The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-07-05
pisturbsnce at Aberdeen.
"FUNG sHUi" TO THE FORE,

J Last night, at about bali past
seven o'clock, considerable excite
ment was occassioned at Aberdeen
by the junks and fishing boats lying
in the harbour suddenly opening a
brisk fusilade from rifles, muskets,
cannon and other weapons which
they happened to possess. The
Police in the vicinity we're immedi-
ately turned out under arms, and a
message was sent to the Central
Station for assistance. Accordingly
a launch was prepared to leave
with a strong force Of armed Police,
but before abe could be despatched,
message was received 10 the effect
that matters had quieted down and
the firing had ceased.
Upon enquiries being made at
Aberdeen, 1T was discovered that
this demonstration was for the pur-
pose Of soaring away a white launch
which is said to have appeared in
the offng, aud which the Chinese
declared had come for the purpose
OF kidnapping children.
Shortly after ten o'clock he firing
again commenced, aud was kept up
Internationally until about one
o'clock this morning. The Chinese
were, however, firing in the air, and
as nobody was hurt or likely to be,
the Police thought that it would be
better to leave them alone and allow
the excitement 10 subsidc, as it was
thought that il any attempt was
made to stop the demonstration, the
Chinese ia their excited state would
probably commence to FIRE at oil
and sundry, and considerably blood
shed would result. 1t was also
thought prudent to let no launch
go near Aberdeen, as had one ap.
peared in the vicinity there can be
little doubt but that she would have
met with very hot reception. The
Police were certainly wise in allow.
ing the Chinese to cool down OF
their own accord, and we learn that
steps are being taken to day to
guard against recurrence OF the
disturbance which might lead to
disastrous results.
1t appears that for some time past
rumours have been in circulation
amongst the Chinese to the effect
that the British had found that the
"Fung Shut" along the route OF the
proposed Canton-Kowloon Railway
was 30 powerful that unless some
means could be found to counterfeit
it, work would be impossible, owing
to this mysterious influence tearing
up the rails, causing the embark.
ments to collapse and generally up.
setting matters. To exercise the
spirits of the land, it is said that the
British have found it will be neces.
sary to obtain a certain number OF
bodies to bury under the founda-
tions of the railway at various
points, and it is for this purpose
that we are supposed to be on the
prowl in the vicinity of Aberdeen
with white launches, ready to seize,
murder and carry off women and
children. Apparently some evil
minded persons have been busy
amongst the Aberdeen fisher folk of
late, and have stirred them up to
such pitch OF apprehension that
their fears brought about last
nights demonstration. What would
have been the result had the Police
attempted to interfere last night
instead or wisely holding aloof can
be easily imagined. The excited
Chinese would have taken them for
a kidnapping party. Shots would
have been exchanged and the
chances are that many valuable
lives would have been lost, as the
result OF the criminal folly of few
Chinese busybodies who have been
working upon the credulity OF their
more ignorant fellow countrymen.
We trust that the matter will not
be allowed to drop. Last nights
fusilade, more by good luck than
anything else, proves to have been