The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-26
H|LO On GUARD
Hawaii Takes Plague
Precautions.
Sheriff Andrews Measures to Reduce
the Danger in His District
to a Minimum.


Immediately upon news of the plague
being received from Honolulu Sheriff
/ Andrews issued a circular of warning,
in which he called for the organization
supervision and control of all matters
concerning the quarantine and the
plague, should it appear At the con-
clusion of the circular Sheriff Andrews
says:
Here in Hilo | have already divided
the town into sections and detailed a
policeman to look after the sanitary
condition Of each section. We intend
TO compel each individual to clean up
and keep clean his own premises at his
J own expense. In case danger appears
J more imminent our citizens will be
J called upon to organize and divide the
town and vicinity into smaller sections
with d special citizens committee to
J look after each section. The police
, force is instructed to let all other mat
tiers be of secondary importance to
health matters, and | earnestly urge
each member of the various communi-
ties to do all in his power toward in
telligent organization and work to-
gether as tremendously as possible for
the safety Of the public health and our
own families"
Citizens Take Action.
} The following is the substance of the
] action taken by the residents of Hilo
as reported in the Herald of December
p:
! Pursuant to a call by Sheriff An
! dreWs the courthouse was crowded with
. citizens Sunday afternoon for the pur-
. pose of organizing committees with a
. view to preventing, as far as possible
the introduction of the black plague
: into Hilo. The absence of news from
I Honolulu compels action without def
mite. information, and HilO is cOnse-
quently cropping in the dark; the work
of committees will, therefore, be or
general lines.
Sheriff Andrews called the meeting
to order and announced that its Object
was to arrange for a general cleaning
} up of the town and to have thorough
] organization in event of the disease ap
l pearing here. What is most to be
! avoided" continued the Sheriff, lis
. panic, and this may be best averted by
! organization"
Mr. John Scott was elected chairman
and w II. Smith, secretary.
, Sheriff Andrews then said that all TIL
D direct information he had obtained re
D garding the situation in Honolulu wa
D received on Wednesday night after tn
D arrival of the Kinau from gentleman
D who received it in a letter from
D friend. He Immediately came down t
D his office and called the local physi
D clans together for the purpose of talk
d ing the matter over. AS some OF tn
n freight on the Kinau was believed t
= be from the store of Wing WO Tai
\ where one death had occurred, it wa
= thought best to have the freight re
= turned to Honolulu. committee Q
y three physicians and two business me
= was then appointed with instruction
to examine the manifest of the Kinau
On Friday the Sheriff had prepare
= his circular letter and then wrote t
D the Board of Health at Honolulu ask
= ing the appointment Of the folloWin
. advisory committee which he suggest
. ed: G.. A. Galbraith, A. B. LoebensteiI
. J. T. Moir, J. T. Baker, DR.. John Grace
. N. C. Willfong, George Rodiek and I
r E. Richards, the Sheriff to be chair
= man. He now asked the meeting to ar
= point a local committee of men VIII
n would make it their duty to inspet
- and where the premises had been nee
1ected notify the officers and have tn
work done.
DR.. Elliot wanted to know VIVA
powers as to quarantine this advisor
committee would have.
The reply was to the effect that tn
- Sheriff had arbitrary powers, but q
y believed better results would be oil
= tanned by having a committee OF cit
= zens with whom he could confer an
. from whom he could receive suggestlo
. and advice This committee Woul
. have powers similar to the Board
Q Health in Honolulu.
= Committee Appointed.
DR.. Elliot said he favored the al
DOintment of local committee but o.
= iected to a central committee with III
limited powers.
7. E. Smith said the Sheriff won
= merely have his hands strengthened
= having the advisory COMMITTEE II
9 conditions here were peculiar; the Q
. ficials here not being selected by Il
O| voters, may not have the same inn
Ol ence as those in the United states.
O. committee of citizens is appolnte
= then it would be more like represent
- ton. He favored the selection OF M
= from each nationality until each W
= represented and the balance be select
= at large.
DR.. Philip Rice said the appointing
of committee was an excellent pla
it was the course followed in t
South during every yellow few