The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-22

v - y
work down toward the waterfront. Ce-
lestials flying from every direction
seemed to pick out King street as their
Mecca, and a dense mass Of humanity
soon filled the entire street from Maui
nakea 70 Nuuanu streets. A long line
of citizens extending across the King
street approach TO the quarantine dis
trict prepared to meet with force any
attempt on the part of the excited ref
ugees to get out. Near Achi's Office a
strong military guard was stationed
and behind these was line Of citizens
standing in reserve. The Chinese
huddled in groups along the sidewalks,
but within half an hour after the panic
began the street was damned. The
Chinese Consul and the Vice Consul
moved among the excited people and
endeavored to calm them. The Chi
nese believed at this time that the
Board of Health had purposely burnt
their houses over their heads; and it
is understood that some rebellious spir-
its among them urged a rush on the
guards; however, no clash occurred.
BY degrees all were moved toward
Nuuanu street as the fire approached,
and by the middle afternoon, were ia
ken in charge of by the committee ap-
pointed to find quarters for them. It
was a long procession the first detach-
ment found when they began leaving
the district and marched along King
street between files of armed guards,
| to the places selected for them. All
the available boxcars at the Oahu Rail-
way Company we're made ready for
those intended for the Kalihi deten-
/ ton camp. Judge Carter personally
| looked after the moving of the mel
ancholy professions which came
through the lines, and perfect order
was preserved.
Despite the great misfortune which
/ had attended these people, most of
them endeavored to maintain a cheer
/ full mood. At first the Hawaiians were
given to tears when directed to pre-
I pare to leave, but upon the journey
| their sorrow gradually left them, and
when the most of them were housed
on the Queen Dowager lands below Ka-
waiahao and were fed. they became
/ light-hearted once more. II was very
noticeable that the Hawaiians' most
valued keepsake, saved from the fire,
was the guitar. Ornamented with its
gay ribbons, and closely guarded from
mishap, this favorite instrument bore
quite a contrast to the amount Of 9TH
er belongings, which were carried along
with them.
When the march began there were
over $500 Chinese, Japanese and ma
tives gathered near Nuuanu street. Aft
er their departure in detachments, the
refugees from Kukui street and the in
tersecting streets were brought down
to Nuuanu and passed out. BY 4:30
D. m. this work was well under way,
and before nightfall every quarantined
person from the burned district had
been provided with shelter and food.
Andrew Browns Statement.
Andrew Brown. as Superintendent of
the waterworks, and Fire Commits
sioner who has had the special super
| vision of the burning of condemned
/ houses. states that the reason the fire
/ got away from the department, was
| first. that shortly after the fire began
| in the morning at which time there
was little or no wind, very strong
northeast wind came up blowing direct
/ ly toward KaumakapiH church; and
| secondly, a spark having caught on the
! steeple too high up for the streams OF
water to reach it, and that having in
/ turn set the roof on fire, it was neces-
sary to take the engines off Of the sur
/ rounding buildings in the attempt 10
save the church.
Removals From Chinatown.
Under the shadow Of the clouds OF
smoke and fire the hordes Of China
town stood in mute terror. Depressed
by their long quarantine, when the
literal baptism of fire came, 1t found
them without spirit. Beyond the con-
fines of the district, particularly along
the main thorOughfares OF King and
Beretania. they beheld not only the
guardsmen with bayonetted guns, but
\ a mass Of people which must have ov-
erawed them by its very numbers.
Hundreds OF these citizens had vol
UNFAIRLY offered their services 70 hold
the Chinese and japanese OF the
plaRue-infected district in check
should the advancing fire cause a riot
before the unfOTtunates could be
brought out in an orderly manner. The
men and boys armed themselves with
every imaginable kind OF weapon
Baseball bats and pick-helves We're no.
tably conspicuous, but in the volunteer
army could be seen less wieldy bu,