The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-02-28
THE QUARANTINE GROUND.
what Our Reporter Saw There.

| except by the caretaker and his wife.
How long this desirable state OF things
! is destined to continue none can tell, but
! the probability is that upwards Of two
] hundred Chinese coolies will take up a
temporary abode there to-day. These
are the lot who were lately carried on to
San Francisco by the City of New York,
/ when that vessel arrived here with
smallpox on board. They are expected
by the Belgic, due at this port to-day.
However, the object of the present arti-
Gle is to deal with facts rather than
| probabilities.
In view OF certain conflicting state
| ments which have been made relative to
| the treatment of persons detained IN
/ quarantine, a reporter from this Office
! was permitted, through the courtesy OF
| the Board o. Health, to visit the quaran-
tine station in company with Mr.. Rey
| noIds, the agent of the Board. The two
left Brewers wharf between and 10 a.
IN. yesterday and proceeded by boat to
the landing stage at the end of the pier.
Traversing this for a distance of 2,400
feet between the tram rails, we entered
the sacred confines. 1t cannot be denied
that dreary and uninviting scene pre-
sented itself, suggestive of the typical
desert island. The soil of this insular
prison is sandy, largely saturated with
salt water, which initiates against the
growth of any but stunted vegetation,
~ 10 81 hot -,
withstandIng some heroic efforts at prop
agating the algeroba and cOcoanut palm.
But, in the nature of things, all this
could scarcely be otherwise, and it
would be unreasonable to attribute any
blame to the Board on these grounds.
We do not believe it would be possible
to select more suitable site for the pur-
pose, and the dullness OF the immediate
surroundings is pleasantly relieved By
magnificent view of the city and its inn
posing background of mountain ranges.
Indeed, the eye can take a clear sweep
from Diamond Head to the kaala range.
But to the point.
Upon reaching those sacred confines
of which we have already spoken, and
turning to the right to take in this ma
jestic scene, we preceded a few steps
landmarks and entered the coolies quar-
ters. The dOmiciles are two in number,
each having an area of $50 feet by %
feet and each intended to accommodate,
if required, from 200 to l 400 persons.
A conveniently wide passage runs down
the center; on one side are three tiers
of hunks and on the other two. They
are of primitive construction, sufficiently
wide for man to lie crosswise, and of
ample height. The buildings are of
lumber, with galvanized iron roofs
they are scrupulously clean, and not
withstanding the heavy thunder showers
which had fallen during the night we
failed to discover the slightest trace of
dampness in the interior. A separate
apartment is reserved for females, as
also building in which to prepare food
and cooking shed. To the latter are
attached three 4O0-gallon tanks, which
are always kept full in case of any acct
dent to the water pipe.
Returning to the point where we had
left the tramline, we passed along the
remaining 100 feet of it's length to the
fumigating rooms, which call for no
special mention.
Turning Stewards the domicile Ordi
narily used for white men was entered.
This was the memorable room, so we
were informed, in which Mr. Davis and
his companions in tribulation were
housed. It is certainly not sumptuous,
but we cannot see that any fault can
reasonably be found with it's appoint
ments. The hunks are larger than those
usually allotted to steerage passengers on
on board ship. Several new straw mat
trasses were stacked on one side, and we |
understood them to be the same which |
were used by the gentlemen referred to. |
Some substantial tables were in the CEN |
ter of the room, which, it was stated, |
were preferred by them to the hunks for |
sleeping purposes. Some six or eight |
cane-seated chairs were in the room,
which is large and airy. The heavy
rain of the previous night did not appear
to have penetrated the building at any
point. A smaller room contiguous to
this is set apart for females, and both
are so arranged as to secure the utmost
privacy. The culinary department is in
charge of Mrs. Smith, wife of the care
taker, and everything connected with it
appeared clean and wholesome.
On the wide extent of ground beyond
are number of small buildings isolated
one from another, which have been
erected at different times and for various
purposes. The first is the cottage lately