The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-08
A SHOT GUN
QUARANTINE.
1t Is Maintained at Honolulu
at a Cost
OF $1,000 Per Day to the
Hawaiian Government.
TO RESTRICT PLAGUE.
Many Chinese and Japanese
Starving In Consequence.
There Have Been II Known
Cases Of the Black Death.


San Francisco. Jan. s.-The steamer |
Hong Kong Maru, arrived early this
morning from China and Japan via
Honolulu and anchored at the quaran-
tine station to await inspection.
A letter from Honolulu, dated Decem-
Der 80, says:
The curious spectacle is presented
here of a revival of the shot gun quar-
antine around the plague infected dis
trict, while sanitary measures and dis
infection have been practically aban-
doned. The board of health called out
the national guard three days before
Christmas because of the discovery of
four new cases Of plague, two of which
proved fatal. 1t is now paying $1,000 a
day for guards and the result of this
strict guard is demOralizing and many
poor Chinese and Japanese who worked
in the American quarter are starving
The Gordon drawn around the ASiatic
district includes many of the leading
Chinese and japanese dealers, who live
in sanitary fashion and are making a
strong protest against needless hard
ships to which they are subjected. The
original method of fumigating all
Oriental merchandise imported has been
abandoned and much Of this fumigated
freight is handled by Hawaiians.
There have been seventeen known
cases Of bubonic plague in Honolulu to
date. There have been number of
other deaths which We're probably due
to plague, but the board of health has
not officially so declared them.
Passenger traffic between the islands
is practically at a Standstiu. The inter
island steamship companies refuse to
take passengers on account of the oner-
Gus quarantine conditions imposed
Fumigated freight is accepted, but is
loaded and discharged from lighters
n q Rria
Maru which arrived here from San
Francisco on December q discharged
her passengers and freight by means
of lighters.
The transport Grant with the Forty
eighth Infantry arrived a few hours af-
ter the America Maru. Her comman-
der refused to come into the harbor, or
have anything but the barest communi-
cation with the pilots and port officials,
and started for Manila after a stop of
not more than an hour.
BURNING INFECTED DISTRICT.
Honolulu, Jan. 1, via San Francisco,
Jan. 8.-Seven additional cases of
plague have developed since last adVI-
ces, making 13 cases all told to date.
Three cases were discovered on the
night of the 2Sth ult., and four cases
have been reported during the past 48
hours. The board of health has decid-
ed to take radical steps to stamp out
the scourge. A portion of the infected
district was condemned and burned to
the ground yesterday. Three buildings
ana a large warehouse were destroyed
by fire. The future policy of the health
authorities will be to destroy all in
fected buildings.
The board of health here is severely
criticised by the two leading papers
here-the Star and the Advertiser. In
short these journals claim that the
members of the health board appear to
be incompetent and therefore are incap-
able of handling the present trouble.
There is still a feeling of doubt as to
the nature of the disease. The majority
of intelligent people do not consider it
plague. But the fact remains that the
victims are stricken and die very sud
denly. If the trouble is not plague, it
is something akin to it.
The presence of the plague in this
city is commencing to worry tie sugar
men. They have an idea that Hawaiian
sugar may be refused a t United States
ports if shipped from Honolulu. To get
around this difficulty the new CROP NAV
be shipped from ports outside of Hon
Olulu. Honolulu being the only infected
port it is believed the federal authori-
ties will agree to this plan and allow
the marketing of the 1899 crop.
The barkentine VIM. Carson, Captain
J. Piltz with coal from Newcastle and
the island steamer Claudine met in col
Hsion off Diamond Head on the night
of December q.
The Claudine struck the Carson bow
on and the sailing vessel commenced to
sink in a few minutes.
The hulk of the Carson was recovered
by tugs.
Both vessels had all their lights burn
ing. The steamer is said to have chang
ed her course so as to head directly
for the barkentine. just before the col
nsion. Five minutes later she left with
the captain and wife and the crew of
the sunken vessel, bringing them
ashore.
Nothing was saved from the William
Carson. The crew had barely time to
get aboard the Claudine before the
barkentine sunk.
The VIM. Carson was less than year
old. She was launched at Eureka, Cal,
on the I'd of last June. From there she
went to Port Blakely, taking lumber
from that port to Australia. She left
Newcastle SO days ago with 1850 tons
of coal and a crew of 13. The value of
the VIM. Carson and her cargo was
about sec, ,00O