The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-25
PORTO RICANs MUTINY.
Contract Laborers For Hawaii De-
MED Enough to Eat.


Honolulu, Jan II, via Victoria B. c.,
Jan. Pa mutiny Of Porto Ricans on
board an island steamer about to take
them to an island of Hawaii, startled
Honolulu Wednesday night Of this week.
The vessel was stopped just as she was
leaving Honolulu harbor by the action
of the emigrantS, one Of whom drew a
knife on the master of the vessel, Cap
tain Olsen. 1t is stated that the cause
of the trouble was the failure to feed the
immigrants The Porto Ricans say that
all the food they had on the day of
their arrival in Honolulu and up to the
time of their departure for Hawaii at
about in the afternoon was a bun for
each. When they were all put aboard
the island steamer, which was the
Inter-Island company'S packet Ke-Au-
Hou, they found that the cook had no
meal prepared. On the vessel were 128
of the 1893 who came here on the City
of Pekin. 1t was a matter of some
time for the cook to prepare food for
such a number, hence the row. The Ke-
Au-Hou suddenly dropped her anchor in
the harbor a. few minutes after she had
left the City of Pelxin and signaled for
the police. Deputy Sheriff Chil1ings-
worth and several officers went out to
the vessel and restored order. Captain
Olsen wanted the man who had drawn
the knife arrested and taken ashore but
the others threatened a general revolt if
this was done and the man with the
knife was allowed to remain on board.
A search was made for the knife. but it
could not be found. Two policemen re-
manned aboard the vessel, and she pro-
ceeded to her destination.
During the row the emfgrants, who
were destined to various plantations
became so much mixed that there is
fear Of more trouble in sorting them out
They had all been given tags bearing
their names and number and the name
of the plantation to which they were to
go. In their anger over the lack Of food
and threatened arrest of one of their
number, many of them tore the tags
off their clothing and threw them away
Four hundred more negroes from the
United States also arrived on the Pelxin
Some vigorous local objections are be-
ginning to be heard to the importation
Of negro labor as it is feared that some
Of the criminal experiences of the
southern states may be repeated here If
negroes are brought in large numbers. A
row of this sort has already been re-
ported from Waikiki, Maui, where
pistols are said to have been drawn dur
ing a difficulty over some women Par
ticulars have not vet reached Honolulu
First Circuit Court Judge Humphreys
is ready to resign from the bench as
soon as the present vacancies are filed
He says his private practice will. not
allow him to serve longer in view Of his
present financial circumstances.
The United States army transports
arriving lately with heavy cargoes found
Honolulu harb0r filing in, and Captain
Shaker. cuartermaster in charge here,
says some dredging will have to be done
very soon. The big transports fire.
quently touch bottom now in taking
their berths, though as the bottom filed
in is soft mud no injury is done. Tides
and currents are supposed to have
caused this filing in.
A very rare coin was found last Tues
day by excavators who were working
on foundation for building IN the
heart of the city It Is one of the first
1ninted half dollars of 1853 and is said
to be a coin of great interest to col
lectors The finder was offered $500 for
the coin.
The schooner Twilight which arrived
here IN distress from the South Sea ISL
ands. is ready to proceed on her run
to San Francisco. United States Judge
Estee. who made an order that certain
repairs must be made On her. has given