The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-10-09
JAPANESE BELIEVED
To HAVE BEEN
DROWNED
LAHAINA ACCIDENT BEING IN
vEsTIGATBD BY CONsUL-BECK-
LEY's MONOPOLY HAS CEASED
sTEERAGE PASSENGERS.

News from Lahaina is to the effect
that the Japanese population there IS
very much stirred up over the accident
to a boat-load of deck passengers be-
ing brought ashore from the ClauGine
week ago Tuesday night. The boat
yas capsized, and it is claimed one
man was lost, though there does not
seem to be conclusive evidence of this,
However the japanese in Lahaina be-
Iieve that man was lost and that it
was one of their countrymen.
A number of public meetings have
been held by the Japanese of Lahaina,
and the Japanese Consul, Mkt Saito,
has been appealed to.
According to the statements made to
the japanese Consul the accident which
has so stirred up the Lahaina Japanese
colony occurred under the following
circumstances. 1t has never been the
CUSTOM it is said, of the steamship
companies to land deck passengers
bound from Honolulu to Lahaina at
Lahaina in the steamers boats. But
deck passengers have been obliged to
get ashore from the steamer at its an
chorage in shore boats piled by ma
tiVes for the most part, for which the
charge to the passenger is usually
twenty-five cents. On the occasion in
question the night was dark and the
sea somewhat boisterous. One of these
shore boats left the steamer with three
Chinese and either fourteen or fifteen
Japanese deck passengers. Before
reaching the shore, the native bOatmen
demanded fifty cents each from their
passengers for taking them ashore, in
stead of the usual charge of twenty-five
cents, eu the ground that the service
was more than usually arduous, the
might being dark and the sea rough.
There was good deal of demurring to
this extra charge, but finally the Jap
anese after discussing the matter
among themselves decided that the
boatmen had the advantage of them
and could compel the eXtortion, and
that therefore they would pay it with
out further demur, which they did. The
three Chinese passengers, however,
were obdurate. They refused to pay
more than the accustomed rate of fare.
Arguments were of no avail. They
were in the boat They were willing TO
pay twenty-five cents each, but no
more, and the native boatmen could do
what they please except get fifty
cents apiece from. the Chinese.
Thereupon, it is said, the natives
threatened to capyize the boat, and did
turn it side on tC a coming breaker,
which being bigger than they thought
for and the boat heavily laden, actual
ly did capsize. 5pilling the obdurate
Chinese, the yielding Japanese and the
extOrtionate natives all into the sea-
with their baggage and other belong"
ings. The cries and shouts of the cap
sized victims attracted the attention
ooth of the people on the Claudine and
the Mama Loa v hich was also lying
at anchor, as we'll as of the people on
shore who were awaiting friends from
the steamer. The steamer turned theil
Searchlight on the victims which en-
abled the people on short to put out in
boats to the rescue. There was great
excitement on shore as the Japs and
Chinese drenched in the waves were
brought ashore, some of them almost
drowned When this emergency SER
vice was rendered, someone asked if il
were certain that all had been rescued
Immediately a count was made. II
was said that there were fifteen Japan
ese and three Chinese in the boat, bu
only fourteen Japanese and three Chi
nese were brought ashore. Someone
started the report that the missing per
son was a Japanese woman with
babe in her arms, and this created the
intensest excitement
A delegation was sent to Honolulu
to see the Japanese Consul. From in
VestigationS which have been made i
seems probable that there was not {
woman and child, but some of the Jap
anese state positively that there wer