The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-18
A CASE At HAND
There Was no Refuge for
a Stranger Incurable.
Plea Made oy One Familiar with the
InCldent-Efforts to Obtain
Relief-No Working Plan.

EDITOR P. c. A.-Nils Young died
OF consumption at the Eagle House this
morning under circumstances which
emphasize the necessity of taking i'm
mediate steps to provide hospital for
consumptives in Honolulu. l beg for
space to give your readers the details
in this interest.
Young came to the Queen Hotel q
week ago and paid for nights lodg-
ing. He was evidently in the last stage
refused admission TO the Queens Hos
pital, that he could not go to the Sail
ors' Home, and that he would have to
go into the streets to die. What exper-
fences Of application and refusal he
had had l know not, but he was faint
and discouraged. The next day he re-
turned to the sailing vessel on which
ne had shipped from San Francisco,
and again Supnday morning he came
TO the hotel for breakfast.
Upon inquiry l learned that he was
a Swede, and claimed to be an Ameri-
can citizen. On Monday l applied TO
the Board of Health for advice. l was
told to go to the police station. l called
Oh Tue DlSptHSdIy uOCIOis WIZ SSllu IItiI
il the man was an American citizen he
could not call on him without direc-
tions from the American Consul
went to the Consul's office and was
asked whether the man could produce
papers to show that he was an Ameri-
can citizen. No. The Consul could not
take a mans word for that. He ad-
vised me to go to the Marshal. l went,
| and consulted with the Deputy Mar
shall. He said that the United States
! Government does nothing for such
cases, and that the Hawaiian Govern
ment has no appropriation for such
! purposes. He could do nothing. He
| had seen the man and pitied him. He
could not send a physician. | then
| called DR.. G. b. Cooper, who came and
ministered TO the man and agreed to
call on him as often as necessary. He
pronounced him beyond recovery and
liable to die at any time. He said he
would not be admitted to the Queen s
| Hospital on account of the nature OF
his disease
| During last night the man grew
worse, and after a few hours of suf-
| fering passed away at about 1880 this
| morning. I was able to be with him
most of the might, and did what
| could for him, but | am not nurse,
and can but feel that he should have
| been better cared for than it was pos
Sible for me to care for him.
| Here is a state OF facts that is a
| shame to this community. 1t may not
be in good taste for a stranger, that
am, to tell the people of Honolulu what
Ithey ought to do But somebody ought
to speak out on this matter. | under
stand that every man who comes into
this port pays a fee of two dollars fOI
the care of the INDECENT sick; yet &
man might die in the streets being re-
fused help at all official doors.
| / do not blame any officer of the law
but / would remind the good people o.
Honolulu that the law killeth." While
the sick and sinking sailor is in the
street crying for help, the president o
the Board Of Health, the doctor OF the
DispanSary, the American Consul anC
the Marshal walk along on the Oppo
site side, having their hands bounC
with straps of red tape officially sealed
and labelled according to law. AnC
the man dies without their assistance
!, \ few dollars would rent a cottage
: where such cases could be cared for
The regular practitioners would dC
; what medical skill can do for them
and, if necessary, without charge. The
hospital authorities, | understand
have funds available for some sucl
purpose. Why is not a place provided
Let Honolulu answer.
w. K. AZBILL
January nth 1899