The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-09-03
The Forty-two Freedmen.

The FOrty-tVvo Freedmen.
A local paper, in the interest of the forced
labor oligarchy, having given a most unfair YER
sion of the facts relating to the freeing of the
f~orty-two coolies from the San Salvador ship
Dolores Ugdrte, we are constrained to correct the
impression remaining after a perusal of its article.
On the forenoon of the Goth inst, it was ru-
mored that forty-three coolies, from the Dolores
Cgarte, were in a house back of the old Liberty
Hall premises. Learning this a citizen secured
the services of an interpreter and proceeded to the
premises. The sight presented on entering the
yard was enough to excite the sympathy and in
dignation of any man. Some of the unfortunates
were lying in the sun waiting their turn for a
washing, unable to move hand or foot. Others
were in the hands of some natives who placed
them in a tub and poured water upon them.
Several of the parties were stripped in the pres
ence of different witnesses, and afforded q sight
only equaled by the representations in the Ameri-
can papers of the unreasonable and Belle Isle
prisoners during the recent rebellion. One had
died and was buried. The poor emaciated
inhumanity to man, Twelve were in the last
otdSCS vi dcCtJ, SOIle MIL sup letoTsO GueTS Will
diarrhea. Two at least had ulcers in the cornea
of their eyes SO far advanced as to render them
blind for life.
The interpreter questioned them regarding the
incidents of the voyage, after which he asked
them if they desired to return to the ship, and
all who could, answered in the negative. They
were then asked if they wished to remain on these
islands, and the answer was in the affirmative.
The interpreter was then instructed to say to
them that they could remain here that there
was no law which would compel them to return
to the ship. The JOY evinced by them more than
repays the trouble and annoyance experienced by
the parties who befriended them. Knowing the
excited condition OF the Chinese, and of the ma
tives who were witnesses to the sufferings of the
coolies and also aware of the resources of the
agents of the ship which would be called into
action to re-consign the poor creatures to a slav-
cry, from which death would be a happy deliver
ance, if they were aware of the intended exodus,
it was determined to take such steps as would
prevent a mob or riot. The leading Chinese were
made aware of the wish of their countrymen to
remain here, and they Immediately repaired to
the house where the coolies were kept, and in a
short time ONE thirty were removed to different
localities. During the afternoon the remaining
twelve were removed in carts. The removal of
the sickest ones was only determined upon after
a full consideration of existing circumstances. 1t
was thought that they could be made more COM
Portable elsewhere, and the risk of death was
thought to be lessened as to leave them was to
insure their removal to the ship, where death was
sure to follow. In fact the Captain of the slave
ship declared that he did not care for the loss of
these men, as they would have died before reach
ing Callao.
The parties who interested themselves in behalf
of the coolies were hastened somewhat from the
that the Minister of Foreign Relations and
Second Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
were seen in close confab with the agents, and
knowing that their sympathies were entirely with
the I" MASTER prompt action was considered es-
sential to success. Until the ship had left it was
deemed prudent not to betray the whereabouts of
the now freemen. Every means calculated to
promote the comfort of all, and the recovery of
the sick, were taken, which could be.
On Monday the services of DIR. McGrew were
secured in behalf of twenty-six Of the new arri-
7als, and he has since been unremitting in his
to their wants. Any one sufficiently
may communicate with him concerning
heir condition and circumstances. Twelve of the
were taken in charge of a Chinese mer-
chant, and on Tuesday he yielded to the ~solicita-
lions of a charitable lady and consented to have
our of them removed to the Queens Hospital,
where it was thought they could be better cared
or /; the lady making the necessary application to
he trustees for admission the merchant bearing
he whole expense of their care and support.
Three of the men from this ship have died.
Whether any of the parties concerned in the
xodus of these unfortunates have &c committed
nanslaughter, +" as charged in the organ of the
we leave the community to Judge.
1t is somewhat strange that although in a pro-
essedly free country, the same means must be l.
TO insure a mans freedom as were q
rOught into play in the Northern United States e
fter the PRONUNCIATION of the fugitive slave law. .
it not a fact upon which we should ponder?
- The Mission Children's Society will meet next
aturdsy, September 10th, at the residence of Z. O.
all. Nuuanu Avenue