The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-02-20
CLING|NG TO SWANNG PLATFORM MEN
AND WOMEN CHOKE IN SMOKE CLOUDS
(From Sundays Advertiser

Forty panic-smitten men and women
We're held prisoners upon frail, tenn
porary frame stand in front of the
Bow Wong Chinese Society hall on
King street at noon yesterday, while
dense clouds of smoke enveloped and
threatened to suffocate them. Throngs
of people were standing in the street
and scores vainly urged the fire depart
ment to raise its ladders and rescue the
smoke enshrouded, choking victims.
streaming from the society room where
| exploded. The continued explosions
and fumes of powder prevented access
! to the head of the staircase leading
to the street, and several women, were
driven to the front windows and then
out upon the structure, which sagging
threatened to collapse.
the fremen prepared to raise lad
ders to the floor of the stand,
upon which the prinsoners were
standing or crouching, coughing and
crying with smoke and excitement.
But there was hitch. The ladders
were at first raised and then lowered.
One was again hoisted and then, just
as Hawaiian musician was about to
place his feet upon the rungs, it was
again dropped the directing officer
saying just then that there was no need
for ladders as the imprisoned people
could come down the stairs, as the fire
was out. Several protests against this
action were voiced by bystanders,
among the latter being Supervisor
Eben Low.
American Flag in the Way.
Meanwhile, one of the American
women who was held on the balcony,
tore down the American flag hanging
in front and above her, in order that
more air space would be given for the
smoke to clear. She also used the flag
as fan to wave the smoke away from
her.
When the women and several chill
dren finally emerged from the building,
via the stairway, it was through clouds
of pungent smoke as dense almost as
that which followed the explosion of
fireworks. Even those who came upon
the scene later, the fremen and police,
found it no easy task to pass through
the reek in the society hall. Deputy
Sheriff Rose and Captain Baker of the
police department were almost choked
when they first tried it. The deputy
ran to the head of the staircase, got
breath of fresh air, and then ran to
the balcony ready to act should the
stand collapse.
} Too Many Cigars.
The society rooms were thronged at
, noon. The hosts were busy greeting
newcomers and many of the guests
were seated on the chairs between the
staircase and the balcony. Trays OF
3 sweetmeats and liquids were being car
ried around by members of the society
cigars were passed out by handfuls and
almost every male in the rooms puffed
/ away at Manila perfecto. Severa
i bamboo poles were rugged with long
strings of firecrackers, and huge
bundles of fireworks were stacked neal
e the open window through which thu
! explosions and when he did arrive il
poles were thrust on the Waikiki sid,
of the building.
Then came a binding flash as thu
9 strings outside the window were set off
Almost Immediately an explosion tool
q place inside the room, followed by /
cracking discharge of the strings ant
bombs as each new strand was caugh
by the blaze. The smoke billowet
: across the room shutting off escape t
4 the staircase. Those in the room wer
enveloped in thick cloud of yellowisl
fume through which the blaze of tn
II explosions could be seen, red and lurid
u 1t appeared as if the room was on fire
There was panic, rush for the balloon.
:. and the window-doorway was instant
% ly blocked Several Chinese men wer
n accompanied by little children an
these the elders tried to sdueez