The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-11-15
FOUR MEN DRINK A DEADLY DRAUGHT
and DIE SUDDEN AND PAINFUL DEATHS

other Portuguese, drank small quanti-
ties of the wine, but evidently not
enough to do much HARM as they have
not suffered any serious consequences.
One serious possibility is that Silva
sold or gave away some of the wine
before his death, in which case more
cases of poisoning may develop. The
old man had a fine place on Punchbowl
street, and received many visitors. His
grapes were a source of great pride to
him, and they attracted the attention
of others as splendid samples of the
possibilities of this climate and soil in
grape growing.
At II o'clock today an autopsy was
begun at the Board of Health morgue
on the body of Joaquin Silva. The sto-
mach was first opened and examined.
TherL was found unmistakable signs of
poisoning, though the character of it
could not be determined. About a doz-
en- physicians witnessed the post NOR
TEN, those attending the cases being
among the number. After the stomach
was examined the brain was exposed
and carefully inspected. Specimens of
stomach and brain were taken for che
mical analysis. This autopsy will be
the only one held as it is established
that all of the men died from the same
cause.
Early this afternoon Food Commits
sioner Shorey received from the police
of the concoction taken by the dead
men. He would not venture any opi-
Mon as to what the mixture is, prior
to analysis, but from the smell it is
plain that there is a large proportion Of
methylated spirits in it and something
eles that has the odor of fusil oil or a
kindred compound.
A. Silva who drank the stuff and stIll
lives is the well known Portuguese poll
ceman. He has been on the force sew
eral years. This morning he complain
ed of having felt dizzy since Tuesday
but was otherwise all right. He also
felt a pain in the stomach and in the
neighborhood of the digestive organs.
A man named Pimentel who drank
some of the stuff was down town this
morning. His experience was much
that of Policeman Silva. The worst
case not yet heard from is that of still
another Silva, named Manuel store
keeper on Kauai. He is said to have
taken more of the drink than any of
the others at the wake. The same af-
ternOOn he took a steamer for Kauai
and has not since been heard from.
Portuguese shake their heads in regard
to him and predict that news of his
death will arrive by the next steamer.
The right name of the old nursery
man the first to die, was Jose Antonio
de Silva. He was a native of Madeira
aged siXth-two. He left a wife and
several chlldren back there but the par
| -iFulars concerning them are not known
here, This morning Consul Canavarro
| filed petition in the Circuit court for
the appointment of ]. A. MOsario as
administrator of the dead mans estate.
The property is valued at $500 and con-
sists of the nursery premises.
A symptom of all the patients that
| has excited the special interest of the
medical fraternity is that they went
| blind some time before death. In the
case of Cabral 1t is related that he rea-
| lized all going on about him but could
see nothing. He recognized the voice
| of his employer H. H. Williams but
had to feel around on the bed to grasp
his hand. 1t seemed to be a peculiar
species of paralysis that destroyed the
sight but did not affect the other facul-
| ties.
DR.. Pratt, who signed the death certi-
| ficate in the first case, is positive that
| Silva was not poisoned. He says the
cause of death was disease with which
! Silva has suffered for years.
The coroner's jury in the case has ad-
journed till reports are received from
the doctors and chemists.