The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-04-12
SOLDIER BOYS SICK.
WHOLESALE POISONING OF
THE MEN IN BLUE.
No Criminal Intent Believed-A Midnight
Alarm Turns the Invalids
Out ADMINISTRATIONS.

hC lSBuldl duu NOiulltCCl lOlICS vi
the government ate supper last evening
at the barracks about six o'clock. At
ten minutes to nine Private c. Knutsen
was found violently sick on his post at
the Richards street gate of the Palace
yard, and was carried to the barracks
on stretcher. By this time the men
on duty at the barracks were dropping
down in twos and threes and were i'm
mediately put to bed.
DR.. Rodgers was in attendance and
did all in his power to relieve the men,
who showed every symptom of arsenicsl
poisoning. They were attacked with
severe vomiting, accompanied with
pains in the stomach, parched throat,
and violent diarrhea. By this morning
those who were first and most severely
attacked were very weak and are still
unable to leave their beds, although
out of danger. There are three men
still down at the barracks, and six at the
government building belonging to
Company A.
Dr. Day was in attendance on com
pany A, whose men seem to have been
most severely stricken, but he was able
to visit the barracks about midnight
long enough to compare notes with DIR.
Rodgers, after which he returned to
the government building where he re-
NAMED the greater portion of the night.
BY halfpast twelve o'clock SO men
were sick at the barracks out of IS,
a dozen of whom were absent either on
liberty or sick leave. Besides these,
two of the Chinese walters were taken
so violently i'll that they vomited
blood. The other walters and two
Chinese cooks and helpers were not af
tected. At the government building IS
out of 60 men, belonging to company
A, we're taken down about nine o'clock,
some of whom we're sick all night
This morning six of the men were una
BILE to report for duty and are still in
bed.
DR.. Rodgers states that the poison is
an irritant and that the symptoms may
be produced by arsenical poisoning or
the use of deleterious food. Chow
ever" says the doctor, "no theory which
explains all the details has yet been adj
vanced; and those which have been put
forward have failed almost as soon as
compared with the facts thus far devel-
oped." The officers at the barracks
are now taking individual statements of
the men, which will contain statements
as to the food eaten, the time of eating,
and the time sickness began, but little
light has thus far been thrown upon the
matter.
Seventeen out Of the twenty-one
members of the Hawaiian Band we're
taken sick during the evening, and
have not reported for duty as yet. 1t
is the custom for the band to play at
the barracks every Tuesday afternoon
and the men generally eat supper
there before going home. They did
SO yesterday evening, and during the
night all except Prof Berger and three
men were taken down. Prof Berger
has furnished list which shows that
he and the four we'll men partook Of a
portion of everything eaten by the sew
enteen sick men.
At quarter to one o'clock this
morning telephone message was re-
ceived at the barracks which declared
that squad of twenty armed men
were in motion on Pensacola street
and others were rallying. The long
roll alarm was Immediately sounded.
The barracks was placed upon the
defensive within three minutes, and all,
save half dozen of the sickest men,
went to their posts, some Of them still
vomiting and scarcely able to walk.
The doors and windows we're efficiently
guarded, however, and an outpost
under Lieutenant Coyne, was taken up
in the long frame building belonging
to the government, and at present
occupied by lot of native families.
The troops remained on guard over
an hour, expecting an attack at any
minute; but none came, and it was
afterwards learned that the alarm had
been caused by the rally Of squad of
Captain Gums men, company B vol
unteers, to relieve company A of guard
duty at the government building.
Company B remained on guard at
that place from to 6 o'clock this
morning. When asked if they wished
to have breakfast at the barracks before
leaving, the men of company B raised
a unanimous shout of "No, thank
you; thanks, boys, we'll eat at Nolte's. "
The Attorney-GeneraPs department
has been moving rapidly in making ar
investigation of the affair, through it i:
hardly believed that any intentiona
poisoning has taken place. A thor
ough inquiry is being carried on at the
barracks and all goods and supplies in
the kitchens will be overhauled anc
analysed if necessary.
Marshal Hitchcock has placed in the
hands of Prof A B. Lyons govern
ment chemist, samples of the stomach
contents from the sick men at the bar
racks and Government building. Prof
Lyons is making an analysis to-day anC
will probably send in report as to the
nature Of the poison this afternoon.