Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-30
PRIVATE LETTERS.
A SACRAMENTO MECHANIC IN THE
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Some Glimpses of Life There-Wages-
observation-disclosures Plants.
The Maui Express.

Ralph Turner, young mechanic well
known in this city, is at present in the
Sandwich Islands, where he went in June
last. He is an intelligently obseryaut
man, and from letters to friends here ex-
tracts have been made that form interest.
ing reading matter, though not written
with any idea that they would find their
way into print.
In letter from Waikiki Maui, written
August 23d, he gives graphic description
OF the voyage out and the scenery on the
Hawaiian coast and in Kahului Bay, where
the vessel anchored, a brig belonging
to Spreckels, the great sugar specu.
ator of San Francisco "There is little
wharf that runs about 200 feet out into the
bay, long warehouse, two storehouses
built OF corrugated iron, for storing sugar
owned by Spreckels, two restaurants run
by Cinnamon, and dozen or more houses.
This is Kahului. A little narrow.paupe
railroad connects Spreckelsville, four miles
distant, with Waikiki, nine miles away,
Two pocket edit ;ons of locomotives, made
by the Baldwin Company, bring the cars,
loaded with sugar, from the mills to the
warehouses. There are three lohala trees
at kahului-a kind of palm, with a wood
that resembles the cocoa-bearing a
soft, spongy fruit about as large
as canteloupe, but it is not eatable, and
these are the only trees at the place. Was
l disappointed with this first glimpse of
the Sandwich Islands? No; not exactly.
for l was prepared to make due allowance
for the exaggerations of travellers. Still
thought of Wordsworth's experience, and
this Is Harrow ? this the stream, etc.
ALL THE WATER
Used at Kahului is brought from Waikiki
in iron tanks, that being the nearest point
where fresh water is found. Mr.. Spreckels
was boring an artesian well at Kahului, but
at a depth of $50 feet the drills were found
to be in coral, and the work was abandoned.
On landing we were required to
pay 81 per capita for hospital
dues" Turner rested a few DAYS
on board the brig as the guest of its
Captain, compliment he thoroughly ap.
preciated, and agreed with the Spreckels
superintendent to 90 to work on the 9th of
July.
son the 4th Of July there was to be a
grand celebration of the anniversary of
American independence at Waikapu, lit
tie village six miles southeast of Kahului,
of horse-racing, athletic sports,
and grand final dance by the natives
the 'hulahula. Everybody was going, the
Captain, first mate and half of the crew of
the brig John d. Spreckels, the foreign and
native residents of Kahului, ditto from all
the villages on the West Maui. Would /
go? OF course, and the train took me
also. 1t was to leave at 9 A. NJ,
and was composed of dozen min
lature Hat cars coupled to locomo-
tive that looked like a child's playshing.
A few rough benches were placed length.
wise on the cars. This constituted the
Maui express, and is owned by Captain
Hoborn. 1t was to convey us-pleasure
seekers-to Waikiki at a royal per head.
1t was c motley gathering that crowded
upon the cars that morning in July. There
were Kanakas, South Sea Islanders,
Chinese, half-whites, negroes, and whites
from Ireland to the antipodes. They were
clad 10 every conceivable style Of dress,
and of every shade and color.
THERE WERE PRETTY GIRLS,
Half-whites, with the cunningest of feet,
and they dangled them over the sides OF
the cars, in order to give ether people
chance to sit down. It was free and easy
crowd. The waheenes have penchant for
the Knowles twhites). After waiting for
nearly two hours under a cloudless sky,
packed as closely as herrings in box, the
tram started. / had secured se,t on the
fiat car next to the locomotive, but it was
mistake for which | was soon sorry, as
the grease and SCOT from the engine was
showered upon all on that car. Next to
me sat pretty little woman, wife of the
Collector of the Customs, with a haxen.
haired babe on her lap. Both were dressed
in light fabrics, and before the train had
gone 100 yards they were streaked with
black grease from the cylinders of the loco
motive, and the baby s face was kesmirched
SO that it looked like Comanche papoose
in war paint. There is little grade on
the railroad about half way between Ka.
hului and Waikiki, and when we reached
it the engine came to a standstill, and we
were told it was not able to pull the train
any farther. Accordingly all but three of
the cars were uncoupled, and as the brake
men had thoughtfully boarded the front
section of the train, the uncoupled cars
started toward Kahului, and at a much
greater rate of speed than that they had
when coming from there. Then ensued a
scene that would have
DELIGHTED A HoGARTH.
The passengers on the runaway cars, dis.
covering that they were going in the wrong
direction, commenced taking flying leaps
il the air. There were feeting though
enhancing visions of shapely ankles and
graceful limbs, some of natures own dusky
brown, some encased in particolored stock.
ings-old and young, men and women,
whites and blacks, all rolling and tumbling
down the hillside, and reaching the foot of
the grade in an indiscrimirste mass of
struggling humanity, and extricating them.
selves as best they could, and starting on a
run for the train, enlivening the way en-
route with choice and original impreca-
tions. Our part of the train in the
meanwhile was travelling toward Waikiki
with the angry excursionists in full
pursuit. One old Kanaka woman,
while leaning over the side of the car en-
couraging young female who was making
kangaroo leaps to catch the fleeing cars,
lost her balance and toppled backward, to
the ruin of her bonnet and head gear, for
as she alighted on the wrong end, she
'squashed' her fnery so effectually as to
utterly obliterate all hope of restoration
When she picked herself up. however, she
did not notice that her bonnet remained on
the ground where she struck in her fall,
but bareheaded, dishevelled, dusty and
mad, she began to trot after the train,
which she reached just as the young WON.
an had succeeded In clambering upon car
and landing in a Chinaman's lap. As she
did SO, she called the old lady's attention
to the absence of her bonnet, whereupon
that ancient femal. clapped her hand to
her head, and with Impressions that ex-
pressed whole volumes of wrath, she
began to retrace her steps. She secured
her headgear and regained the train, after
a lively chase, just as we came in sight of
our place of destination. This is but one
of many amusing incidents of the trip, that
were numerous enough to fill geodly VOL
ume. The depot at Waikiki is a rough
board shed, with a raised freight platform.
The first thing that attracted my attention
was sign with letters of all contrasting
proportions, Hale Inuku By Sing Hah.
had learned a few words OF Kanaka from
the Captain of the brig on the voyage out,
and SO made for the tea and coffee house.
and got a cup of tea and some coffee cakes
for one royal copper coin issued by the
owner of the railway and passing current
on the island for 121 cents. This brief
sketch may give you some faint idea of the
people and means of transportation. As
IN WaiIutu and tho oalabr,t;o,, - ,,..,l !