The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-03-05
GROCERIES DAMAGED IN SOME
UNKNOWN WAY.
Merchants Deluged With Complaints
From Customers-Fumigati Be
lieved to Have Caused Damage.

A large part of the cargo of the Aus
tralia was damaged in some unappar-
ent way on the voyage from San Fran
cisco to this port The goods most
affected were cereals, fruits, meats and
other groceries not in tins. These ar
ticles all have a strong taste of dis
infectants of some sort.
Irwin q Co. have received complaints
from about every grocer in the city.
Some of the firms own goods are al
fected as well.
The first complaint came from the
United States commissary department.
At Camp Mckinley and Iwilei the men
could not eat the new hams brought
by the vessel. An examination was
made and it was found that the meat
was filled with something resembling
sulphur. The shipment was valued at
about $500, and a claim for this was
prepared. When it was submitted next
morning, however Mr.. Ivers stated
that so many complaints had come In
that the whole matter would have to
be referred to San Francisco for ad-
justment.
Mr.. Ivers had something like $4,000
rice on board. Pretty soon the tele-
phone began ringing and the purchas-
ers to complain that there was some
thing wrong with the goods. Then May
& Co., Lewis & Co., and other grocers
began to receive complaints. Lewis
had a lot of rice that was affected
| badly. The most persistent complaints
were about potatoes. many people
throwing them out after a single trial.
At the army commissary a large ship
ment of rice and potatoes has been
! returned from the camps
Two theories as to the cause of the
damage are advanced. One, and the
most plausible, is that entirely too
much sulphur was used in the hold of
| the steamer at San Francisco by the
| United States authorities, and NOT
enough time was allowed afterward
| for reloading. 1t is stated that only
thirty-six hours elapsed between the
/ time of discharging the first cargo and
the embarking of the second for the Is
| lands. Dr. Kinyoun, who is a bit
plague nervous" at best, is said to
have put enough sulphur in the vessel
to fumigate a fleet.
Another theory is that three casks of
carbolic acid leaked out in the ship on
the way down. Some of the merchants
believe this was the cause of the dam
age. OF the matter George w. Smith
said this morning:
"The acid, which was for our firm
was in the lower hold Around 1t wa:
nothing but iron and the heavy, meta
portion of the cargo. 1t all leaked out
but could not have damaged anything
except this heavy material, even could
it affect that. 1 think the explanation
about the sulphur at San Francisco /:
the correct theory"
Lewis & Co. submitted to DR.. Maxwell
samples of potatoes and other good:
for examination and report The spec
ialist stated that the goods were i'm
pregnated with some disinfectant bu
not in quantity to do any harm. H
said, in fact, that the merchandise wa
really healthier, and the only objection
was in the taste.
, Irwin & Co. are submitting a stare
ment of the matter to the San Francis
) co office for investigation at that end
In the meantime, the Australia on he
next trip will be closely watched. l
= open goods are affected in the sam
way it will be established that the sui
phur theory is correct.