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


and bills for her bunker coal and pro
visions taken aboard here, and reflls-
ing 1000 tons of scrap iron and 3 ship.
ment OF sugar mill machinery offered
her by Honolulu shippers which. al
together, would have brought her
close to sl0.000 for the voyage from
here TO Japan. the Japanese tramp
steamer KotOhira Maru left al Sis
this morning for Yokohama.
That the freighter. which arrived
Monday morning from ManzsnilIc.
Mexico, direct, is speeding to Japan
20 load another cargo of munitions for
the Mexican government TO aid the.
federal forces in their fight against
"Panchor Villa. Is believed by water
front men today from the fact that sh-
refused q mOney-making cargo here
evidently id 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
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 a sub
treasury when the purser began push
ing the gold pieces and paper money.
across 1t is believed that payment
for the 400 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 % days without stop
ping anywhere for bunkers It is be-
lieved here that had he been able to
secure enough coal at ManzaniIlo 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-l
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 plotted out to sea this morning
by Capt. John r. Macauiay, 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 is 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 SO ton in freight |
rates, and 600 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 ,
sh0 should have refused this unless 4
and load another munition cargo for
Mexico Is mystery The vessels I
owner Is the Katsuda Shokai Of Kobe.
According to Harbor Officer A. E. /
Carter, who visited the steamer to see !
whether the Mexican passenger or I
supercarg0 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 100000 offered by Car i