Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-13

IOwever, and Lost his Wad
When sugar growing first brought Ha-
wai's name before the world the white
planters, finding that no dependence could
be placed upon native labor, began to inn
port Chinese coolies With him John
brought over many of his native customs,
among them the use Of opium. Thus was
born the Honolulu opium trade AS ship
load after shipload of coolies arrived at
Honolulu the demand for the poppy juice
increased proDorionstely.
IN those early days a native sovereign
ruled Hawaii-ruled to all outward appear
ances; but sharp yankee merchants pulled
the strings behind the throne. The King
was we'll aware Of it, but as each quill
poured shower of gold into his lap he
raised no objections. Besides, he had a live
interest in some of the business deals
himself
With the increase of the Chinese pOoula-
tiou the white merchants saw a new field
for enterprise-the importation of opium.
But at first it did not pay. The bulk of
opium was small in comparison to its value,
and all the sailors on incoming ships
brought chestfuls of it. This competition
made profits comparatively small So the
strings were pulled, and the King declared
opium coutraband--to be strictly excluded
from the country except as medicine. Then
the trade became profitable. Opium could
be bought in San Francisco for from 50 to
SI7a pound could be smuggled into Homo
luhi, and there sold for 500 a profit of 500
per cent. A fairly good revenue service
killed of too much competition, aud SNUG
Cling became a safe and profitable business
to the members of "the ring'-pro6table
to outsideSs also but not safe.
The establishment of the steamship lines
between the Orient and San Francisco via
Honolulu was a great blow to the business.
The men in the crews bought their dope"
in Hongkong for So a pound and smuggled
great quantities into Hawaii. Prices fell a
half, and there remained steady.
IN regard to the smuggling of opium into
Hawaii a former quartermaster on a Pacific
steamer gives the following account from
his personal experiences:
Some years ago before the acquisition of
the islands by the United States, / was
-quartermaster on a steamer that made
regular trips between Honolulu and San
Francisco. We had as part of our crew
number OF men known to the revenue Of
fcers as practiced hands at importing the
stuff " but so cunningly had they operated
that none of them had ever been actually
captured although the revenue officers had
made several desperate efforts to do so.
There was not a soul aboard the ship that
did not have secret dealings with the Chi
nese ashore, but it was these half dozen
men in particular that bothered 'the ring"
on shore especially. for they were whole
sale dealers, and, moreover, made no secret
Of it.
Ire fAN n RI q rfTf nate and
my watch mate, was reputed to be the most
daring of the lot. He was a quiet little
fellow with mild voice and quiet manner.
Billy" as l will call him, had belonged
TO the ring" in former days, but some
quarrel or disagreement over a division of
spoils had caused him to withdraw and
start out independently. From that moment
be became a marked man. But that was as
far toward his capture as they ever got.
Billy" marked some of the shore gang,
TOO, on several later occasions, or their
tools. rather, for they never did their own
Sighting
Often on our night watches, when the
decks we're deserted, save by US, Billy"
and would pace up and down the bridge,
he entertaining me with tales of his past
life and escapades.
Some Of the means that he employed in
passing his illicit merchandise ashore were
unique. The stuff was packed in small five
tael (half pound) tins, resembling large
matchboxes. On one occasion Billy con.
cealed dozen of these tins in a bundle of
magazines, made hollow by cutting a square
hole through all but the top and bottom
magazines The customs officer searched
him thoroughly, but never for a moment
suspected the bundle of reading matter.
This trick he played successfully every trip
ior years.
One night BILLY" was not so> lucky. 1t
was our watch on deck until midnight. BY
10 O'Clock the decks were practically de-
serted. The vessel was anchored out some
distance from the wharves Shortly after
10 o'clock a shore boat crept out under our
stern. Billy" with three Of the crew,
dropped down into her from the taffrail,
and the boat slipped of into the gloom that
enveloped the shore In case of inquiry
from any superior officer was to explain
my watch mates absence with some plausi-
bic story.
II was past II o'clock when heard the
report of a gun, followed by the doleful
wall Of bullet over the bay. Looking up
toward the Waikiki Beach above the town
] saw the fash of guns, and several more
shots followed. This continued for several
minutes, then all was quiet gain.
Midnight was approaching and my un-
easiness was increasing. 1 could think Of
no possible story to excuse "Billy's" abb
sence 20 the relieving officer who would
come on deck then. So quiet was the night
that I could plainly hear the warehouse
watchman cough on the steamship wharf.
But no signs Of Billy,
Ten minutes before II phosphoresceut
glow in the water at the foot of the gang
way attracted my attention. A moment
later Billy" crawled up the steps wet aud
bedraggled.
The nights adventure had cost him $500
A revenue launch had spotted them within
100 yards Of the beach. Escape with the
boat would have been impossible, so the
smugglers threw their opium overheard
Hearing the splashes the revenue officers
opened FIRE with their rifles Unable to
make fight Of it the smugglers sprang into
the baY. Billy" being a good swimmer