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Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands.
Draw Exchange on tlio
JBniilc oi Cnlll'orula, H. IT.
And their agents In
NEW YORK, BOSTON, HONG KONG.
Messrs. N. M. Bothschlld & Son, London
Tho Commercial Bank Co., of Sydney,
London,
The Commercial Hank Co., of Sydney,
Sydney,
The Bank of New Zealand: Auckland,
Chrlstchurch, and Wellington,
The Bank of British Columblu. Vic
torla, B. C, nnd Portland, Or.
AND
Transact a General Banking Business.
CGO ly
Sb Sails 8lltin.
Pledgod to neither Beet nor Party.
But cstatlUbcJ for the tonofit of all.
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1880.
mirlnc tho I
ADEL1E
F FIRE
The Greatest Confla
gration ever Known
in Honolulu.
(Win WW Away.
What has long been feared by
sonic, nnd considered u certain event
by others, has happened. The Chi
nese quarter of Honolulu has been
devastated by a lire, that, gaining
headway in the dense aggregation of
wooden buildings, was quiCKiy ue
ytmd control and sweeping in till
directions. Practically all of China
town proper has been involved in a
sudden and vast conflagration. With
its narrow alleys and diirk.unwholo
sonio courts mill hovels ; its pietur
esquo ugliness nnd interesting Orien
tal features ; its iniineiibo trallic, on
largo nnd small scales, legitimate and
otherwise; its social institutions, of
good nnd bad ropute, it has been
wiped almost completely off tho city
plot. A largo amount of valuablu
property belonging to people of tho
European nnd Hawaiian races has
.been obliterated at tho samo time
within and on tho borders of China
town. Below will bo found particu
lars of this overshadowing event, as
full nnd accurate as possible under
the circumstances.
OIUOIN OK T1IK rilCK.
Yesterday Sunday, April 18th,
188(5 will ever bo memorable in tho
annals of Honolulu for this great
lire. A few minutes before -1 o'clock
the firo started in a Chinese cook
house on tho comer of Hotel street
nnd Smith's lane. It was produced
accidentally by tho owner of tho
premises in lighting his I'no for
cooking. Somo Chinese ran from
the spot, by way of Meek street, to
ward tho Police Station, shouting un
alarm. Officer JIcKeague oidercd
tho Station bell to be rung, which
was done with vigor. A general
alarm quickly followed from all the
engino houses. China Engino Com
pany was the first to reach tho
scene. At tho start a few buckets of
water would have quenched the
Haines, but tho Chinese denions of
the neighborhood, in terror of losing
their all, paid no attention to tho
flaming house, but devoted all their
activity and energy to saving the
contents of their 'shops and tene
ments. Although not a breath of
wind stirred, tho inflammable nature
of surrounding buildings invited tho
llames, and quicker than can bo told
tho fire was leaping from roof to roof,
gliding along verandahs, entwining
itsqlf about pillars and posts, fes
tooning doors and windows, and
darting its fangs into overy corner
and cranny where a Biiro hold could
bo obtained. In tho calm tho snioko
roso in a vast volumo, mingled with
tongues of ilanie, high into the air,
showing tho entire population of tho
city and suburbs that a formidahlo
lire had started. Both thorough
fares from the starting point woro
soon lanes of lire, quickly extending
- themselves into other streets.
pnoanEss ok the kiiih.
By fi o'clock tho lire had spread
along Hotel street near Mnuniikca,
and the line three storyJlbuilding, of
Sun Hang Far Co., coiner of Mauna
kea and Hotel streets, was enveloped
in flames. It was evident by this time
that tho liro was beyond control. Tho
flumes from this structure ignited tho
. Hop Chong Market and I ling Keo
Laundry on tho opposilo sido of tho
street, which wore soon ablaze.
From this corner, it marched steadily
forward in opposite directions towards
'' Borctaniu and King streets, tho fire
men lighting it at every stop, but tho
odds woro against them. Kngino
No. 1 and tho Hoso reels of iVos. 1
and 5 woro stationed at tho corner of
Mnuniikcii nnd King streets. A lium-
' her of sailors from tho British wur-
t,' ships in port, happening on shore,
went to work and rendeied effective
' service. Hawaii Engine No. -(.with
No. 1 Hoso reel was stationed at the
corner of Beretaniu and Nuuanu
. streets, whenco it couple of htreums
were played upon a mass of small
wooden buildings to tho roar of
. Lovo'b bakory. Operations at this
point wero ably conducted by ox
Marshal Parko and Mr. J. A. llassin
ger, -whoso skilful generalship was
crowned with success in preventing
(ho firo from reaching Beretauiu.
street In that dheotlon. At tho samo
hour, 5 o'clock, Meek street was blaz
ing on both sides, anil tho forward
march of tho llames was making
steady progress, bclnr; then about
half way down towards King street.
On Muunakea street, tho American
House, at r:20, was a mass of ilamc.
On tho opposite sido of the street, a
couple of warehouses were being
rapidly consumed, giving forth n
soiiesof loud explosions as the oil
mid other inllammablc stock within
were reached by tho devouring cle
ment. It was becoming more and
more evident every minute that
unless further progress was soon
arrested in this direction, the Kiiu-
makapili church was doomed. Sug
gestions wero urged by the Bumxtin
reporters and other spectators Jo
prominent persons supposed to bo in
authority to make a gap ahead of the
tiro by demolishing a tew ol mo siniin
buildings on tho river sido, after
which the firemen and other workeis
would have their hands fieo to pie
vent tho llames getting hold of a long
row of two-story buildings on (ho
Waikiki side and which extended
clear back to Beretaniu opposite tho
church, but the invariable answer
was " I have no authority." At this
juncture, His Majesty tho King ac
companied by Captain Hayley walked
round the corner, and at onco took
in the situation, and gave orders
forthwith to tear down the structures
referred to, and the job was done.
About half an hour later, the tug of
war here reached a climax. A body of
men on tho top and within the build
ing at the end of tho row already
mentioned, wero tearing tho fabric
topieccs, while the hosoineii on the
opposite sido surrounded by tho
blistering heat were playing upon the
llames with a steady stream. Tho
fire fiend was happily bullied in the
Btrumilo, and tho eonllugration at
this point was under control.
All this time, the conflagration
was rapidly spreading in other
directions. Maunakea, Meek and
Nuuanu streets were all but cleaned
out, thus putting the pestilential
slums and back yards of Chinatown
through ii most cU'ectual purification.
Tho lire on Nuuanu street had
reached tho brick and cement build
ing formerly occupied by llollister
it Co., which was now a great burning
cauldron within, tlw llames bursting
out round tho iron shutters. Next
nbovo this building was a vacant lot,
and, beyond tho gap, Lovo's bakery.
The buildings in rear of tho bakery
were burned close up by the liro
spreading from Smith's lane. King
street, by (5 o'clock, presented an
awful scene. This llames, having
marched down, m three solid, double
columns by Muumikca, Meek and
Nuuanu. streets, raged on both the
seaward and mountain sides of King-,
all tho way from Maunakcu to Mobs
man's corner. Great volumes of
smoke, in pink, purple, orange, black
and yellow rolled skyward, while,
in every diiection, columns of
llamo and showers of sparks con
tributed to tho advancing shades of
evening a lurid and terrible glare.
From the upper rear verandah of the
Sailor's Home, a fair view of the
whple scene was obtained. Tho
llames from the burning Anchor
Saloon rose high in tho air; a body of
men were at work desperately trying
to demolish the building on the
corner of Nuuanu and King streets,
occupied by Wolfo it Co., grocers,
when, on tho opposite corner, a dense
grey cloud of smoke coveied tho roof
of the Chinese store. The Chinese
store was in a few minutes a mass of
blazing timbers. Wolfe's store was
at onco ignited and axemen and
others, engaged in touring it down,
wero driven off, and tho building soon
met tho fate of tho day. Adjoining
this was a lino brick building, tho
Merchant's Exchange, pint of which
was occupied by the Merchant's Ex
change Saloon. Windows, doors and
all other removable woodwork wero
torn out, and Hung into the street.
By this means, the building was
saved, and the adjoining storo of
Castle it Cooke received but little
damage. However, in case of emer
gency, Messrs. Castlo it Cooke had
removed all powder and iiillanunablo
stock from tho premises. The Police
Station was now enveloped in ihuiiu
from tho ground to tho cupola. The
officials had, early in tho progress of
tho firo, removed tho prisoners from
tho premises, as well ns all records of
value, leaving tho stock of opium,
confiscated from timo to time, to bo
smoked out by the firo fiend. At pre
cisely (1 :57, tho boll and cupola tum
bled into the blazing debt is.
Tho interior of tho Chinese Club
House, tho grand opening of which
was reported in the Bulletin on the
third of February was being licked up
by tho Haines, its iron shutters, this
morning presenting a sadly warped
and battered appearance. From tho
Anchor Saloon to tho Bethel Vestry,
tho blaze ioso upward in a mighty
volume, and was bent over in a
threatening manner towards tho roof
of tho Sailors' Home, three stories
high. At this stage, tho old histoiio
Bethel church around which clusteied
many sacred associations of the past
and tho present, was given up for
lost. The movables were quickly
taken in charge by friendly hands,
and by 8:30 o'clock all tout was left
of this grand landmark in tho history
of Hawaiian civilization was tho bare
stone walls of tho lower half of tho
building. On the Bethi'l and King
street corner, tho shop occupied by
S. M. .loiihsoii us a harness and sad
dlery storo was torn down, and also
C. C. Colomun's, blacksmith and
machine shop, on the opposite sido
of King street. Tho equipments and
lease of this shop wero advertised to
havo been sold at auction, to-day.
Several buildings had been pulled
down, at other points,
evening.
From tho Anchor Saloon, tho firo
Cllicrcu liiu uncit una uuiuciib siuiu
of Wing Wo Tui, and was thence
communicated to tho large three
story brick building of Wing Wo
Chun. With the burning of tho
Bethel Church and tho Wing Wo Tui
nnd Wing Wo Chan buildings, the
crisis of tho conflagration was reach
ed. It was an hour of terrible sus
pense. Merchant and Fort streets
were in imminent danger. Thirty
minutes would decide whether only
the Chinese quarters or tho whole
city of Honolulu would next morn
ing bo a weird wilderness of charred
and smoking ruins.
The phenomenally perfect calm
which had prevailed all the evening
now changed to a barely percoptiblo
southwest breeze, turning the llames
and Hying fragments in tho direction
of tho quarters already hopelessly on
fire. Several umbrageous giants, in
tho rear of the Bethel Church lot, in
terposed their widespreading anus,
between tho llames and tho two-story
fabric behind the Post Ollico on one
sido of Bethel street, and tho Sailors'
Homo on the other. Connecting
sheds were speedily torn down by the
British tars with axes and hawser,
aided by a body of the household
troops, hioinen and others, iho
Wing Wo Chan building, stocked
with a ship's cargo of goods, burned
internally like tho crater of a vol
cano, while explosions from burning
kerosene sounded liko discharges
from a battery of artillery. Happily
for the city, tho eonllugration did not
get across' Bethel street or into tho
Sailors' Homo building, and tho crisis
had passed in safety so far us Fort,
Merchant and Queen streets weio
concerned.
A hard fouirht battle was main
tained for three long hours, up to 9
o'clock, in the vicinity of the Foun
dry. Only the outbuildings of this
establishment wero destroyed. Kn
gino No. 1 had secured a position on
the dock near the limekiln, ninking
Biire of un inexhaustible supply of
water, having the Pacific Ocean to
draw from.
All this while, the llames weie
sweeping along King street, on both
bides, towards the bridgne. At 11 :20
precisely, tho wall of tho last build
ing, on tho seaward side, next tho
bridge, fell in ; tho second last house
directly across tho street being then
well ignited. These two houses,
strange to stay, were saved; and this
morning stand, in grim isolation, on
the corner of somo sixty acres of a
black waste of smoking debris.
FCKN'ES AND INCIDENTS.
Ah the firo advanced along tho
streets, it was preceded and often
overtook an indescribable scene.
Through tho throng of spectators,
the occupants of threatened tene
ments and shops broke their way,
carrying their movable effects to
places of safety. Many had wheel
burrows and bund carts; more im
provised bund barrows out of doors,
blinds, reversed tables, and the like ;
bulky in tides were carried or dragged
according to their weight; drays
wero hurrying after loads or moving
away heavily laden; from windows
and verandahs household goods wero
thiown into the streets, olten strik
ing with tho sound of crashing glass
or other frauile material. Above all
tho roar of tho Humes and un ultuost
constant fusillade of exploding kero
sene, ammunition and fireworks, of
ono or all of which nearly every shop
seemed to carry a largo stock.
Down on tho Wuikuhuhilu stream,
from Smith's biidge, un indescribable
scone was presented while tho Humes
wero still on tho conquering mnrch
toward Beretaniu street and the
water. Tho left bank was swarming
with natives and Chinese, in tho
midst of piles of household effects.
Men, women and children were
wading and swimming back and
forth across tho stream, propelling
overy imaginable sort of llout, piled
with goods or returning after dis
charging freight on tho opposito
Hats. There wero boats, canoes, re
versed tables, rafts made of pieces of
furniture, and trunks, all employed
in tho work of salvage. In ono cabe
a native lad was seen swimming
over, piopelling what looked liko a
kneading trough, with a lively littlo
dog for a pnssongor. Furniture and
utensils wero hurled from the top of
the bunk to thoso engaged in the
ferriage service below, leaving the
latter to tako all the care of not
being struck with tho Hying chattels.
On the largo marsh opposito wero
heaps of effects in numborless array,
surrounded by groups, of every age
and sex, in a picturosquo variety of
costumes. The whole formed a scene
peculiarly inviting to an artist, but
tho pencil was never wielded that
could adequately transfer it to
canvas.
The sandbar and flats at tho head
of tho harbor, toward tho Oahu Jail,
presented an equally striking picture
when tho approaching flames drovo
out tho inhabitants of that densely
populated region so recently des
cribed, to show up its unsanitary
condition, in sovernl of tho local
papers between King street and tho
harbor. In tho light of tho blazing
houses, dimming the radiance of tho
moon, u numerous array of human
faces could bo seen regarding with
dismay tho advancing ruin of their
recently sheltering loof trees. These
unfortunate 'people wero giouped in
canoes and on rafts, with their
effects heaped about them and on
adjacent canoe stages. Thero was
ono pile of thrco trunks, surmounted
by a rooking chair, standing right up
out of tho water.
NOTES.
Jlov. J. A. Cruzan dosircs it inti
mated that any wjiito people, burned.
out and destitute, will bo assured as
sistance on applying to him at his
residence, 100 King street.
Tho ladies of Fort-street church,
assisted by ludies of tho Bethel,
spread free lunch, with hot coffee, for
the people rendered homeless by the
fire, in tho Vestry of tho former
church lust night. Tho young men
carried similar refreshment to tho
gallant firemen. Kev. J. A. Cruzan
hud Fort-street church placed at tho
disposal of the homeless for shelter.
Kaumakapill Chinch was tendeicd
for a like purpose, while tho Minister
of the Interior,. Mr. Gulick, placed
tho Immigration Depot ut the dis
posal of the Chinese representatives
to house their Buffering fellow-
countrymen.
All tho roads leading out of town
wero last night teeming with the un
fortunates driven out of their homes,
some of them having a portion of
their household goods with them.
There was a good deal of stealing
done, as is usual at largo fires every
where. Some liquor having been ap
propriated by tho mob, a largo am
ount of nuisu and riot was tho result.
The number of persons, made
houseless by this terrible calamity, is
variously stated from 5,000 to 8,000.
THE LOSS.
Tho following is the valuation of
the property destroyed, as given by
tho assessment books, from which it
is inferred that the disaster involves
a loss of at least one million live
hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,
000): Block 18 $150,000
Block 37 05,000
Block 14 80,000
Block 15 105,000
Block 10 450,000
Block 7 135,000
Block 5 130,000
Block 0 150,000
DAVIS & WILDER,
lMt'ORTEUS AND DEALERS IN
Staple and Fancy Groceries,
Xo. 5:
Complete
Fort Ntrocr, Voptilnr Stanil, Goods, Prices.
Line of Fresh Groceries and Provisions
Crosso & BlucKwell's Preserves and Condiments,
J. T. Morton's " " "t
nir ,
Mttcnndriir & Co.'s English Breakfast Oolong Japan and Comet M Teas,
uma Unickcr Uo 's I'lnin nnd Fancy urncKcrs. jv)ry va
Sun .Ioo Pocking Co.'s Premium Fruits In glass jars;
Major Giey's genuine Bombay Chutney, quarts;
Kennedy & lo.'s Liosum urenm uiscuns,
Peak, Frcnn & Co 's ns orted Fancy Biscuits,
Holmes A CouuV Sea Foam Wafers,
Cereals for Breakfast, In patent wcavel proof 10lh. tins; y
Canned. Curried. Potted and Deviled Meats, Fowl nnd Fish,
Evaporated, Peeled and Pitted Fruits, '
Itulsins and every variety of Nuts.
Boneless Anchovies, Mackerel ami Sardines In Oil,
Chocolate, sweet and unsweetened, Cocoa mid Cocbntiun,
Pure .Maple Syrup; Boston Brown Bread,
Our Ice House Goods,
Bv every steamer, Is n special feature, comprising Fresh noil Butter, Oysters, shell
and tin; Fish, Fruits nnd every delicacy as It comes Into the San Francisco market.
Orders by Telephone received and Deliveries Mado in an Hour
after Steamer Socks.
J2f Qunllty of nil Goods guaranteed. Prompt deliveries to nil parts of tho City
nnd Wniklkl dally. P. O. Box No. 4rt; Both Telephones No. 130. -a
JUST OPENED UP,
A FINK I,IXE OF
Total assessment .". $1,1155,000
INSUUA.N'Ci:.
In the Fireman's Pund Insurance
Co., C. It. Bishop & Co., agents, Chil
ian it Co. had $1,000 on a small
wooden building that stood next to
tho Empire Saloon, total loss; Wing
Wo Tui it Co., $1,500 on wooden
building and stock that stood be
tween their house and tho Bethel
Church, total loss. In the Liverpool,
London and Olobo Insurance Co.,
Bishop it Co., agents, $1,000 on Mobs
man's warehouse; loss about $500.
Total insurance in tho firm of C. It.
Bishop it Co., $3,000.
In tho Sun Fins Ollico Insurance
Co., of London, O. W. Mucfarlano &
Co., agents, the Empire Saloon, cor
ner of Nuuanu and Hotel streets, hud
$11,500; total loss. Yo Wo Chun it
Co., Chinese merchants" on Muuna
kea street, $2,500; total loss. A
small house, 40 Nuuanu street, on
International Hotel premises, owned
by G. W. Macfarlano t Co., insured
for $100, was completely destroyed.
Total insurance in the house of G.
W. Macfarlano it Co., $0,400.
With the Prussian National Insur
ance Co., II. Keinioiischneider, agent,
Wolfo it Co., grocers, on corner of
Nuuumi and King streets, $1,500 on
stock; total loss.' C. Apui, $1,500 on
building that blood corner of King
and Maunakea streets, occupied by
Quong On Keo and others; total
loss. A small house, 44 Nuuanu
stieot, owned by Macfarlano &, Co.,
and occupied by a Chinaman, was
insured for $400; total loss. The
full amount of insurance by the
Prussiun National Co. was $3,400.
In tho South British Co., C. O.
Berger, agent, $8,025. The Interna
tional, C. O. Berger, agent, $8,025.
Tho Hartford, C. O. Berger, agent,
$3,750, and tho Commercial Insui
unce Co., C. O. Berger, agent, $4,000.
Total insurance in companies for
which C. O. Berger is agent is $25,
000, which is principally divided in
small sums among Chinese stores
and natives' dwellings, except $0,000
in tho Paiko block, and $5,500 in tho
Empire saloon.
In tho Commercial Union Insur
ance Co., of London, A. J. Cart
wright, agent, $1,000 on tho Paiko
block which will bo repaired, damages
estimated at about $2,500. In tho
Imperial Insurance Co., of London,
A. J. Cartwright, agent, $1,500, on
tho houso of Wing Wo Tai it Co.,
total loss. Full amount of insurance
in companies for which A. J. Cart
wright is agent, $5,500.
In tho Trans-Atlantic Co., Hack
feld it Co., agents, $00,250, and in
tho North German Co., Hackfeld t
Co., agents, $23,750, making a total
of $84,000 in companies for
which' Hackfeld it Co. are agents.
This $84,000 is mostly divided into
policies, ranging between four and
live thousand dollars each, ami is
entirely on Chinese property, the
priucjpul one being Hariig On Kce,
corner of Hotel and Meek streets, in
sured for $10,000, and Wing Cluing
Lung, Hotel and Maunakea streets,
for $5,000; also Wing On Wo,
Maunakea street, for $5,000, and all
are total losses. In tho Royal In
surance Co., of Liverpool, W. G.
Irwin it Co., agents, $25,000, and in
tho Union, of Now Zealand, Irwin it
Co., agents, $12,000. Total insur
ance in companies for which Irwin
it Co. aio agents, $37,000, which is
divided principally among tho stone
buildings on Nuuanu street.
In tho Northern Insurance Co,,
T. II. Davies it Co., agents, $7,500,
$0,5004' of which was on tho brick
structure that stood between Castlo
it Cooke's and Wolfe it Co.'s; tho re
maining $1,000 is in small sums in
various places. Tho Hamburg-Bremen
Co., F. A. Schaefer it Co,, agents,
havo $2,000 on tho goods of Wing
Wo Tai it Co., and $5,000 on tho
building they occupied, owned by S.
Mugnin.
Jersey Waists from $2 to $8;
Jersey Cloths in all Shades;
Ladies' Untrimmed Hats, the latest Styles;
Feathers, Flowers,
Eibbons, Laces,
Ornaments, All-Over Lace,
Arasones, Chemilles,
And a Fine Lane of Trunks,
AT
CHA.S. JT. FISHEL.
TEMPLE OF FASHION,
Ol ttiid 03 ITort Street.
v
Wo are pleased to announce the arrival of our Immense lnigc Invoice of
Dry C-oOuS, Fancy Goods, Laces, BIob
Clothing and Gent's Furnishing Goods,
and arc now tillering unprecedented and unrivalled Bargains In all ourdepartm'ts.
Letting, Down the Price.
Just received, 100 pieces of viry tlno Victoria Lnwn at $3 apiece, 10 yards; a very
lurgu assortment of now Spring styles in Lawns, 4-4 Batiste, Sateens, plain
figured and brocaded, white Pique and a full line of Drees Goods, the latest out.
Lace Boncle, Ladle' Tricot Olotli
in all the new shades; 40 doz Lndics Lisle Thread Hose at 40 cents,
the best value over offered.
Clothing Department,
Just received, all the latest styles In Boys and Children's Suits; Great Barguins,
Boys Blue Kltincl Sailor Hulls at $2.60 a Suit. Just received, direct from
Eastern manufactures,
1 Cliili'
295
which wo offer nt he 1-iock prices.
S. COHN & CO., Proprietors.
ulMOll
LCCNCIVWU ON Ni'XT I'AOE.
Ill
lanuiac
raring
Company s
"VoHellno Vure,
Vnsellin) IV hi to,
A'liHellne I'ommle,
Vntielliie Camphor Ire,
Vaoellno Cold Cream,
Vaseline CoHmetlque,
Vattellne Hair Oil,
Vaseline Hewing Machine Oil,
Hollister & Co., 109 Fort Street.
2iS
P.O. BOX 315.
ESTABLISHED 1870.
Telephone 172.
JOS. E. WISEMAN,
General Business Agent.
Campbell XSloelc,
Honolulu, H. I.
Heal Estate Agent, Custom Houso Biokor,
Employment Agent. Money Broker,
Wlhlei's Stenmli n Ai?ent. Manacer Hawtilan Oneii Bllouso..
I Burlington Kulltoad Agent Kiro unULllolnturunce. Agent,.
Great
In America,
(1V9 Jy)
,
'
,
.,!
