Race Riot in Hawaii
Honolulu Star-Bulletin #OTD Jan 15 1916 reports that after a riot in Iwilei, the local Red Light District, local police are arresting any Black soldiers they see.9th Cavalry Regiment was one of the Army's four segregated African American regiments.
Last night there were no questions asked of negro soldiers. Whoever was colored was taken to Jail. Before 11 o'clock 49 men were in custody. They were taken in by Company K, 2d Infantry, under command of Capt Paul B. Malone, while 2d Lieut. Carl A. Hardigg registered their names. Capt. Malone himself brought in four men of the 25th Infantry shortly after 8 o'clock. He was mounted and drove the men before him. "Stand straight!" he called to one of the four men when he lined them up in the patrol entrance of the police station. "Drop that cigarette, quick!" followed as an order "Attention! If any of you men do not obey orders I'll use my sword!" One of the negroes started out of line, but before he had walked three steps a sergeant stopped him. Outside the station at this time were several hundred soldiers, among them some negroes being brought in. "But for Capt Malone," said a sergeant in the provost guard, "there would have been rioting here."
Patrolled City at Night.
Company K. 2d Infantry, patrolled the city all night and Company I was on duty today. Eighteen men were in the Iwilei district today and 14 men were on the streets, all of Company I. The rest of the company remained in barracks. . Until Monday the Iwilei district is closed. Today detectives, by orders of Chief A. McDuffie, went through the district and ordered all the women to close their cottages "until further orders." The order will be revoked probably Monday night. Officers of each of the two negro regiments, the 9th Cavalry and the 25th Infantry, members of which are supposed to have started the trouble, deny that it was men of their regiment who were engaged in the fight. This today was again verified by conversation with officers of these regiments. Of the 49 men arrested last night more than 25 were of the 9th Cavalry on shore leave. Most of these had "Class A" passes, but this did not keep them out of jail. Lieut. Hardigg told all of them, non-commissioned officers or others, that he had orders to arrest all negroes and they were sent to cells. Today all of them were turned over to their company commanders. Corpl. Rufus Carter, 9th Cavalry, had on him when searched an automatic revolver and a pair of brass knuckles.
Still Investigating.
In an effort to sift out just who were concerned in the riot that occurred on Thursday night at Iwilei when a band of negro soldiers swooped down upon the place and attacked the denizens of that district, investigations are still being continued this afternoon, according to officers of Hawaiian Department headquarters. Though considerable evidence has already been secured, it is felt that sufficient matter to view the situation from as many sides as possible must be gotten before any decision is rendered. The transport Sheridan, carrying the 9th Cavalry, troopers from which are said to have had an active part in the raid, is scheduled to leave at 5 o'clock this afternoon.
