The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-02-15
TELEPHONE FIRE
Large Part of System Is
Now Available Again.
Old Bell Switchboard Brought Into
Use-Day and Night Labors to
Furnish a Service.


as people would, there was no response
whatever The entire switchboard at
the Telephone Exchange had been de-
stroyed by fire during the early morn
ing.
1t was hardly ) o'clock when the
fire whistle blew and people were
forced to listen intently to the whistles
and then refer to the fire cards, for
no communication with Central could
be obtained. The fire turned out to
be at the Exchange. The lightning
which played so freely over the city
during the night, had communicated
itself to the wires and the switch
board was set afire. At first, the two
operators, Long and Mello, thought
nothing of the matter. They had had
experience with a similar occurrence
not long ago when the fire was put
out in very little while and without
calling out the fire department The
electricity was playing in a rather live
ly manner over the board and so Mello
went out TO get a hack to go after
Charles Reeves who has. charge of mat
tiers in and about the Exchange. Long
remained at his post. Mello could not
find hack and returned to the Ex-
change to report. Upon arrival, he
found the room full of smoke Long
was unable to stand it any longer and
went outside. No. Engine Company
was informed at once. Men were sent
over to investigate before calling the
engines out. 1t did not take long to
decide and soon the entire fire depart
ment was on the scene. By that time
the whole switchboard had been con-
sumed and the room was in flames.
The only thing the firemen could do
was to stop the further progress OF the
fire. This they did effectually, but the
water spread itself all over the build
ing doing some little damage.
As soon as Charles Reeves arrived,
he and the operators set to work get
ting the water out of the place. No
thing more could be done as Superin-
tendent Cassidy was down in Waialua.
However, at 2 p. M, Mr.. Cassidy sud
denly appeared on the scene. He was
making his way to Honolulu and had
stopped at Kahuku to give his horse
rest and get luncheon. One of the
operators here was waiting for him
on the line and as soon as he arrived,
he was notified of the whole occur
renee. 1t did not take him very long
to jump on his horse and get to town.
As soon as he arrived, operations were
begun, but these were again delayed
little by the work of the surveyors
who must needs inspect the building
before any work could be done. These
were Messrs Wilhelm and Harrison
who made the survey on the building
and Captain Pratt and Mr.. Theo. Hoff-
man who acted as electrical experts.
Up to midnight Saturday, the oper-
ators were busy rigging up the parts
for the new switchboard, and all day
yesterday, large force of carpenters
and linemen, as well as all the old
operators, were hard at work. The
room on the second floor looking out
upon Alakea street is being fitted up
temporarily Here will be placed the
old Bell Telephone Company switch
board. To this will be added all the
Mutual Telephone Company improve
ments and Joined to it will be an ex-
tension. By Saturday, at the latest,
everything will be in good working
order again.
Superintendent Cassidy was seen
yesterday morning and spoke as fol-
lows in regard to the matter:
1.-The telephone system is paralyZed,
but it will not be so for long. Today,
all the principal business houses, the
various Government offices, the coun-
try stations and the newspapers will
be able to communicate. The private
residences and places of less import
ance than those just mentioned will
have to wait till the end of the week
THE very latest improvements will
be adopted and l venture to say that
Honolulu will have a telephone system
that will equal anything in the world
To hurry our operations we want men
and daylight. 1t is very hard to work
at night time, although it will be better
now, as Mr.. Hoffman has just put in
a dozen electric lights.
LAS to the operators who were in
charge at the time of the fire, l can
attach no blame to them. 1t seems to
me that they did all in their power
The storm was very intense and it
would have been a matter of impossi-
bility to make connections. The ele-
ment of danger was too great"
Operators at telephones in the room
next to the one where the switch
board used TO stand were placed on
duty Saturday afternoon and will re-
main there until the temporary switch
board is rugged up. Communication
directly with them could be had and
in cases of emergency, the telephone
is still on hand. Head signal station
and the pilots Office are directly con-
nected so that any vessels telephoned
can be reported at once.
The country lines are in bad shape
and men were sent to various districts
yesterday to repair the damage done.
In fact, Superintendent Cassidy is
rushing everything to get the tele-
phones in working order again as soon
as possible.
Mr. Hoffman, represents the insur-
ance companies of which there are
two, while Captain Pratt represents
fa1ophOpa ooponour IN o1o