The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-02-20

through the press to the balcony. Those
upon the balcony, believing fire
ragged within, surged in mass to the
edge, driven by volumes of smoke. The
people within the room who struggled
to get to the open air met in a Jam
at the window.
Slid Down the Supports.
The smoke filed the windows, and in
order to get air those on the balcony
crouched low. Captain Berger, leader
of the Hawaiian band, which was sta
toned on the stand, stood his ground
and waited for what might come. Some
of his musicians were not so brave, and
slid down the supporting bunting
wound poles to the ground. One drop
ped his trombone and another his clari-
net which hit the pavement and was
smashed. Others started, but being
heavily built finally decided to stay
where they were.
Pandomonium seemed to have broken
loose in the hall. The society members
believing that the explosion would be
followed by fire bravely attacked
the bursting fireworks with mating,
towels and anything they could lay
their hands on to prevent further ex-
plosions. In order to remain in the room
they were forced to tie towels over
their faces.
Would Not Hoist Ladders.
Then came the fire apparatus. Fire
men rushed up the stairs and ascertain
ed that there was NO general fire.
Orders were first given to plant the lad
ders before the structure, but these
were countermanded. The musicians
called repeatedly to the fremen to
raise the ladders, but the latter replied
they had orders to take them down.
The fremen took the ladders apart
and slid them back into the racks on
the chemical and hose wagons.
Finally, when the smoke had become
lighter the women were led through
the room and down the stairs. Chill
dren were brought down by parents and
ready helpers, each child having cap
held closely over its face. Among the
women upon the stand was Mrs Troy,
a stranger, and Miss Hodson, the latter
resident of Honolulu.
While Assistant Chief Deering was
making his report to Chief Thurston,
with Supervisors Murray and Kruger
in the group, Mr.. Thurston explained
why the ladders had not been raised.
"There was no fire in the room and
there was no panic up there; the panic
was in the street. They were safe and
could come down the Stairway
Chief Thurston was not present dur.
ing the first five minutes following the
was much easier to pass through the
smoke than at first, though even then
smoke rolled out of the windows and
enveloped the upper part of the bal
cony. The greatest danger was the
fear of the collapse of the frame bal
cony which was not intended to carry
heavy crowd.
A Rebuke to Reforml
The sudden termination of the recep-
ton caused not few Chinese in the
street to say that the fire episode was
a sort of act of providence, for the
Reform Society has always opposed
revolution in China, believing that the
interests of the Chinese would be bet
ter served by system of reform in
the then-existing monarchical form of
government. They did not agree with
the revolutionists in the desire to over
throw the monarchy.
Upon the wall of the hall hung oil
portraits of the former emperor and
Leung- Chi-Tso, the great reformer who
made several visits to Honolulu and
once had long conversation with DR..
Sun Vat Sen concerning the affairs of
China. During the early part of yes
terday's reception the members point
ed with pride not only to the portrait
of Leung-C hiTso, but also to that of
the late emperor. The revolutionary
Chinese here, who backed and believed
in the Republic, thought that the fire
was visitation upon the reformers for
not getting into the revolutionary
, bandwagon.