The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-29
PLAGUE WAS
FROM HERE
Honolulu Chinese Dies
On Coptic.
GUARANTEED At KOBE
No Particulars As to Identity of Vic
tim--News Comes by the
Doric.

1t was a Honolulu Chinese who died
of the plague on the steamer Coptic be-
fore reaching Kobe, the news of which
was signalled to the Doric when the
latter vessel steamed out of that har-
Dor for this port. So states the surgeon
of the Doric and he is corroborated by
Marine Hospital Surgeon Carmichael
of this city who received the Doric sur
geons official report. The Coptic came
to anchor outside Kobe harbor on Aug
ust 10, the day before the Doric was to
sail She left Honolulu August 2. Her
captain signalled there had been a
death aboard of a Chinese, and they
suspected the disease was plague. An
order for plague expert was sent to
Toxic, and Dr. Kitisato, the famous
Japanese expert on the disease was
sent TO Kobe Immediately to make an
examination.
When the Doric passed near the Cop
tic on her way out, the latter spoke
Captain Henry Smith of the outgoing
steamer, stating that he had been plac-
ed in quarantine for ten days as there
seemed to be evidences that the patient
4 had succumbed to plague. The patient,
( they said, was a Chinese who had
| boarded the steamer at Honolulu as a
passenger.
The report of the plague death was
given out by some of the Doric's pas
sengers Monday evening when the Do
ric came into port, although it was not
officially confirmed. Mr.. Hall, one OF
the passengers for Honolulu, stated
that he understood that the Chinese
hailed from this city. Other passengers
had the same report to make. The
gravity of such a statement was under
stood by several of the Board of Health
members who were made acquainted
with the news late in the evening, but
they were 10th to believe that a Chi
nese from Honolulu had been stricken
with the disease. DIR. Wood had not
heard of the news until told by an Ad-
vertiser reporter. He stated he did not
believe it possible. He was gratified tC
learn, however, that Honolulu Chinese
or not, the disease had broken out else
where than in Honolulu.
Yesterday afternoon DR.. Carmichae
stated to an Advertiser reporter thai
there seemed no doubt whatever that
the case originated in the Hawaiian
Islands. Just who tho Chinese was, OF
where he came from in these Islands
is not known. Simply the bare fac
that he was from Honolulu.
This brings to mind DR.. Woods state
ments made before the Board of Health
when the affairs of the plague were be
ing ended and the city was about to re
sumo its normal condition after severa
months under quarantine, that the citi
Zens and officials alike must not cease
to continue the fight against insanitar!
conditions as begun when the plague
epidemic first broke out on the 18th O.
December. If Honolulu has again drift
ed into an unhealthful state despite tht
repeated warnings of the President o.
the Board of Health that a second cpl
demic would break out, it has been due
TO carelessness in this one great factor
/ of cleanliness.
The report of this plague case Should
be sufficient to accentuate interest il
establishing filtration plants in Nuuanl
valley and otherwise keeping the city
clear of accommodations of filth. The
news is an argument in favor of tn,
completion of the sewer system at tn,
earliest possible date.