The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-04-12
RIOT ON kauai
LihuG Plantation Cinnamon At
tack LunaS.
KNIVES AND HATCHETS USED
Trouble Suddenly Stop.
ped by Police.
Mongolians Promise to Return to
Work-Want to be Paid For
Extra Hours.

Blood was spilled at Lihue planta-
ton on the morning of Friday, April
9th, when a gang of Chinese laborers
J attacked several of the lunas with
hatchets and sharp knives, with a re-
suit of quite number of men wound
ed and one Chinaman in such a condi-
! tion that he is either dead now or will
be soon. From letters and people who
were on the Garden Isle at the time of
the trouble, the following story has
been gathered:
1t seems that Lihue plantation has
had considerable trouble of late with
gang of Cinnamon who arrived just
recently from China and who are sup
posed to have been in Hong Kong
nothing but robbers and cut-throats.
On Thursday morning, April Sth
about Is of the number gathered about
being sick. Upon diagnosing the cases
it was found that Iaziness was the real
complaint, and that work would prob
ably be the best cure. They refused to
return to the fields, and were sent TO
Jail for short space of time, during
which to mediate.
There was no further trouble on
that day On Friday. about a. M,
one of the lunas went to get his gang
together and to distribute the tools,
as usual. The Cinnamon appeared to
be in a sullen mood, and objected to
the work of clearing the fields or build
ing the new reservoir. They wanted to
do light work, such as stripping cane
and irrigating. The luna told them
they had no choice whatever in the
matter and must do the work assigned
to them.
At this, one of the Cinnamon, pre-
sumably the leader, gave a signal,
which resulted in all the members of
the gang drawing hatchets, knives and
clubs from under their blouses.
An attack was made on the luna and
in response to his cry for help, he was
joined by five other white lunas. The
whole lot of Chinese, from Hong Kong,
over a hundred in all, now began an
attack upon the lUnaS, and one of the
Mongolians was shot in the scrim-
mage. Hoffer, the book-keeper, saw
the trouble from his office, and, rec
ognizing the disadvantage the lunas
heads of the Cinnamon with a revol-
yer, in the hopes of frightening them
This failed, so he blazed away into
their midst. Matters were in a very
serious condition, and Carl WoIters.
Mueller and two more lunas had been
wounded by the flying knives and
hatchets of the Cinnamon.
In the meantime, the police had been
telephoned for, and eight stalwart ma
tive officers, with Deputy Sheriff CO.
ney at the head. dashed into the midst
of the rioters in the thickest of the
fight. Clubs were used freely, and the
Cinnamon. surprised by this sudden
onslaught of officers of the law. gave
way gradually and finished by begging
for mercy. Twenty of the leaders were
arrested and Jailed; others were car
ried away badly wounded, and the re
mainder were sent back to work again :
in very much calmer mood than they |
had manifested a short time previous /
tt looked for a while as if the Citi- |
ZenS' Guard would have to be called [
out, but the police were equal TO the !
occasion and suppressed the riot in |
short order.
About three hours afterwards more |
trouble took place in front of the doc /
tors Office, but it was stopped very
promptly. After this the Cinnamon |
were drawn up in line and the riot |
act was read to them. They promised |
to go back TO work and TO make no |
further trouble. Notwithstanding this |
assurance, q guard of police is kept at |
the plantation during the night time. /
One who is competent to speak on /
the matter says that the whole trouble !
was result of the action of Lihue
plantation in making the Cinnamon
work more than the prescribed num-
ber of hours without extra pay
As a general thing, the Chinese la !