The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-12
TRACK IS LAID
Rapid Transit Rights
Protected.
The New Company Puts Rails on
King Street Amid Much
Public Excitement.

ia lNGIAu AdAEAL ADIA fIlAN ia
done as it intimated it would do when
tAeIramways Company sigDified itsin-
tention to disregard the request of the
Government not to lay its track on the
makai side OF King street, but to put
down rails on the mauka side only.
The Rapid Transit Company with
force OF men laid its rails on the ma
kai side of the street in front Of the
Arlington hotel, toward Fort street.
but the work was not without exciting
incident.
The Tramways Company having per-
sisted in usurping both sides of the
street, the Rapid Transit Company at
a.ou- 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon
ousted a gang OF japanese laborars
that the Tramways Company had put
at work on the Rapid Transit's loca-
ton, and proceeded TO lay its rails.
The Ousting of the japanese attracted
a crowd OF curious people, and they in
turn drew other crowds, unLn within a
few minutes at least five hundred per-
sons thrOngedbOth sides of the street,
expectantly waiting for a fight be
tween the two gangs of men and their
employers. Manager Ballentyne of
the Rapid Transit Company. and Man
ager Pain of the Tramways Company
were both on the ground. Marshal
Brown and Deputy Marshal Chilling
worth with a number of policemen. ap-
peared on the scene and kept the
crowd back, allowing the two COM
panies a free field.
Manager Pain, in the hope of pre-
venting the rival company from laying
rails, transferred a gang of Japs to the
Fort street side of The Rapid Transit
men. endeavoring to sandwich in his
track on Doth sides of the Rapid Tran
sit. Manager Ballentyne soon routed
tne enemy however by putting ten lus-
ty Portuguese behind a 30-foOt rail.
and sweeping down broadside onto the
location. The little brown men disap-
peared like chaff before the wind, and
soon abandoning the attempt, retreat
ed to Alakea street. Mr.. Pain then
took up n position between the lines
marking the boundaries of the earth
to be excavated preparatory to placing
the ties i'm position. Manager Ballen-
tyne, walking along the line. was ask
ed by Mr.. Pain why he a, not order
him off. II will get off the line" said
Mr.. Pain IF you want me TO, but you
must tell me in so many words, sim
ply place your hand upon me and tell
me to get away, and | will do So"
Mr.. Ballentyne replied that he would
not give any such orders, but that Mr..
Pain might be in danger from the
picks and shovels of the workmen if
he persisted in remaining in his pres
ent position.
The boy who stood on the burning
deck wasn't in il with Mr.. Pain. He
remained in the same spot in the street
nearly two hours. waiting to prevent
the laying of rails. In the meantime
Lne laborers employed by the Rapid
, Transit Company approached nearer
and nearer, and eXcavated an around
the Tramway's manager. until he stood
on a pinnacle like a monument. He
waited in vain for some one TO order
him off. Acquaintance in the
crowd hailed him with a laugh, and
here and there a man extended an in
vitation to him to go and partake OF
/ liquid refreshments. Mr.. Pain was
/ forced to decline the invitations. He
was there to do or die, and the festive
cocktail had to wait.
But finally the workmen finished the
( eXcavating and placed the ties in posi-
/ ton. Mr.. Pain still occupied a little
| hill between the ties. A rail was taken
up and the foreman ordered the men
to lay it in its proper place. In doing
so a workman touched Mr.. Pain ac-
cidentally. Keep your paws off," roar
ed the Tramway's manager. HUH"
grunted the man in reply. 4 moment
later the rail touched Mr. Pain. and
he grasped it in an effort to keep ii
from being laid.
The foreman ordered the men to 60
ahead regardless of interference, and
they went. Mr.. Pain chung to the
rail desperately, sOiling his white suit
but was finally compelled TO give NJ
his attempt. The momentary excite
ment drew the crowd of spectators
/ from the sidewalks, but they were
/ driven back by the police. This was al
/ $40 O'clock. Five minutes later the
rail on the other side of the track was
/ laid, Mr.. Pain again attempting tc
stop the work falling over the rail. but
/ in vain. He hen withdrew down Kine
street, with an air OF having done his