The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-03-19
Tine Chinaman i'm Search Of Wife
Under Dimculties.

A correspondent of the New York Times,
writing. from San Francisco, under date OF
February 23d relates the following amusing
incident:
1t has been well understood, among the Chi
nese circles. for a week or two past, tnat tne
China steamer which arrived yesterday would
bring large shipment of Chinese women, ana
IN consequence great excitement existed
among that interesting portion of our commu.
nifty. Every Chinaman considered himself
entitled to wife, and determined to obtain
her at whatever cost Word was brought to
Chlef Crowley, that parties were arming
themselves and threatening to enforce their
rights by the arbitrament of cleavers, iron
bars and revolvers. With his usual energy
ne at once detailed large force, and sent
them to the dock of the Mail Company to
prevent riot. When the steamer was COM
ing up the harbor the news spread
like Wild through the Chinese quar-
ter, and at once crowds Of their people
started for the landing. Every possible
The high toned merchants and head men, who
were determined to prevent their country
women from falling into the hands of their
brethren of a lower caste, provided themselves
with passes to the dock, and went in hacks
and on the street cars; while hundreds Of
men with umbrellas spread over their
heads crowded into express and baggage wag
ons, and the regular "pirates," or sanpans as
they are called in China, hurried to the place
ON foot. At least 800 Cinnamon had assem-
Dled before the steamer came in sight. Be-
yond their internal promiscuous jabber the
crowd were quiet, until the steamer came to
her dock. As none but the merchants and
head men who had passes were allowed inside
the gates, the rest crowded up to the gates or
dispersed along the wharves, lining them to
Main street. As soon as the officers commence
ed landing the women from the steerage the
excitement became intense, and it required a
large force to prevent them from breaking
down the gates. One Chinaman made an as
sault upon an officer, giving him blow in the
face that brought him to the ground. All the
boats in the vicinity were engaged at high
prices by the parties to be rowed to the side of
the steamer, hoping by that means to get ac-
cess to the women, and it required strong
measures to prevent their boarding the vessel
After the boats were engaged, a terrible fight
commenced as to who should occupy them,
and many who had paid their passage were
thrust back into the crowd, ami their place
taken by one who did not scruple to take q
sail at another's expense. While this confu-
sion on the outside was going on, the women
were loaded, to the number OF 800, aud placed
in half dozen rows. The examination by the
custom-house offioers( most of them young meB)
was exceedingly interesting. Large quanti-
ties of opium were discovered ON their persons
slowed away in different places. When the
search was completed, they were slowed away
in large express wagons, ard conveyed to such
places as the merchants and head men direct
ed. An officer was placed in front, two on
each side and one behind of each wagon, each
armed with heavy club, to bear off any love-
smittsn Oriental who might try to board it,
1t was an amusing sight to see these wagons
going up the hill from the dock at full speed,
the officers swinging their clubs at the hum
dreds of men who followed, iabbering their
disappointment at the top of .heir lungs BY
5 o'clock the women were safely slowed away,
and under the strong protection of the mer-
chants and head men, who will probably re-
ship them to China by the next steamer, or
send them over as servants in American fami-
liea