The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-12-04
SUVER!C BRINGS
HOPEFUL AND
HAPPY CROWD

II
fine looking lot of people," said #. p.
Sargent, U. s. immigration Inspector,
last night at the immigration Receiv-
ing Station, where he was superin-
tending the feeding and housing of the
thirteen hundred and odd Portuguese
passengers landed in the afternoon
from the British S. s. Suveric.
II have seen many, many shiploads
of immigrants" continued Mr.. Sar-
gent, but / must say these are the
brightest and best appearing lot i have
ever helped inspect. From the point OF
my position everything Is perfectly sat
isfactory so far. And they are all
ready to go to work. They are already
inquiring where the plantations are and
how soon 1t will be before they can
commence on their new work"
The Suveric, which left Funchal fif-
ty-two days ago with the first imml-
grants coming in response to the new
movement of the Board of immigration
and the Planters Association, arrived
off port early yesterday morning. She
was visited by the quarantine and i'm
migration officials, by Inspector Sar-
gent, Secretary Atkinson, the Portu-
guese consul and the other interested
officials, being finally locked in the
Bishop slip shortly after noon.
There was a long delay before any
of the immigrants were allowed ashore,
the quarantine doctors having discov-
cred the presence of large number OF
eases of measles among the children
aboard, making it necessary to secure
the consent of the Territorial Board
of Health before any might leave the
vessel. In the meanwhile the new set
tiers crowded the rail- their satisfac-
ton at having arrived at the end Of
their long voyage shining in their faces.
This satisfaction was expressed in the
cheers of the many when the side OF
the big steamship scraped the dock
and the lines were made fast.
AS the landing, which it was expected
they would make as soon as the vessel
locked was delayed and the long min
utes dragged past with no apparent
prospect of getting off the ship, many
of the immigrants grew impatient, their
Impotence being helped out by the
liberal indulgence of many in the wine
being passed around. The immigrants
had tasted all day, their excitement at
the sight of the near land having in
duced them to forego their breakfast
and their anxiety to get ashore putting
dinner out of their minds. In this state
the effect of the wine was rapid and
at one time, while the thousand excited
people were jammed at the top of the
gangway, 1t seemed that some of the
women and children would be injured
in the fight that appeared to be brew
ing or crushed in the jam. One woman
grew hysterical and had to be carried
down the gangway, struggling and
shouting. Fortunately nothing worse
happened to mar the joy OF the new
corners in their arrival at their new
home.
WILD IN THEIR JOY.
Finally, a few minutes before four
o'clock, the members of the Board of
Health gave the word that the landing
might be made Then the crowd began
to stream down the gangplank, being
counted as they stepped on to the
wharf. The first man down jumped
the last six feet, cheering as he struck
the dock. Following him came wo-
man and then dozen men, who
Rugged each other in their delight at
being at last on Hawaiian soil. One
young fellow turned handsprings to re-
lieve his feelings and within a few
minutes the wharf was covered with
yelling people, capering about in the
most joyful manner possible.
Nearly everyone of the immigrants
came down with hands full. Many of
them had violins and banjos some had
an armful of tin dishes, one carefully
carried a birdcage with canary In
1t and most OF them carried babies.
ANOTHER DELAY.
After the tallying machine in Cap
tain Shotton's hand had licked Off two
hundred, further landings We're stop
ped. the idea of the immigration off,
cials being to take them over to the
receiving sheds in patches. This delay
annoyed those still crowded around the
top of the gangplank. which annoy
ance threatened to grow into a riot
as the delay was increased through a
hitch somewhere at the immigration
office. The crowd was tired and hun
cry and many of them were drunk,
threatening TO grow ugly,
Fortunately the signal to recon-
N'N''t lh' WAS gwen
in time to prevent any i'll results, and
this time 1t was deemed wise to let all
come down to the dock. once the peo-
pie We're OFF the ship there was no
further fear Of trouble. the feel of solid
ground beneath their feet once more
restoring the good nature OF all.
A GOOD LOOKING CROWD.
Taking them all in all, the immi-
grants seem to be a most deirs BILE lot
OF people. The men are as a rule
young and vigorous. intelligent looking
and each with an air of hope In his
looks and actions. The hardships of
the voyage had told more on the wo-
men and children. not to be wondered
at, but all appeared hopeful. Many
of the women broke down and cried In
their relief as they left the ship and
there was also plenty of wailing among
the little ones, tired out and hungry.
And there appeared to be no end TO
these little ones, or children under
one year old the ships list showed one
hundred and fifty and out of the total
number OF 1928 who landed there were
$50 under fifteen years. Among so
many children, especially with measles
among them, II is not to be wondered