The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-09-09
OBJECT 70 THE STOCEAD[
LEpEns rHREArEN TO BREAK
IT.
Plan to Allow Visitors 60 Go at Any
Time Board of Health and Guests ar
Molokai

There was an extra force OF guards
ON duty at the leper settlement when
the Board of Health made its visit last
Saturday. on account of the Inaugural
ton of the corral system Of Keeping
visitors away from those whom they
go to see. On Saturday morning num-
Der of the lepers threatened to break
down the stockade and free the inn
prisoned visitors. Very bitter feeling
against the corral system was shown
by the lepers
The new corral is an enclosure close
TO the landing. 1t is doubly fenced.
The visitors walk up from the landing
straight into the enclosure guarded by
police. outside of the fence that keeps
them in, is another fence, four feet
away. on the outside of which the lepers
must remain. The visitors and lepers,
four feet away and separated by two
fences, gaze longingly at one another,
weeping and wailing as they talk.
This scene lasted nearly all day Sat
urday. Then, when the steamer James
Makee was about TO leave, the visitors
We're escorted from the stockade to the
landing. The relatives stood close by
and watched them as they marched,
but not even touch of a hand was
allowed. The fearful scenes to which
old time visitors to the settlement have
almost grown accustomed were enact
ed again anly this time. instead of
lepers and non-lepers locked i'm one an
others arms and refusing to leave until
separated by force the visitors and the
doomed ones they had come to see only
looked at one another and shouted and
Wept The lepers then took seats on
the stony beach and watched, waving
wet handherchiefs and answering the
mournful walls that came to them over
the space where police stood guard until
all the visitors had gone back to the
steamer
The great majority of the unfor-
tunates residing in the settlement had
no visitors and never have any. Only
lucky few are unforgotten by the
world they left behind when they were
sent to the terrible colony at Kalau-
papa, and it is a matter of Indifference
to the rest whether visitors are corralled
or not. But the few have sympathizers
and on Saturday it was the talk for
time that situation of riot might de-
velop as a result of the innovation.
Il find very bitter feeling against the
corral system" said President Sloggett
of the Board of Health, after seeing
many of the lepers who had complaints.
DR.. Pratt, executive officer, reported the
same conditions, and Superintendent
Reynolds stated that he had heard of
the reported intention of some of the
lepeTs to break down the stockade if the
IoOdIu lIitu 70 Keep NlSllOfS Inefe. Key
nolds took the precaution of having an
extra force of police on guard all day
one compensation there may be for
the lepers in having the new stockade it
is possible that they will be allowed to
see visitors at any time, under the
stockade conditions In the past visit
ors have only been allowed to go when
the Board made its trip. 1t is now pro-
posed to allow anyone to go at any time
when steamer happens TO be going to
halaupapa. Any person who wants to
take passage on the steiner may be per-
mitted to do So remaining in the stock
ade and seeing whomever he or she
came to visit. until the steamer leaves.
AS long as the stockade is there it is
argued, there is no reason why anyone
should not be allowed to enter it at any
time, under regulations provided.
Among the visitors to the settlement
this time was DIR. G. l.. Cofer United
States quarantine officer. 81 do not see
what more a government could do for
these people" said DR.. Cofer after see
ing the place. THE settlement is a fine
one, well kept, and it appears to me
that the lepers are very well looked af-
ter Dr. Golfer spent the morning rid
ing to Kaikolu Valley and visiting the
Bishop home. In the afternoon he went
to the Baldwin home. He was enthu-
siastic over the natural beauties of the
place, and took professional interest
in the opportunity to make observations
Of leprosy in the second largest leper
settlement In the world
At two on Saturday afternoon there
was a mass meeting in front of man
ager Reynolds residence. 1t was ar
ranged in the morning, after Dr. Slog-
gett had listened to a long series of
complaints, and had argued over the
stockade, the water supply and many
other things. The arrangement was
finally made that the lepers should as
semble in the afternoon, and tell their
grivances. In the meantime they had
a separate meeting of them own, and
adopted some resolutions.
There had been a good many reports
of coming trouble when the lepers final
ly gathered to meet the board. Later
the reports had 1t that the more Vio-
lent agtators could not get the follow
ing they wanted, to demolish the coral
and make a show of physical force to
gain their demands. The members of
the Board of Health and other visitors
occupied seats on the beautiful lawn in
front of Reynolds house. On the other
side of the fence stood about 300 lepers,
nearly all men. Some of them had been
waiting an hour or more before the
meeting began. d. H. Kahaulelio was
selected to act as interpreter.
IF anyone has anything to say to the
Board. now is the time, said DR.. Slog-
gett. A number of voices called out
various names among the lepers, and
superintendent Reynolds handed Slog-
gett a petition that had been given to
him. Ambrose Hutchinson came for
ward and began to speak. He is well
known member of the colony at Ka-
laupapa, a former assistant superinten-
dent, a wealthy man ana credlted IN
some quarters with being an agitator
and trouble maker in the settlement. He
is half native, well educated ana IN
telligent, and though the disease that
drove him from the world has begun IN
roads upon his powers of speech and
has fearfully disorted the hands he
raised in. gesture, he still showed the
powers of a good speaker.
Hutchinson read. first in native and
then in English, the long statement that
had been handed to Reynolds. Then he
turned and asked those in favor of the
resolutions to signify in the usual man
ner. There was a loud chorus OF ayes
| faln handed