First National Bank - Honolulu, HI

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: national
Bank ID: 5550
Charter Number: 5550
Start Date: May 23, 1903
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii (21.326, -157.845)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 911bc076

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Other: Run was caused by organized payment of congressional appropriation to fire claimants; police assisted crowd control.

Description

Newspaper describes a 'run' of claimants withdrawing government payments for fire claims on opening day (distribution of funds), not a depositor panic or bank distress. No suspension or closure mentioned.

Events (1)

1. May 23, 1903 Run

Cause Details: Large number of fire-claimants arriving to collect government-appropriated payments (distribution of claim funds), causing crowding and heavy withdrawals at opening.
Measures: Bank organized orderly payments; police kept order and a line was formed; identification and assignment checks slowed payments.
Newspaper Excerpt: There was a run on the First National Bank this morning, but it was only a run of fire claimants and the bank was ready for it.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. May 23, 1903 The Hawaiian Star Honolulu, HI

Article from The Hawaiian Star, May 23, 1903

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Article Text

Uncle Sam's Money Runs Out In A Golden Stream FIRST PAYMENTS MADE TODAY FROM THE MILLION DOLLARS APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS-FIRST NATIONAL BANK IS PAYING OUT THE MONEY AS FAST AS IDENTIFICATION CAN BE MADE. There was a "run" on the First National Bank this morning, but it was only a run of fire claimants and the bank was ready for it. Of the six hundred claims announced as ready for payment not very many were paid during the first hour. Identifications and other troubles made the work very slow. About forty persons, mostly Chinese were on hand when the bank opened at 10 o'clock, and the crowd increased later. The man to get the first of Uncle Sain's coin distributed in payment of the claims for the fire of three years ago was F. J. Wilhelm. He got to the window first and presented his claim to Paying Teller Dexter. It was for $329.23 and the coin was duly handed out to Wilhelm. At first there was a general scramble around the window of the paying teller and much confusion resulted, with threatened trouble among those who were pushing one another aside in order to get the money. before the bank closed. Then police were sent for and Captain Parker with assistants kept matters straightened out. A line was formed, reaching from one end of the bank to the other and back again. No claims were paid this morning over which there was any question. A number of persons appeared with assignments, but were told to have the assignments recorded before payments would be made. This put some at the end of the line again. The tax office showed a natural interest in the distribution of the coin. Deputy J. Morton Riggs was on hand, ready, anxious and willing to give receipts for taxes. In fact Riggs invited his friends to pay, as they left he received the coin, and in this way the tax office reaped a large harvest. A number of the Chinese and natives paid their taxes on the spot. There were a number of lawyers and others who have interests in claims, watching the proceedings and ready on the spot, like the tax office, to get their shares. The claimants themselves were all anxious to get to the window and there was a good deal of work for the police, in keeping them from trying to butt in ahead of their places in the line.