The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-29
THE SITUATION AT HlLo.
Movements of War Vessels "A Com
suIar Curiosity.

sular Curiosity.
HILo, Hawaii, March 1.-The peopls of
this town we're greatly surprised about noon
of March 10 see the japanese man-of- war
Kon-go steam into the harbor and drop her
anchor off Coeoanut Island. An hour or
two later the United States ship Alliance
appeared and also took up her station in the
harbor. The ostensble reason for the
Kon-go's presence at Hilo. as given by her
commander, was al alleged report of an in
surrection among the japanese contract
laborers in the HiIo district, but there has
been no trouble In that quarter for over
a year. and at the present moment re-
latloDs between the planters and the labor
ers are the pleasantest. Moreover, potwith-
standing this report, no attempt was made
by the japanese to investigate the alleged
trouble, no commissioner was landed and
no communication was held with the mana
gers Of any Of the plantations here. The
officers of the Kon-go came ashore, visited
their friends, were driven about the town
and into the country, saw Rain bow Falls
and admired the climate. Contract labor
was apparently subject not within their
cogniZance.
AS for the Alliance, 1t was given out at
Hon olulu that she was going to cruise
around the island to give the men exercise
and target practice. II they had these they
must be pretty expert by this time, as they
were out for target practice some three
months ago, and twice year Is deemed
sufficient for this sort Of work in Uncle
Sans navy. Not sound Of 1t was heard,
however. and so far as any ears in Hilo
can testify. the salute fired in honor OF the
American Consular Agent on the occasion
of his visit to the ship was all the good
United States powder that was burned on
the cruise.
Forty-eight hours after their arrival the
little brown men again heayed anchor and
steamed out of port in like manner as they
went. leaving the good people of HiIo
divided between their sense of tie over
whelming attention shown them and per-
plexity as to what it was all about
The Alliance, too, when the Kon-go got
under way. picked up her anchor and tod
died after her, with all sails set and good
head Of steam on, although, as it had been
understood at Honolulu, her orders were to
travel under canvas and save coal. This
circumstance puzzled not little those who
knew of the order and saw the Alliance
skipping along, off the lee side of Maui,
before a rafting gale, with the smoke put
uHk III kltdb Oldtk CiOuuS lIOm DeE SHlOk G.
stack. The Jap left Honolulu forty light
hours ahead OF the Alliance, for this cruise.
out fingered off Kauai, and the other islands
en- route. thus enabling Captain Whiting
command to overtake her.
Upon leaving Hiio, the captain gave out
that he was going to cruise along the back
side Of Maui, and the destiDaiio OF the
Alliance was given GU. to be Lahaina. As
q mn Of faa hrN
Honolulu harbor some forty hours after
their departure from Hilo, and took up
their old positions in naval row." Ad-
vices do not say whether the health of
either crew was materially benefited by the
cruise, but there are few collateral facts
that may throw little light upon this mys-
FERROUS fitting Of two such large bodies as
modern meu-of-war.
Inc kon-go, 1t appears, was expected at
Hilo by a good many OF the leading Japan
csc. just what her mission was to be was
more than outsiders could ascertain, but
they knew she was looked for several
weeks before she actually arrived. She did
not leave Honolulu until her formidable
reinforcement. the Naniwa, put in an
appearance. Sheriff Hitchcock, since the
repeal OF the Governor act the virtual
Governor OF this island, states that the
Impression prevailed In Hilo that the Kon-
go had come for the purpose OF ascertaining
Just how she could best serve his Imperial
Japanese Majesty's interests here. In a
word. 1t Is believed that had there been the
slightest trouble to afford pretext for such
action, the Japanese flag would have gore
up In short order at Hilo, and the first step
would have been taken toward a realization
Of the Mlkado's dream of making Japan
"the Great Britain OF the Pacific"
According to Sheriff Hitchcock, meeting
was held at Hilo to determine the advisa-
bility Of organizing an armed force to resist
any such attempt on the part of the Japs.