Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-07
REFUSES CARGO,
HURRIES ONWARD

Paying with American gold pieces
and bills for her bunker coal and pro-
visions taken aboard here. and refIs'
ing 1000 tons OF scrap iron and a ship
ment OF sugar mill machinery offered
her by Honolulu shippers which. al
together, would have brought iier
close to S40,001 for the voyage fEom
here 10 Japan, the japanese tramp
steamer Kotohira Mara left At SIS
this morning for Yokohama, -. III.
That tie freighter, which arrived
Monday morning from Manzsnilln,
Mexico, direct. is speeding to Japan
to load another cargo of munitions for
the Mexican government TO aid the
federal forces in their tight against
"Pancho" Villa, is believed by water
front men today from the fact that slI=
refused money-making cargo here
evidently in order to get to japan at
the earliest possible moment
When the Kotohira's Japanese pur-
ser called at the InterIsland offices
Tuesday afternoon to pay his bunker
coal bills he brought with him enough
American gold and paper money to fill
a peck measure The bills were all
paid in this form of cash, which, the
purser said. he had obtained from the
American consul at Manzanillo The.
cashiers counter resembled sub
treasury when the purser began push
ing the gold pieces and paper money
across. 1t Is believed that payment
for the 800 tons of ammunition which
Capt S. SEQ admits he carried to
Salina Cruz and ManZanillo last month
was made in gold. which is now being
taken to Japan in the steamers safe.
Not Listed to Call
Capt. SEQ said the Kotohira, which
cleared from Yokohama January 2.
had made the voyage direct to the
Mexican ports in 20 days without stop
ping anywhere for bunkers. 1t Is be-
lieved here that had he been able to
secure enough coal at Manzanillo he
would have returned to Japan the
same way without calling at Honolulu.
This fact is emphasized because the
steamer was not listed with the Inter
Island to call here.
The American steamer Buenayen-
tura, which arrived from New York
via Panama Tuesday morning, was
listed and accordingly was given the
preference The Kotohira had to wait
until the Buenaventura had finished
bunkering at o'clock in the after
noon. The Kotohira consequently did
not get her bunkers, aboard until $3.50
or 8 O'Clock Tuesday night.
Fifteen Days to Japan
While the mysterious freighter was
being piloted out to sea this morning
by Capt John r. Macaulay, territorial
pilot, her japanese skipper, who does
not speak English, told Capt. Macau-
lay, through the second officer, who
acted as interpreter, that he expected
to arrive at Yokohama in 15 days. He
said he did not know what the vessels |
future movements would be.
Cargo offered the freighter here, but |
refused by her. included 1000 tons Of |
scrap iron for Yokohama which would |
have brought her $40 ton in freight |
rates. and 500 tons of sugar mill ma
chinery to carry which would have |
realized her about $50 ton, making
her total earnings for carrying the /
1900 tons approximately $4,000. Why !
sho should have refused this unless
she has orders to speed to Yokohama
and load another munition cargo for
Mexico is a mystery. The vessels
owner is the Katsuda Shokai of Kobe
According to Harbor Officer A. E.
Carter, who visited the steamer to see /
the Mexican passenger or.
supercargo giving his name as Ortega
might possibly be "Pancho' Villa.
Ortega bears no resemblance to the /
Mexican revolutionist, on whose head is /
a reward of $4,000 offered by Car
rama Detective Carter says Ortega
is thin-faced youth not over 26 years
old, of a comparatively light COM
plexion, slender build, and does not
bear even a remote resemblance to
The notorious bandit and revolutionist.
who is more than 40 years old, OF
swarthy complexion and stockily built.