The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-07-12


off the top of the volcano.
1t was our watch on deck until mid
night. By 10 o'clock the decks wer'
practically deserted. The vessel wal
anchored out some distance from the
| wharves. Shortly after 10 o'clock 6
shore boat crept out under our stern
BILLY" with three of the crew, drop
ped down into her from the taffrail
and the boat slipped off into the gloom
that enveloped the shore. In case Of in
quiry from any superior officer I was
to explain my watch mates absence
with some plausible story.
1t was past II o'clock when heard
the report of gun, followed by the
doleful wall of a bullet over the bay.
Looking up toward the Waikiki beach
above the town 1 saw the flash of guns,
! and several more shots followed. This
/ continued for several minutes, then all
4 was quiet again.
Midnight was approaching and my
Uneasiness was increasing. could
think of no possible story to excuse
! 'Billy's'' absence to the relieving Off
J Ger who would come on deck then. So
quiet was the night that 1 could plainly
| hear the warehouse Waterman cough
on the steamship wharf. But no signs
! of BILLY
Ten minutes before u a phosphores-
cent glow in the water at the foot Of
| the gangway attracted my attention.
moment later Billy crawled up the
steps. wet and 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. the smugglers threw
their opium overheard. Hearing the
splashes the revenue officers opened
fire with their rifles. Unable to make
a fight of it the smugglers sprang into
the bay. Billy" being a good swim
ner, struck cut for the ship. two miles
distant, while the others escaped
ashore. coming aboard early i'm the
morning watch. The captured boat
was identified as belonging to boat
man ashore long suspected of crooked
work. but as nobody could disprove his
assertion that the boat had been stolen
from his landing the case was dropped
for lack of legal evidence The follow
ing day Billy was accosted on the
ST -'boat wharf by one of the revenue
officers:
Wei. Billy we almost nabbed you
last night"
But you didn't" said Billy coolly
$50 the drinks are on you" The ex-
else man srinned sheepis!iy and stood
the drinks.
a great deal of the smuggling was
accomplished by small sloops or
schooners. They would load at Van
cOuver. b. c., where opium cost only
So Sailing down to the Islands they
" ould land their goods under cover Of
dark night. When such an enter
prise was successfully accomplished
the entire brotherhood Of smugglers
knew it by the change in the market.
as the price dropped several dollars.
Billy declared that every ton landed
meant fail of 81 Sometimes these
schooners were captured, as their own
ers seldom belonged to the ring" their
intention being to make one grand haul
and then retire from business
The methods of the men in the inner
ring" We're simple enough. A certain !
merchant would nave consignment of
petroleum. or matches or timed fruits |
sent To him by steamer freight These
goods were marked ''--." and the rev !
enue officers understood. Once ashore, |
the stuff was easily disposed Of
Billy" one day pointed out 20 me "A |!
small Chinese cigar store in King
street.
That he said, lis All Sings joint
/ deal with him"
The implicit confidence the snug /
siprs had In their Chinese confederates !
was remarkable. They would leave |
aevcral hundred dollars worth Of the /
sun in a Chinamap's charge. not ask !
ing even receipt in return. A day or /
twn later John would turn up aboard I
the ship. ostcusibly to solicit wash
"iiow nuchcc?" ne would ask his 4
creditor, taking him aside.
Two hfty John"
John would tumble reluctantly in |
some mysterious pocket
Too muchee" ne would protest
IL he could beat his man down a few /
dollars he did so. but if he couldn't he
laid down the full amount in gold
on one occasion Billy" was taken
sick in San Francisco. which obliged |
him to miss several trips. Hospital
expenses soon exhausted all his money.
All Sing. in Honolulu. owed him $50 |
AZ n last hope Billy wrote 20 him.
explaining his situation. BY return
mail he received 800 from Sing 4
note was Enclosed. written In excellent
English:
Il send you so extra-guess you will