The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-05
PEACEF UL NEWS
FROM HONOLULU
The BeIligerent Feeling
in Japan Rapidly
Dying Out.
Admiral BeardSlee Shakes Up
the Philadelphia and
Marion Crews.
Boston Marines Stand Off Mob
CT Coolies-Shock!n Double
Murder.

HONOLULU, HAWAII, July 2S.-There
is nothing new in the observation-disclosures
controversy. Minister Shimamura in
formed your correspondent this morning
that he received nothing of Importance
from his Government by the steamer
Belgic yesterday. Owing TO the Rio ia
Metro arriving two days late at Yokohama
only twelve hours was left to answer her
mails by the Belgic. This. Minister Shi-
mamura explained, was not sufficient 10
allow OF communication with Toxic and
back. From information received by yes
terdays mail, the Minister was certain
that the excitement in Japan over the
Hawaiian matter was rapidly dying out.
Admiral Beardslee has been giving the
two vessels under his immediate COM
mand shaking up, and some OF his o.
Ulcers hardly realize yet whether they are
right-side up or not. The Philadelphia
has been put in frst-class trim, even to
having her coal bunkers emptied
and painted, and divers have been
at work on her bottom until it is as
clean as if she had just come off drydock.
Her engines have been thoroughly over
hauled and new tubes put in her boilers
wherever needed. II ordered to San
francisco on the arrival OF the Oregon 1t
is expected she will make a record run to
the coast as she was never in better con-
dition than now. Frequent drills, pre-
pairing snip for action, fire and boat drills
have been tho order for the past week, and
the poor officers have really had a hard
time of it. On Friday last orders were
given to abandon The ship as unseaworthy,
and in very few minutes every soul on
board was in the boats, which were pro-
vsioued for long cruise. For nearly an
hour the flagship was actually abandoned,
not human being being left on beard.
On Monday morning early the admiral
signaied to the Marion that he would
come aboard for breakfast. a very nice
meal was prepared, but no one tasted 1t.
As soon as he set loot on the deck the
order was issued, "Pi pe all hands on deck
and prepare ship for actioni' and then
there was scurrying of feet and hustle OF
prep aration, while topmasts and yards
came tum bling down In short order. The
admiraPs flag tioated over the Marion all
that dav, AMI from o'clock In the morn
ing till 8 at night every man was at his
post executing a succession OF orders
which went to make up what Admiral
Beardslee terms inspecting ship" AT
O'Clock the ad miral transferred his flag
to the Philadelphia, but it has been many
a day since the old Marion and her crew
got such a shaking up as they did on
Monday.
The repairs TO the Marion were finish ed
on Saturday night, an entirely new bed
having been put i'll under her engines.
The work was done by Sorenson q Lyle,
the welI-known shipwrights who have re-
paired so many of Uncle Sans vessels,
ami the Honolulu Iron Works.
Reports came by the Beigic yesterday
that on the night of the 18TH inst. serious
trouble occurred between the baseball
team of the United States steamship Bos-
ton and a MOP of coolies in Kobe. In the
afternoon there was a base ball game, after
which some of the Boston's men and the
Japs got into discussion over the Ha.
waiian annexation question. The coolies
oontended that the United States had no
right to annex lhe Islands in the face of
the claim for indemnity made by Japan,
while the Americans contended that the
men at the head OF affairs in the United
States knew what they were doing. Some
very hot language res uited, and the coolies
in body made break for the Boston's
men, who rallied and stood by to defend
themselves. Rocks flew back and forth
with rapidity and several OF the coolies
were badly injured. 1t is said that one
was killed.
| The steamer Konau brings news from
| Maui OF a horrible double murder and at
! temple suicide at Waikapu. short dis
! lance from the Spreckelsvilie plantation.
The wife of a japanese laborer at the
plantation deserted her husband about
! two weeks ago, taxing their small child
| with her, and went 10 live at Waikapu
with two other Japanese. On Saturday
| last the husband made his appearance
and watching his opportunity seized the
| child and made Off for some bushes about
(! 200 yards away. The woman happened to
see him and went after her child. When
she came near enough the Japanese
dropped the child and seIZing the woman
by the hair plunged a big knife
into her body in five different places.
This not killing the woman quickly
enough he drew her head over his knee
and nearly severed it from the body. He
then picked up the child and with a sin
lie blow of his knife decapitated it. After
this he attempted 10 cut his own throat,
but before he had fully succeeded some
natives arrived and disarmed him. He
succeeded in nearly severing the windp pipe
however At the time the steamer left
the man was in the Jail at Waikuku and
was expected TO recover.
The Moana from San Francisco was ex-
pected IN this morning but at this writing
a A. NJ. had not been sighted. The Japa-
nese man-of-war Hiyei has not been
sighted either. The Moana is expected TO
bring important dispatches for the Gov
eminent and japanese legation.