The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-01-20

everything in their stock that could be
of service in fighting the fire. Any kind
of hose that could carry stream of
water was put into use. Buckets by
the gross were hurried in wagons from
where they were kept in stock to where
they might be of service.
THE END OF THE FIRE.
The efforts along this line were sue
cessful The fire was DETECTED toward
the river and kept on the river side of
Maunakea street. But 1t burned clear
down to the waters edge Great piles of
lumber, largely timbers, and much of it
belonging to the government, which
was along the water front Eve of the
old fishmarket wharf, was burned.
Much of this lumber was being framed
into wharf timbers or being built II TO
lighters which are sorely needed at
these times.
The dredger which was at work at
the mouth of Nuuanu stream forcing
up material to complete the filing of
River park, hastily quit tina. work and
was moved over toward the railroad
wharf out of danger. King street
bridge, both the temporary one in place
and the new one in process of construc-
tion were burned, and with them the
pile driver which was on this side of
King street.
1t was not until o'clock that anyone
at work at the fire allowed himself to
feel that all danger was over, and even
after that for hours, there could be no
let up in watchfulness and care for it
was not known what unfortuitous cir
cumstance of wind or chance might fan
the embers into a blaze again, and put
the town in danger again. Everywhere,
long after dark and even with the in
tention of continuing it throughout the
night, lines of hose were kept playing
on the blazing ruins.
In its suddenness, it's violence, in its
ramifications and widespread danger,
in the number of emergencies it Great
ed, in the energies it called forth, and
in the number of people it affected to
the point of loss of life or property,
there has never been anything equal to
today's fire in Honolulu, and perhaps
seldom anywhere else.
PANIC AND RIOT.
| Panic, threatened riot, and a devas-
tating fire far beyond the control of the
department, called out all the reserves
of the National Guard and the police,
and brought thousands of citizens to
| the quarantine district and created gen.
eral excitement throughout the town
probably never equalled.
The explosion of dynamite in the at
! tempt to blow up buildings to stop the
course of the fire added to the causes
of apprehension excitement and con-
sternation. The whole town was in tur-
moil. No one knew what to expect OF
what might happen.
Soon after II o'clock the fire which
destroyed Kaumakapili church got be-
yond the control of the fire department
The flames which had leapeo from the
burning buildings where the fire was
first started, to the steeple of Kauma.
kapili church and thence to the Chi
nese joss house on the Eva side spreaC
with amazing rapidity down toward
Nuuanu stream and across the narrow
street toward the sea.
Number l fire engine, from the for
mer house on King street, was caugh
by the flames and destroyed. 1t haC
been moved to a position close to tn,
Kaumakapili blaze. Flames burst sud
denly out of the buildings near by will
such ferocity that the fremen had Il
run for their lives. 1t was utterly i'm
possible to take horses in to rescue tn,
engine and it was buried under tht
burning debris.
The accident was a terrible blow t,
the fire department. Three engine
were left in the field. The chemical
the last in the service, was brought vi
and did its best.
Whirlwind after whirlwind swept tn
burning district. Flaming shingle
were swept in clouds over the neighbor
ing blocks. The efforts of the firemeI
to absolutely put out the fire were of n
avail. 1t went higher and higher an,
surged on down Nuuanu to Kukui ant
all around toward the stream.
FRENZY's VICTIMS.
The people living in this region be
came panic stricken. 1t was no wonder
Imprisoned in the district by line o
soldiers all around, with the fire sweep
ing uncontrolled over the district, burn
ing alive seemed their certain fate
Mobs of the maddened people urge,
simultaneously by the same overwhelm
ing fear moved at the same instant ou
every street leading to River street wit
the intention of forcing their way ou
, The guards obeyed their orders and pre-
[ vented the movement by force. At tn
same time other people in the same dis
trict though not so Immediately in tn
path of the flames gathered toward tn
5 Waikiki side OF the quarantined distriC
) and there was fear that a mob woul
] strive to break out on this side. Wor
was sent to the military headquarter
ana the reserves there were sent to tn
scene of trouble on the double quick. A
, the same time word was sent out an
that together with the general excite
: ment kept bringing in guardsmen t
headquarters, who were sent down
! squads on the double quick to the seen
of action. Many of them were still I
citizens clothes not having had time I
put on their uniforms.
The Marshal at the same time sent u
all the reserves from the police station
! The Citizens committee sent up all tn
inspectors who could be gathered to
getheB. These were for the most PAL
: armed with ak and pick handles frol
the hardware stores. However the SCI
: vices of only a few of these were neet
: ed. The situation within the lines wa
a soon well in hand so far as guardIn
I the population was concerned. But tn
o danger neither police nor military nc
= even the fire department with the aid {
e explosives could avert was becomin
e more imminent-the danger of burnin
{ to death. Hotter and hotter became II
t flames; narrower and narroweS the lin
s its within which the peODle could 1