The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-06-25
The onarnniine staftnn-

The interest attaching to the quarantine
station at present, on account Of the pres
ence there of the Japanese immigrants who
arrived in the Yamsshiro Maru, will make
brief description of it interesting. There
are few ports in the world where there hap
pens to be within an easy, and still g safe
distance OF the town, so convenient q spot
for the establishment Of quarantine station
as that possessed by Honolulu. Situated on
the low sandy fat on the right Of the en-
trance to the harbor, as one looks seward,
just within the line Of the breakers, yet per-
fectly protected from storms, and to lee
ward of all human hsbitations, the station
is healthy, easy of access, and capable of be-
ing guarded so that none can escape from, or
visit it without the knowledge of the Off
Gals. Lately, long wharf has been built
from the edge of the reef on which the sta
ton stands to the enclosure where the quar-
antine buildings are. This wharf carries q
narrow guage railway track, and on this are
transported all the supplies to the station.
2 A high paliGg fence enclOses the buildings
and large area of sandy ground. On the
right of the railway, where it enters the en-
closure, are two zinc-rOofed buildings about
two hundred feet apart, facing each other,
and in these are sleeping accommodation for
large number of people. Each building is
about 100 feet long by % feet wide, with an
alley-way running through its center, and
having smaller side entrances. The court
between these two buildings is 200 feet wide,
and this space, since the Japanese have been
there, has been leVeled off by them until it
is as smooth as a floor. Here they have
their games, such as wrestling, building hu-
man pyramids, and having generally a good
time. Near at hand, on one side of the
cleared space, is the cook house, where in
large kettles the food is prepared. Against
I the fence, near the cook house, is the store
house, where so tons of food can be kept at
time. Just outside of the fence is look
out station, where watchman can see all
that passes in the grounds.
On the opposite side of the track from the
buildings just described stands a large
structure where 400 people have been housed
at one time. This house has veranaas in
front and rear. and it is here that almost all
the Japanese women are now located. At
one end is a room where ordinary cases of
from the main building is room set apart
for those who show any signs of infectious
disease. Such patients are kept in this
room but short time. as, if the disease
turns out to be non infectious, they are re-
moved to ano ther one, while if smallpox is
developed they are Immediately taken to a
house u considerable distance from all the
other buildings. Here the patients are care
fully attended, and every means used to pro-
mote their recovery.
The graveyard in which those who die are
buried is at some distance beyond the build
ing last described, and still further away is
honse at present occupied by Deputy Mar
shall Dayton. Between the main buildings
and the smallpox house Officer Reynolds
lives. He has immediate charge of the sta
ton, which is admirably kept and cared for.
The quarters occupied by the japanese are
kept scrupulously clean by them, and daily,
when they are mustered for count ting, they
battle in the still waters of the harbor with
great delight. They are extremely tractable
and seem to appreciate the necessity for
their temporary isolation.