The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-09-12
QUEER DoINGs.
Two White Men Lead the Port Sur
veyor on a Wild Goose Chase.

Two White Men Lead the Port Sur
veyor on a Wild Goose Chase.
On Tuesday evening last, at
o'clock, telephone message was re-
ceived at the residence of Port Sur
veyor Crabbe, for him to come down.
Mr.. Crabbe had just left. On reach
ing the o. S. S. dock he was met by
Percy Gardiner, customs special,
who asked him if he wanted to go to
place where there were two hun
dred tins of opium. OF course,
Crabbe was only too glad to make
such capture, and assented. Gardi-
ner then told him to come to his
house at 7:15 o'clock and he would
guide him to the place. Mr.. Crabbe
went and changed the watch on the
S. S. Australia and, in company with
Customs officer Harry Webb, went
to GARDENERS house. Gardiner came
out with a fellow named Gregson
and told Crabbe that he had made a
mistake, and that there was only fifty
tins of opium instead of two hun
dred.
"Now, that is big Drop" thinks
Crabbe, and he became suspicious.
He didn't say anything, however,
but advised Gardiner and his partner
to lead the chase, and the quartet
Immediately started for the Chinese
joss house on Beretania street, near
Smiths bridge. On arrival at the
place Gardiner asked for the loan of
half-dollar, and he and his partner
entered, while the other two waited
on the street. The two had been in
there about fifteen minutes when
Gardiner appeared at the door and
beckoned for Crabbe and Webb to
enter. They did so, and saw num-
Der of infirm opium smokers, Chi
nese and natives, luXuriating in the
drug. Gardiner advised Crabbe to
have them arrested, but the latter
refused, saying he would not inter
fere with the police. They never
interfered with him, and he would
act the straight thing. Crabbe ask
ed Gardiner where the opium they
came after was, and the only answer
he could get was, "Wait, you'll see
soon" The Port Surveyor was be-
ginning to smell rat. While these
events were happening the lights
were turned on in full, and no at
tempt was made to put them out.
While the party was standing
there Chinaman appeared with a
package and handed it to Gardiner
and went round the corner of the
house. Crabbe asked him what the
package contained, and Gardiner
said, opium" After saying this he
went after the Chinaman. Crabbe
asked him what he was going to do,
when he said, "I'm going to arrest
that Chinaman." He did so, and
took him to the Station. In the
meantime Gregson had called in
several police, who saw the men
there Crabbe stated to BULLETIN
reporter that the opium smokers
were elderly and infirm, and if ar
rested would have to be carried
down. The police not seeing any
opium left the place. Gregson then
told Crabbe that there were fifty
tins of opium under the floor, but
Crabbe was disgusted and in com,
pany with Webb left and went
home. They met Gardiner on Nuu.
anu street returning to the place
Crabbe received a telephone mes
sage from the Station asking him il
he would appear against the China
man who was taken to the Station
. by Gardiner, and he answered that
he knew nothing definite of the af
fair and would not appear.
1t looked very suspicious to see
Chinaman come out and hand Gar
diner the package in the first place
and, secondly, where did the fift,
cents go9 Perhaps Gardiner vii
answer. The above account i
authentic and came from one VIII,
went with the party and witnessed
> the whole proceedings,