Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-10-10
SHIPPING GWKTERFRONT News
STOWAWAYS HAVE
A HARD VOYAGE
Five Men Hide in Dark, Un-
ventilated Storeroom, Six
Feet Square


Reporting an unsuccessful attempt
in which several people Of this coun-
try endeayored vainl. to smuggle
themselves into America, the Canada
Maru OF the Osaka Shosen Kaisha has
reached Yokohama from Tacom~. re-
ports the Japan Advertiser. Soon aft
or she was tied up In the local cus-
toms quay, four men with extremely
haggard countenances, escorted by
two policemen, la=ded and then pro
ceeded directly 10 the local haTbor
police station. There they narrated
an extraordinarily difficult but fruitless
trip they had on the Pacific.
Being enthusiastic Of trying their
chance America country appearing
to many people of this country as the
land OF good fortunes and mere luck
five men comprising S. Uchida
aged &c; Y. Matsumoto, aged as; X
Tabata. aged %: T. Sakura. aged %;
c. Kobayakawa, aged 46; sailed from
Yokohama aboard the Canada Maru
August S, bcund for Tacoma. They
were aided by II. Kume, sailor ct
the ship, In their embarkation.
These men left Yok -tapa without
being detected in the usual rigid stow.
away quarantine which is being con
Quoted on each of the Japanese out
going transpacific liners. These five
men were quarterc in the ships
IBtore-room, about six feet square With
a low ceiling, hardly accommodating
them. Their thrilling experience row
began. tE .
No Ventilation - .@
Built as a store-room, nothing was
provided in the way OF ventilation or
light. While staying in this narrow
room these five men wer1 strictly pro
hAfted from exchanging words with
each other, or making a noise. how
ever. slight, lest these should arouse a
attention on the part OF other sailors
who were being CHARTERED nearby
BY sitting on the floor with their
crossed feet or standing with their
back against the wall OF the ROOM
these five men did their utmost to
kill time, living an animaliike life
Air in their room became gradually
spoiled and its universal atmosphere
became wholly noxious; and on ac.|
eount OF which their breathing came
more rapidly until they came to feel
pain In their lungs.
How they experienced difficulty in
this extremely small room in which
utter darkness prevailed, accompanied
by an entire absence of ventilatiyeI
measures may be seen by the fact
that Uchida, one Of them, was suffo-
catedto death within thirty-six hours
after their departure from Yokohama,
August s.
Creep out, Seized
The hardships the rest OF the men
had to encounter in barely maintain
Ing their lives before they were res
cued defy description. Owing to the
death Of one man, the other four men
who were already seriously Ill by this
time were greatly discouraged and
they crept out OF their room one night
In search of rescue. They were
seized by the sailors, but being in an
exhausted condition first medical aid
was at once given to them by the
ships surgeon. They are now conval-
escent.
After making round trip to Ia
coma on the same ship, these four
men were brought to Yokohama early
last week to be handed over TO tho
local police. They will be prosecuted
as soon as they are completely
healed. Uchida, who died, Is a M.
tive of the port. while the other four
mep are from different remote dis
trelts of Japan. Uchida's relatives
live in San Francisco. Their frequent
letters telling of an easy time In
America had tempted Uchida to at
tempt q desperate but fatal effort
to reach America. Kume, the sailor.
who aided the stowaways, was ar
rested on q charge Of violation Of
the emigration law.