# The West Shore/Volume 12/Putting Down a Riot

From the March 1886 issue: , full volume available here
PUTTING DOWN A RIOT.
BEFORE proceeding to a description of the stirring events at Seattle, so graphically depicted on pages seventy-nine and eighty, a few words are necessary to explain the condition of society in the Northwest, and the general position occupied by the
lawless elements against the Chinese, hoping this universal desire for their expulsion would create sympathy and tolerance for them in their efforts to drive out the Mongolians by force. It is on this point they make their mistake. Much as the people desire to be rid of the Chinese, they love law, order, justice and the security of life and property more. The industrious, law- people on the Chinese question. The people of the abiding citizens, men of family, and possessing an inter- Eastern States seem to think that violence and personal est in the welfare of the communities in which they live, insecurity are features of life in what they are pleased who are here, as elsewhere, in a great majority, will to consider the “Rowdy West.” They apparently for never permit the Chinese to be expelled by force, nor get that the citizens of the Pacific Coast are their own the laws defied and overridden by violence. They hold brothers, sons and cousins, gifted by nature with equal that relief must come through Congress, and by the ex- abilities with themselves, inheriting the same love of ercise of lawful and peaceable means, such as the re- justice, peace and law, and possessing the same de fusal to employ Chinese or use the product of their sire to see American institutions preserved and sustain labor. With this idea of the condition of society and ed. There is scarcely an individual in the East who the position of the people on the Chinese question, the has not some friends or relatives here, and by multiply occurrences at Seattle, and the manner in which the cit- ing these by several hundred thousands he will have some izens vindicated the majesty of the law, can be easily idea of the character of our population. The youth of understood. the country, the descendants of the pioneers, have en- For several months the formation of “anti-coolie” joyed excellent educational advantages, and have become clubs has been very active in the larger cities and towns, good and industrious citizens in as large a proportion as the avowed object being the expulsion of the Chinese. has the same class in Eastern communities. It is not The people generally have held aloof from the organiza- the native, but the imported, element that has defied the tions, fearing the “agitators” would secure control and law and been punished. The riotous elements of this | the lawless elements be led by them to the commission region are the same that have within a few months bid of acts of violence. Many peaceable working-men have defiance to the authorities of St. Louis, Chicago, Cincin | joined them, however, thinking they could accomplish nati, East Saginaw and numerous other Eastern cities. their object by legitimate means. The result has been They consist of those thriftless, hand-to-mouth, itinerant that in some clubs the law and order element has ob- laborers, who, bound by no ties of family or property tained control, and in others the lawless class have and one might add "country"-roam from city to city gained the upper hand. In the latter cases, encouraged and state to state, working a little here and a little there, by the large membership of the organizations, they have never saving a cent, and, consequently, always discon erroneously thought themselves strong enough to put in tented and ready to lend a willing ear to the voice of practice their ideas of forceable expulsion. "Last No- the demagogue “ agitator,” who easily persuades them vember, when Tacoma permitted herself to be disgraced that they have not received their just share of this by the driving out of the Chinamen, and the burning of world's goods. It is only of late years we have had their quarters, the citizens of Seattle determined that many of this class among us. Numbers of them were such acts should never be permitted in their midst. employed by railroad contractors in the East and dis They organized a strong company, armed with rifles, charged here, while others have found their way here and took the oath as deputy sheriffs, placing themselves since the era of railroads, led by their general desire to under the orders of Sheriff McGraw. This organization “see the country,” or by the reports of high wages paid was called the “Home Guards,” and embraced many of in this region. The “hard times” of the past two years the prominent citizens of Seattle. There were, also, two have increased the chronic discontent of this class in companies of militia, the Seattle Rifles and Company the West, the same as in the East. D, which could be relied upon in case of need. The As regards the Chinese, it is the universal sentiment display of force served to prevent the Tacoma inci- of all classes, rich and poor, educated and ignorant, that dent being repeated in Seattle at that time, but it seems they are a detriment, a drag to business, a menace to that the leaders of the movement only delayed until free labor, and an unassimilative, foreign element which they supposed the vigilance of the citizens had relaxed. can never become a part of the body politic, and can Preparations were made in secret, with the aid of “lead- never be taught to cherish and practice those great ers” from other localities, and Sunday, the seventh of principles which form the faundation stones of Ameri- February, was selected for a raid upon Chinatown. The canism. Such being the case, demonstrated by a third steamer Queen of the Pacific was to sail that day for of a century of practical life, the desire to have the | San Francisco, and the plan was to escort the Chinese country permanently relieved of their presence pervades to the dock and load them on the steamer, clearing the all classes, and is the one wish entertained by all, irre city in one sweep. So quietly were arrangements per- spective of political or religious opinions. Knowing fected, neither the authorities nor the citizens received this, the “agitator" has directed the discontent of the an inkling of what was to happen.
THE WEST SHORE. 77 At daylight, Sunday morning, committees proceeded the blood-shed of the following day would have been to the Chinese quarters and notified their occupants to averted. The city was patroled during the night to be prepared to go on board the steamer at one o'olock. guard against fire or pillage. Shortly after this a large number of wagons and men ar | At seven o'clock the following morning, warrants rived, and the work of removal began. The ordinary were issued for the arrest of eight men on the charge of Chinaman has but few trappings besides a blanket, and riot. They were quietly taken into custody, but were when he migrates, these are rolled up into the blanket speedily released under bail of $500.00 each. At the and tied in a bundle, which he carries over his shoulder same time the Chinese from the steamer were escorted on a bamboo pole. Often another bundle wrapped in to the court room by a posse of deputy sheriffs and of- bamboo matting, a basket or a cheap trunk, depends ficers of the vessel. Through an interpreter, Judge from the other end of the pole. The work of removal | Greene informed them they were at liberty to leave was carried on rapidly, as the Chinese offered no re- the city or remain, as they might elect; that the fare of sistance and received aid in packing. As soon as one those who chose to go would be paid, while those who house was cleared, its occupants and their effects were decided to remain would be protected. He added that loaded on wagons, and the committee passed on to an- | there was a deep-rooted hostility to them among the other shanty. As fast as the wagons were loaded they people, and he could not promise that other attempts to were driven to the dock where the Queen of the Pacific drive them out would not be made; all he could do was lay. The work was carried on so quietly that it was to assure them if such attempts were made the au- after ten o'clock when the citizens became aware of thorities would exert themselves to the utmost to pro- what was being done. Then the peal of the fire alarmtect them in their rights. When the Judge had finished broke the quiet of the Sabbath morning. The Home his remarks seventy-one of the Chinamen expressed a Guards and Militia began rapidly to collect in their ar- desire to go, and they were escorted back to the dock mories, while Sheriff McGraw visited the scene of and placed on board the steamer, the others joining trouble and requested the police to interfere. This they their friends in the warehouse. Money was easily rais- refused to do, saying they would only protect the ed to pay the fare of all—$1,500.00—since everyone was Chinese from bodily harm. willing to contribute. Sheriff McGraw was so pleased Mayor Yesler appealed to Governor Squire for aid, to see the affair terminate so peacefully and the Chinese and the Governor telegraphed to General Gibbon, at depart so willingly that he paid $100 into the ticket fund. Vancouver, and the authorities at Washington, for The work of embarkation progressed rapidly, until United States troops, saying that a conflict between a one hundred and ninety-six had been taken on board, mob and the lawful authorities was imminent. He also when Captain Alexander refused to receive any more, as issued a proclamation ordering the rioters to disperse, the steerage contained all the passengers the law allow- and directing all good citizens to aid the sheriff in up- ed. It was agreed between the Sheriff and the leaders holding the law. By the time a force sufficient to cope of the movement, that the remainder should be permit- with the mob had been collected, the Chinamen had all ted to stay in the city unmolested till the next steamer been removed to the dock, with the exception of a few sailed. The Home Guards then proceeded up the street, who had been left in each store to pack goods. A com escorting the Chinamen to their deserted quarters. It mittee had also gone throughout the city collecting all seems the situation was not understood by the rioters, the house servants, and escorted them to the dock. who supposed the Chinese were being taken from the Meanwhile, arrangements were made with Captain steamer and returned to their quarters permanently. Alexander to take the Chinamen to San Francisco for As the procession advanced they were harrassed and re- $7.00 each, and a collection was taken up among the viled by hoodlums, and when the corner of Main people, resulting in enough money for eighty-nine tick- and Commercial streets was reached, the crowd closed ets. Eight Chinese purchased tickets for themselves, in and prevented further progress. The officers at- and ninety-seven were taken on board the steamer, leav- tempted to arrest the most violent and active of their ing two hundred and fifteen still on the dock. Matters assailants, who resisted and endeavored to take the guns were brought to a crisis by a Chinese resident, who ap- out of the hands of the Guards. A hand-to-hand con- plied to Chief Justice Greene for a writ of habeas cor flict ensued, in which the butts of muskets were used pus, alleging that ninety-seven of his countrymen were and a number of shots were fired. Five men were unlawfully detained on board the Queen of the Pacific. wounded, one of them so seriously that he died next The writ was served on Captain Alexander, and made day. While the fight was in progress the Chinamen lay returnable at seven o'clock Monday morning. A guard flat down, sheltering themselves behind their packs. In of deputy sheriffs was placed over the Chinamen on the a few minutes the Seattle Rifles came up on the double- dock, and another in the Chinese quarters. The rioters quick, and with the Guards formed a hollow square dispersed, leaving the officers in control. The Seattle about the prostrate Chinamen. The crowd, which had Rifles and Home Guards bivouacked in the court house. been scattered by the shots, quickly gathered again, and Had the President responded to the call of the Govern- after removing the wounded, confronted the line of or, and sent a company of troops from Port Townsend, muskets in a threatening manner. The Sheriff com- they would have reached Seattle before morning, and manded them to disperse, but they paid no heed to his
78 THE WEST SHORE. MINERAL PRODUCT OF MONTANA. words. Company D then arrived from the court house, and took its place in the line. Several speeches were made, the situation was fully explained, and the crowd dispersed. The Chinese were escorted to their quarters, where a sufficient guard was left for their protection, and the companies marched to their headquarters at the court house. During the melee, Special Officer James Murphy was wounded in the arm, and Sheriff McGraw received two bullet holes in his coat. Shortly after the fight, Governor Squire issued a proclamation of martial law, appointed the necessary of- ficers and placed all forces under their command. The cadets at the Territorial University were mustered into the service of the Territory, and performed acceptable duty during the next three days. The situation was tele- graphed to Washington, and another appeal made for troops, which were ordered to proceed from Vancouver. Warrants were procured from a Justice of the Peace for the arrest of Judge Thomas Burke, E. M. Carr, Frank Hanford and Rev. L. A. Banks, members of the Home Guards, charging them with murder. When the consta- ble appeared at the court house he was ordered by Judge Greene not to serve the warrants, as the men were officers of his court, and that furthermore, all civil processes had been suspended by the proclamation of martial law. The feeling against the Home Guards was very bitter, especially the men who were accused of fir- ing the fatal shots. The mob knew the Guards and militia were equally anxious with them to see the Chinese leave the city, and consequently, did not think they would fire upon them. They did not realize until afterwards that the love of law and order, and determina- tion to protect the Chinese from violence, were stronger than the wish to see them depart. During the night guards patroled the city, and no one was permitted on the streets without a pass from the Provost Marshal. The third day, ton companies of troops arrived from Vancouver, under command of General Gibbon, and re- lieved the militia and special officers. Martial law was strictly enforced by the military, and many undesirable characters concluded to seek other fields of operation, to the great relief of the city. Finally, after being un- der the iron hand of military rule, civil authority was restored, and affairs dropped back into their accustomed channels. The aftermath has yet to be recorded.