A decision was reached asking Captain McLean to take his ship and pick up what passengers and cargo there might be in Vancouver .
It was critical that the government of Hawaii find out what was going on there.

 

[chris N]

Captain McLean's arrival in the Canadian Seaport was welcomed by the Canadian authorities. The Canadian government was attempting to evacuate a lot of its population from the east. Although things were not bad one could feel that it was slightly colder than was normal. The Captain was capable of taking both cargo and passengers and there were a number of Canadians that desired to take passage.
The Canadians agreed to sell the Iron and other ores but would like to see payment in food.
Hawaii could provide fruits and Potatoes. so arrangements were made. I would also be sending Sugar.

The Captain did get what detail had come across the telegraph line and information from refugees. He also happen to come across a US Army Engineer that had been in Alaska. Things were not bad but already dust clouds could be seen and the temperature was chilly for summer.
The officer was trying to make it back to the lower 48 states but nothing was heading that way. No trains were heading into the US and only 1 a week was making the trip back east in Canada.
The officer agreed to go to Hawaii and hopefully then make his way back to the US. One thing said the officer winter appeared to be coming early.
Already the weather keeper was reporting that the temperature seemed to be at least 8 degrees below normal and the telegraph had said that a snow fall had stopped traffic from the east.
Several ships were leaving for Australia carrying Canadians.

 

[chris N]

The Voyage to Hawaii was uneventful. The Captain had another Canadian ship with him carrying people and good. As they approached the Island the were greeted by on of the Hawaiian Warships that had just completed a run to Midway.
The Ship docked in Honolulu after a voyage to and from Canada that had lasted nearly a month ( including time spent in Canada).

 

[chris N]

So Far Hawaii had not noticed too much of a difference in maritime traffic to the country. But starting in November there seemed to be a lot more ships stopping at the port of Honolulu from both Canada and the US. Some of the Americans and Canadians had asked to be allowed to settle in Hawaii. Hawaii could take some of them but not everyone that came.
Food products were shipped to Canada. They mainly consisted of fruits,sugar and fish. In return Hawaii was receiving Copper and Iron Ore and coal. The amount of coal shipped was dropping each time as the weather in Canada was cooling .
Captain Mclean believed that the city would still be able to function but authorities were attempting to get all of the refugees out as quick as possible. There were some ships under construction but the cold weather was making things difficult. Even the flow of warm water from the south was not able to battle to changing weather that was bringing ice further south.

 

[chris N]

The Winter of 1878 was quite nasty in Canada. The food that arrived from Hawaii did help but once again the amount of coal that available for export dropped as more of it was needed to keep the people from Freezing. Gradually the train traffic from Eastern Canada came to a halt
as the heavy snow fall blocked the way.
One of the people that the Hawaiians began to deal with was a Mr Donovan who was involved in the Mining community. He wanted to get his people out.
As time passed and the new year began there was no improvements in the weather. The cold continued to hang on and the snow fall continued to creep southward. The only thing that helped prevent the bay from freezing over was the Warm current that flowed up the American coast.

 

[chris N]

Hawaii continued to attempt to maintain contact with Vancouver. But it was lucky if one ship could make it there and back once a month. Each trip brought in supplies for those that remained and took out goods that the islands could use. In addition 350 refugees were taken away each time.Despite the fact that the City had enough food and fuel to last it through the winter the population was desperate to escape the cold.The Police and the Army were attempting to maintain order.
Captain Mclean and his officers carried Pistols at all times and the captain had armed a number of sailors with rifles. Things were desperate.
In March of 1879 spring had come but while the calendar may have said spring the weather continued to feel more like December. Finally in June the weather had warmed enough to allow work to be done on the ships under construction and on mining. Ships from Hawaii and Australia arrived to attempt to carry out more of the population. The population continued to decline. It was hard to believe that the population had gone from 150,000 to 30,000. Nearly 6,000 had died from the cold. With luck it was hoped that by the end of August to have the population down to 5,000. From what little information was available things were bad. Contact with the east had been lost. The Hawaiians had had some contact with the Americans in California.
They had also sent an expedition in the spring up and down the coast. As they approached the most southern parts of Alaska there was nothing but snow and ice. The trip to the south down the Washington Coastline to Oregon was no better. Expeditions inland found little human contact as everyone with sense had fled south.. The Hawaiians did find abandon weapons and salvaged what they could,
The collapse of World order had seen the remergence of Piracy and when an Hawaiian Naval Vessel came into contact with them the result was quick Naval Justice.

 

[chris N]

Hawaiians continued to see a lot of ships visiting it on their way to Australia. The Royal Hawaiian Navy was being kept busy patrolling the Pacific waters. The Cruiser Hawaii made its first visit to American waters with a trip to the coast of Washington and Oregon. It was the first time that the ship had been in American waters since before the fall. There was still a few ships leaving Canadian Waters for the southern Pacific.
Some of the Crew had lived in America before emigrating to Hawaii and becoming citizens and all said that this was not normal. It did not snow in July in the Northern Hemisphere.
The ship could see that there was lots happening in Vancouver. Most of it was trying to finish off ships under construction as people wanted to move where it was warmer. Two ships were being completed for the Hawaiians as payment for food. The SS Tallahassee was in port dropping off food stuff and picking up cargo. It was hard to believe how well the old ship was doing.
The Hawaii was anxious to get out of the cold zone. So they left.
Upon heading back they came across a Norwegian Whaler. that seemed to be having problems.

 

[chris N]

Hawaii The Shock of the Fall had taken the wind out of the Missionary Party's sail. There was no way that the country was going to join the United States when the US was in deep trouble. For the rest of 1878 and the first part of 1879 the islands had remained in contact with California but then it appeared that things didn't seem to be right. The Governor of California appeared to some of the islands agents to be corrupt. Not only that but it appeared that a lot of the goods that Hawaii always ordered could not be provided. The Hawaiian Navy seemed to use Santa Catalina Island as a stop off point. The Island had been uninhabited since the end of the Civil War.

 

[chris N]

The Royal Hawaiian Navy was now quite busy protecting Hawaiian Territory and the shipping lanes to and from Hawaii. There appeared to be ho American or British Warships in the Eastern Pacific. And even in the Western Pacific it was rare in 1879 to run into any British warship. In fact it was more often that they came across a Australian or New Zealand Merchant ship. The Hawaiian gunboat Lanakila was patroling the waters around Naru . It happen upon an Nezealand Ship that was being attacked by a Pirate vessel. It immediately sailed into battle sending the Pirate ship to the bottom. The Vessel was escorted to Naru were it received repairs and medical care.
The islands garrison of 100 soldiers was to be reinforced as the island was considered to be very Important. It was decided by the Hawaiian government to triple the Garrison.
It was also decided that it might be a good idea to contact the Governor General of New Zealand and see about possible co-operation between Hawaiian and the British Empire.
Lt Commander Danny P'ao was to sail with the H (Hawaiian) Majesty's Ship P Malama and escort some ships from Canada to New Zealand. He would then deliver a letter from the Hawaiian Prime Minister to the Governor General Of New Zealand about co-operation.
Below the Governor General.

 

[chris N]

The Prime Minister of Hawaii had also sent an envoy to the Central American Republic. Hawaii was interested in a trade agreement which would allow it to purchase resources that the region had that Hawaii could use. The Republic was caught between two neighbors , who were not considered friendly to the new republic.
Hawaii had some resources that the region could use like munitions. Hawaii had also started production of copies of the Martin Henry rifle and thus had about 2,000 older Enfield Rifles dating from the Civil War period that it could sell.
With a real need for weapons and munitions a deal was quicly reached..
Hawaii was also looking at the possibility of building new ships if it could acquire the resources. It was believed that the region might have the lumber needed to to the work. Hawaii would also produce some ships for the republic to lessen the naval threat.
As a result the Minister of Foreign Affairs from Hawaii was dispatched aboard the H (Hawaiian ) Majesty ship the Hakara Malks I to negioate an agreemwnt with the Central American Rebublic. He was given an escort by a five member detachment of marines. Talks went well and after just two days an agreement was hammered out that was benefical to both sides.

Hawaii was still finding that it had a coal problem. It was not bad at present due to stockpiling and the continuing delievery from Canada but in view of the fact that weather conditions were getting worse over time.

 

[chris N]

March 1880 Office of the Prime Minister Honolulu, Hawaii The Prime Minister was it seemed always reading reports. The event that was now being referred to as the Fall was really causing a lot of problems. Goods and materials that Hawaii could order from the United States or Great Britain were no longer available. The Hawaiian Government had attempted to gain other sources and to an extent they had been successful. The armory was able to produce copies of the Martin Henry rifle used by the military but at a very slow pace of 12-18 rifles a month. The people working there believed production could be stepped up to 30 shortly.

Anyway the Prime Minister had decided to create an office which would shift through all of the information that was piling up and produce a report that would make sense of it all. Every month the report would be presented to the Prime Minister and the those that the Prime Minister choice to add to the list. Hawaii's University had some excellent professors and learned Men and women but it was not that the islands were over running with experts. The reports would be stored in a location known only to the Prime Minister and two aides.

One thing the Missionary Party had finally shut up for that the Prime Minister was grateful. Soon it would be time to meet with His Majesty and brief him on everything. King Kalakau seemed to be measuring up to the job.

 

[David S Poepoe]

The most important point to make is that King Kalakaua never went by the name of 'King David' during his reign.

Also, I think you are moving a little quickly with your ATL. The many problem, I believe, is that you are not breaking things down into months. Things take time. Those monitors take years to build. Its highly unlikely that the impact would be known as 'the Fall' until years or decades later. The situation in the United States post-impact is only vaguely known, relying strictly on Sterling's references.

 

[chris N]

The actually facts about The Fall I agree will not be known for quite some time. what the Hawaiian government is tring to sort out is what has happen. At this point it is receiving second or third had information from people in Canada and the US. With the exception of the telegraph reports that the Canadians in Vancouver received from back east most is just rumors. Still the Royal Hawaiian Navy and merchant marine captains have stated that they have noticed unusual weather.
In addition the Hawaiian ships have noticed that the weather in Vancouver is much colder than is normal and snow being around in what should be summer is unusual.
As for Hawaii itself the islands weather remains normal with perhaps a few rainstorms..
I will attempt to slow things down.