The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-12-24

ARE HERE
Porto Ricans Came on
The Rio.
ONLY IS OF 1874 HIRED
Those Seen Seem Contented and
Hopeful Of Happiness in
Hawaii.

-og - err oAbfF'y Nt7"+A1N 80
Pacific Mail dock were the much-talkeS-
of Porto Rican laborers and their fam
lilies. One and all. men, women and
children, leaned over the rail and were
as interested in gazing upon the shores
of their new Island home as were the
who were their fellow
True. the Porto Ricans are not pre-
lot Of people. Porto Rico Is
not noted for physical beauty in its
men and women. Amongst the labor
ing classes there beauty is not an at
tribute. The Porto Ricans aboard the
Rio show their mixed racial character
istics in face. figure and expression.
They are poor people; they were poor
in their own land. and those in the
band of fifty-six which came yesterday
said that Hawaii was TO them a land
of promise. and not one Of terror. as
the San Francisco Examiner had paint
ed in hysterical articles relative TO
these people.
Few of them have much of the world 8
goods in their possession. Few Of them
ever knew what II was to possess more
than one suit Of clothes. Coming from
a warm insular climate and suddenly
striking into a cold country during
their railroad journey across the Main
land they were little prepared 10 with
stand its rieors.
But with their arproach 10 honolulu
the laborers seemed TO take on new
lease of life and they were in happv
mood YESTERDAY The RIO was delave"
for a short time awaiting the arrival
of these 1aborers. The vessel waited
i'm the stream at San Francisco while
n tug brought them from the railroad
The tug pitched up and down and the
greatest dt~cultv was evrerienced in
getting therr aboard. While this p~o-
cess of charsirg was going on some
of the discontented spirits among the
Porto Ricars Induced nearly half Of
them to keep of the steamer ard 70
fuse To- go to Hawaii The Rio finally
had to leave their.
Major Potter who came on the Rio.
saws that the stories which have been
printed OF the terrible trials" OF the
Porto Ricans are untrue. The discon-
tented ones among the band were made
so by Examiner agents who went
among them or the train bearing them
across the continent. Even while the
Ia borprs were crossing the bav to the
Rio an Examiner launch steamed close
beside 10 and the statements that the
men were and would be slaves in Ha-
wall we're reiterated until many Of
them becar>e frightened bv the alleged
prospects before them and abruptly
came 20 a determination to remain be-
hind There was everything TO discour-
age the Porto Ricans. They had n
rough tr1p ~ q fro-r the very start
and the shfrrirg facilities were not Of
the best ut arv period en- route. The
very bad weather encountered in Call
.fnrria discouraged them st'll more.
On the passare down on The RIO they
seemed to be conterted Through an
interpreter an Advertiser reporter
learned from one Of them that he was
feeling well p-d was not alarmed Mt
the prospect before him.
do Won feel that Won are IN engage
in work that you cannot do7"
mo, senior. am certain that the
change from nv country 20 this will
benefit me arr NV family"
"bo you belteve that Won are To be n
slave. az sor-o people told you in the
United Stste~7"
NO, seror. Some Of our party did
but I do not. The wages I am TO re-
ceive are more IMAM 7 could get IN my
native country
\ AZ soon ~ ne RIO locked the I.ehue
lcame aionf-stSie and one by one tn,
Porto Tslcars We're trapsferred 70 tn
little Islard etearrer which had beer
lengaRed 10 tako them 20 Maui. The
lchatted pleasantly with the steward
land others who understood their Ian
lEuaFe and baBe Them afrectionate fare
wells.
Twcnty-rhree italians from Boston
New York Washington and Chicae g
were also srrcnC the laborers VIII
lcame on the RIO. They are to 70 {
SpreckeIsviHe. Happy and contentet
these brawrv sons Of Italy broad q
shoulder and deep OF chest, were a con
trast 70 the Porto Ricans. They wer
lclothed roughly and for more rigorou
weather than they will encounter /
Hawaii. As tire steamer was dockir
these rough NIT gathered on the dec
, land sang the airs Of italy with voice
which had a e<rrcere ring OF pleasul
In them Ore or two had splerid
y lNOlfeS ana Nrr~Sf t-pip NpTh was great
admired by the crowds on the doc
Vt on Transferred 20 the Lehua In con
lpany with the Porto Ricans thew gait
Tered into iittbe groups and sang biithel
In appearances count for anything the
lwtll make spic4rrid workmen.
The following Is letter written
lthe Examiner NJ san Francisco ny
A. Thurston. NOW there. The EXAMS
ler's iursd and Tying statements in r
gard TO TIE herdships TO be inflicte
: Ion the Porto yican laborers Gale
forth Mr.. Thur-fon's communication;
D SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 12.-To n
; Editor OF the Exaniner.-Sir:-Yo
J, lpaper has recently contained stat
Iments concerning the Hawaiian plan
!. lers and the ,pborers being recruited
4 work In Hawaii which appear n
r biased on Incorrect information. Beir
in n position 20 know the facts. ~
90 state them:
AZ result Of annexation. rapid .
lpansion Of all Island industries HI
taken place. Imports have more thu
doubled since 1888. while exports ha
rapidly and largely increased. II not
ing interferes. Hawaii's annual ira