The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-04-12
CHINESE RIOT ON STEAMER NILE.
WOUND IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS
Awed Into Quiet by
Pistols Of Ships
Officers.
(FrOm Thursday's Advertiser.l

San Francisco on the Pacific Mail
steamer Niie, made what threatened
to be a murderous attack upon II. B.
Brown and Edwin Farmer, immigration
inspectors, after the vessel left port
yesterday morning and was heading
out to sea.
eff we hadn't kept our heads, - said
Brown, eve might have been killed. "
AS it was the inspectors escaped from
the riotous Chinese deports bleeding
profusely at the nose and from minor
abrasions of the skin, severely pun
meled about the face and arms, and
with their clothing torn and soiled.
The attack of the mutinous chinese
was not confined to the immigration in
spectors. As soon as the captain and
first mate of the Nile made their way
through the seething throng of orientals
to aid the government men, they were
in turn attacked. A display of revolt
vers hastily produced from the officers
quarters quoted the uprising, and prob
ably saved the four men and others
who went to their rescue from tragic
treatment. There wasn't cartridge
in any one of the reviewers, but they
did the work Just the same.
One Escapes.
The trouble started Tuesday Just be-
fore the arrival of the Nile. Captain
Eccleston caused the sixty-three de-
ports to be kept in close confinement
during the stay of the Nile in port.
He anticipated trouble in keeping them
aboard ship unless such precautions
were taken. When the local immigra
ton inspectors went on board yestez-
day morning to pass the Chinese one
was found missing. A second count
also failed to disclose the delinquent
Chinese and sailing hour arrived before
more thorough search of the ship
could be made.
Determined to discover the missing
Oriental Inspectors Brown and Farmer,
accompanied by Tong Kau, Chinese In
terpreter, remained on board ship as
she sailed out of the harbor, and be-
gan third count. The Chinese were
herded together on the lowest steerage
deck, and passed into narrow hall
way, one by one, being checked off as
they went.
Men Are surly.
1t was noticed that the men were
Burly and hard to manage. Several
made remarks to the inspectors ia un-
dertones-mostly unintelligible "pake"
talk. But a remark passed by one of
the Chinese who appeared to be ring
leader was extremely ineligible and
put the inspectors on the alert.
"What's your namei" was the ques-
ton asked of each. Many Of the names
being nearly the same, and some hard
to catch, the further question of
"where FRONT" was asked to assist
in Identification.
"Rlght here" was the surly reply
made to this query by the apparent
ringleader. Taking the cue all the rest
answered likewise.
Overhearing another remark by the
ringleader Inspector Brown began to
nav some attention to him. The Chi
nese took up the argument with left
hook to Browns jaw, calling cut to
his fellow-travelers in Chinese to said
in and "lick the inspectors
Threaten Murder.
The sixty-three swarmed round the
two men and the Chinese interpreter,
shouting "Kill them!" This they
seemed in fair. way of dong. AL
egress was shut off for the beieaugered
three and they sought to defend them
selves by backing into corners along
vide the hunks.
eve had presence OF mind enough
not to fight back said Brown, telling
the story. 81 have not the least doubt
but that if we had struck back and
begun to fight our way out we wo1ld
have been murdered. Those men were
in frightfully ugly mood. We pro.
tected ourselves as well as we could
but considerable 'claret was spilled be-
fore We got out.
Cleaning the hubbub the watchman
on duty ran up and told the captain
there was trouble. The captain and
the first mate rushed into the stearage
compartment, and took hand IN the
ARRAY, only to be attacked with re
doubled fury by the Chinese. There
was more shouting in Chinese from the
ringleader, and they proceeded to maui
+ the captain and the mate presumably
in revenge for keeping them in close
confinement during the stay of the shlI
in port.
Enter Revolvers.
Gin the meantime quartermastel
had made hasty search for weapons
and succeeded in getting together three
of four revolyers from the officers
staterooms. There were half dozen
cartridges in belt that was brought
along, but it was discovered afterward
that none of the reyolvers was loaded
"The show of guns Immediately stop
ped the assault on the captain and the
mate and our rescue was the work OF
moment Just before the appearance
Of the weapons ON the scene the Chi
nese had begun tearing ont the iron
rods that serve to form barrier along
the sides Of the tunks. A number OF
these were being welded 70 effect when
the guns appeared. One Of the ship 4
officers had finger smashed by one OF
these iron bars, but they were too long
to WELD hanlily and little other dam
age resulted"
Brown Battered.
Brown ahoued the evidenea Of his