Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-10-13
POOH BAH OF GUAM
YOUNG SAILOR WHO DESERTED
FROM A WHALER is 1T"
RUNS THINGS FOR UNCLE SAM
TWO REVOLUTIONS SINCE THE ISL
AND WAS SEIZED.
Three Applicants for Two Offices and
the Wild Man From Borneo Was
Turned DOwn-Two Hours
of Martial Law in
Honolulu.
RUNS THINGS FOR UNCLE SAM

HONOLULU, Oct. 4. VIA SAN FRAN
CISCO, Oct 12.-The United States troop
ship Pennsylvania arrived from Manila by
way of Guam yesterday, having on board
twelve passengers, mostly invalided soldiers
from the Philippines. DIR. Smith, formerly
surgeon of the United States cruiser Balti-
more, is one of the passengers. The Penn
sylvania will probably sail for San Fran
cisco on Wednesday.
The Pennsylvania sailed from Manila Sep
tember Q, for Guam, which was reached on
the 17th ult She remained there until Sep
tenber IS, being feasted by the inhabitants
in a royal manner The Pennsylvania was
the first vessel carrying the American flag
that touched at Guam since the Charleston
took possession. Two revolutions had TAX
en- place. Inciteai by Spanish priests, twice
had the natives pulled down Old Glory and
boisted the Spanish cOlors. Twice had the
local police hosted the ensign of Uncle
Sam again, and no bloodshed ensued.
The Pooh Bah who is running things in
Guam for the United States is reported to
be a young sailor who is said to have de-
serted from one of the whalers touching
there some time ago. He fills every bill,
from the governor down to tax collector,
and it is said some of the natives still
think the money goes to Spain. The col
lector of customs is a Spaniard, but loyal
to the new regime. 1t seems to have been
a toss up when the offices at Guam had to
be filed. There were three applicants, in
Guiding the two men named above. and n
young adventurer from the wilds of Borneo.
The Borneo man was left.
Dysentery. mun1ps and measles We're epi
demic at Manila when the Pennsylvania
left.
The Pennsylvania went to Guam to re-
turn the Spanish doctor whom the Charles
ton inadvertently took away when the
place was captured. 1t appears that he
was with the Spanish troops taken from
the garrison. a fact not known. however.
until Manila was reached. The removal of
a doctor under such circumstances is a
serious matter, but it appears that no one
was to blame in this case. The United
States government righted the wrong by
sending the transport back to the island
with the physician. The Spanish people
received the doctor with wild cheers of de-
light, and thanked and cheered the captain
of the Pennsylvania for returning him to
them.
On the night of October 3, Second Lieu
tenant Merriam, u. s. A, and First Lieu
tenant Wheelock. New York volunteers
decided to run things in Honolulu, and de-
clared martial law. Wheelock was provost
marshal in charge of the mounted in
fantry. 1t is not known whether Merriam
was on duty.
About II 80 at night the two officers de-
clared martial law, and for two hours
and a half this condition of affairs pre-
vailed. Indignant citizens woke up Cen
eral King about l o'clock in the morning
and the general caused the two officers
to be rounded up and their martial law
was declared off. 1t was stated that both
men were under. the influence of liquor
They will be court-martialed
For a time it was the liveliest night
Honolulu has ever seen. The two officers
assumed entire control of the town. Citl-
zens were ordered off the streets and then
off the sidewalks. These orders were en-
forced by the mounted men under Wheel
ocks command. Sailors were chased
aboard their ships and two steamer cap-
tains and a customs officer had to scramble
for their safety. General King was very
angry when he heard what was being
done. and said the young men We're act
ing without orders. Lieutenant Merriam Is
a son of General Merriam.
Private Clarence II. Porter, COMPANY II.
First New York, died at the military hos
pital Sunday night. The dead mans
brother. Fred, is now in a very critical
at the hospital with pneumonia
and is not expected to live. He belongs to
the same company.
While the Hawaiian planters have not
made any overtures to the sugar trust. the
latter has made overtures to the planters
and is now openly in the field with an offer
to contract for the Hawaiian sugar for
the next three years. expressly stipulatng
that the present arrangement with the Cal
ifornia refinery shall continue, which
means that the Port Costa refinery is to
get 10000 tons annually and the balance
goes to San Francisco or New York as the
trust may decide. The present contract
with Howard &c Co.. of New York. by
which some of the sugar goes over the
Pacific and some by Cape Horn,
expires on January l next and it is un-
lerstood that they waive any rights to have
q renewal in favor of the trust.
Captain Tanner. United States navy, has
arrived here to select a site for q coaling