The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-09-15
Chas F. Herrick Carriage Company Ltd.

there arose a high wind which render
ed the flames more furious, so that
burning cinders were carried to the
top of the steeples of the church. Be
fore long the steeples were in flames, !
and, owing to their height, all efforts !
to quench the fire We're baff1ed.
From this high eminence, burning
cinders were carried by the strong
wind which prevailed to the other
buildings of the district, and, in a very
short time, the whole of Chinatown
was in flames.
The people confined within the mar
row limits Of the plague stricken dis
trict rushed out into the streets for
safety, carrying with them their most
valuable articles, but these the guards
seized and cast back into the burning
buildings, whereupon the people had
to leave behind them their earthly
treasures which they had accumulated
by years of unremitting toll. The
flames drove them on toward the en-
frances to the quarantine district. Here
they were met by soldiers with bayo-
nets and by citizens with pick-handles
obstructing their exit.
At this juncture excitement was high
and there was imminent danger OF
bloodshed. But better counsel prevailed
for the civil authorities personally
allayed the excitement of the multitude
by telling them that the Government
would surely recompense them for the
losses sustained Relying upon the
representations of the authorities, the
people of Chinatown subdued their ris-
ing tendency to do violence, and were
driven meekly in lords to the old
stone church and the barracks, and
thence to the various detention camps,
where they suffered untold hardships.
When the people were released from
the detention camps, they found that
their homes were made desolate, and
many were forced to sleep on Govern
ment highways. Trusting, however, to
the representations of the authorities
that they would be recompensed for
their losses, the refugees Of the great
fire bore their hardships with Joblike
patience. Without employment or oc-
cupation, they were forced to live upon
public and private charity, with the
hope that the Government would soon
pay their losses, when they would be
able to build up anew their homes and
places of business
But months and years have passed
since the great fire, and no satisfac-
ton has been made by the Govern
ment to pay the sufferers for the losses
sustained. Impatient at the delay of
the Government to reimburse them,
many of the sufferers became despond-
| ent and were led to take their own
lives; others worried over their losses
so much, wondering whether they
would ever regain their former stand
| ing in the community which years of
! -{Dh1 icha6 no
it brought on sickness and death, leav
ing their wives and children in help
less circumstances; and still others
were driven to insanity.
Notwithstanding the untold sufferings
which the people have patiently en-
dured, the Court of Claims created to
adjust the claims of the sufferers, has
increased their sorrow by cutting down
their claims by an average of 80 per
, centum without reason other than that
the appropriation was insufficient to-
pay their claims in full. But this is
not ALL For, to add to the burden
which has become too heavy to bear,
the Government is unable to pay even
according to the awards of the Court
of Claims, partly owing to the deficit
in the Territorial Treasury, but prin-
cipally to the fact that the appropria-
ton made by the local Legislature was
ultra wires, in that it exceeded it's
powers under the restrictions imposed
by the Organic Act as per section sol
of same, and, consequently, the war
rants which were to have been issued
to the claimants have been withheld.
In view of the present financial con-
dition of the Treasury of the Territory
in view of the illegally of the appro-
priation by the Territorial Legislature;
in view of the fact that one and al
quarter millions of the customs collec-
tons of this port is yearly transferred
to the Golfers of the Federal Govern
ment; and in view that this is a part
and parcel of the United States of
America; and in view, further, of the
fact that the people are still suffering
| from the effects of the great fire, either
directly or indirectly, your memorialists
humbly pray that, since you have so
ProvidentialIy came into our midst, you
may make thorough investigation of
/ the distressing conditions of the suffer-
ers by the great fire, and use your in
/ fuence at the next session of Congress
/ TO urge the passage of a bill appropri-
ating an amount large enough to pay
the claims of the sufferers in full; and
for this your memorialists will ever
pray.
We have the honor to be, gentlemen,
your most obedient and humble SER
wants,
W. CHAS. AHFOOK,
c. K. Al.
L. AHLO,
| WONG CHOW