The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-12-08
CUSTOMS OFFICIALS
DEHOUNGE YELLOW Tale
SENSATIONAL MORNING PAPER
BRINGS DOWN WRATH
OF MANY.
No Truth in Coal Stealing Yarn-capt.
MacauIay Shows Printed State
ments to Be False-mispIaced
Fuel at Newcastle.

For an example of insane driyel
and simon pure unadulterated rot
founded upon the yellowest romance
then commend me to the Advertiser.
Such was the forceful statement OF
a Custom-house man yesterday after
having finished q perusal OF the Mis-
sionary Miscellany of yesterdy morn
ing, wherein sensational reference
was made to wholesale coal stealing.
a lurid tale. filing a columns space,
the gist of which being that coal ar
irving in the port of Honolulu is be-
ing mysteriously spirited away dur
ing process OF unloading was pro-
nounced by men having business along
the waterfront as wholly untrue, the
story not being based upon a single
straightforward and truthful fact.
In Custom-house circles the foolish
screed is given the lie direct. This
department does not mince matters
in passing comment upon a paper
which goes out of its way to falsely
mahgn the employees of this branch
of the Federal service. The "Syste-
matte Thefts" dream which appeared
in prints is taken as another direct
sap at the Custom-house. These at
lacks by unprincipled scribblers have
appeared in this papers columns with
much frequency. and it is possible
that some endeavor will be made ID
bring the offenders to a realization
OF their folly and career OF misrepre-
sentation TO an end.
Captain r. NJ Macaulay, the official
weigher in the Federal service was
among those on the war path yester-
day He is at loss to account for the
attack upon him yesterday. He states
that as an instance of the wholesale
untruths contained in the aspersions
made against the Customs department
the following appeared:
"One of the ships which lost the
greatest amount of coal was the James
Tufts, which is supposed to be loser
by forty-six tons. The agents and
shippers finally came to the concur
sion that there was something rotten
here, and the investigation was start
ed. After the loss of the forty-six
tons, a watch was kept on other yes
sells, and it is presumed that those
engaged in pilfering wisely desisted
fl ON making attempts to steal and the
weights nearly agreed etc.
Captain Macaulay positively stated
yesterday that the Tufts referred to-
as having lost coal here by theft.
never discharged a pound of coal at
the port of Honolulu during her en-
tire career. Furthermore, he declar-
ed that ali vessels weighed are under
his direct charge. For every vessel
containing a shortage of coal, Captain
Macaulay will youch for six with car
goes of overweight He is willing to
back up his assertions as well as de-
mails regarding the false misreDresen-
tation against the Customs depart
ment by figures covering an extended
period.
Here is an instance accounting for
isolated cases of shortage in coal car
goes" said Captain Macauiay. The
bark Passepartout, arriving here last
February. entered port with cargo
listed at $40 tons of coal. When dis
charged only a trifie over 1913 tons
was checked by local weighers. there
being a shortage OF IL tons. This yes
sci 4NGhCdSlAC, 90 -
ing alongside the bark Fantasi at the
Australian port, which also received
a cargo OF coal for Honolulu The
Fantasi arrived here the latter part
of February. Her cargo of coal was
entered at 1927 tons. When dis
charged it tailed at 1876 tons. making
10 tons OF coal over that listed on the
manifest. The solution was plain
The vessels were coaled at the same
time at Newcastle. Certain cars Of
fuel intended and weighed out for the
parsepartout missed connections at
the Newcastle bunkers and the coal
instead went 10 the hold of the Fan
tasi."
Yes" Insisted Captain Mcaulay. II
can vouch for il that for every coal
ship entering here with a shortage
can show AT least ten with excess OF
cargo As for thieves stealing forty
six tons from ore vessel, say il Is