Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-08-28
CHINESE SLAVERY IN CUBA.

CHINESE SLAVERY IN CUBA.
Wong Chin Foo is Chinese rebel chief
II mandarin of the third orlor--now an
exile for the part he took in the rebellion to
overthrow the present Tartar dynasty. lie
speaks English flucutly. lie was educated
in this country aud is ambitious to change
our public sentiment toward China by n
narration Of the events that have caused hor
to remain stationary for centuries. In speak.
ing of the cruclitcsendurcd by the Chinese
in exile, he told me the story of Chun Young
Hing, who has quite recently escaped from
Cuba. asked him to write 1t out with full
details, and promised that | should give il to
the public. Spain is constantly appealing to
our sympathies-Spam, the heartlcss slave
master, the relentless slave trader, the mer-
ciless ruler, the rcmorscless conqueror
| Spain, which murders our missionaries and
assassnatcs our citizens when they fall under
the suspicion of being loyal to their national
crccd-and we listen TO her appeals rs if hor
history for three centuries, every decade of
ii, had not been record OF crimes against
human nature.
|
first cry that they have raised. 1t tells II
story that demands redress.
JAMES REDPATu.
Note from Wong chin Foo.
The following is the story OF one of my
countrymcn who arrived in Boston recently
from Cuba, where he was held in bondage
by Panic Francisco, the owner of sugar
| plantation, situated in the country few
hours journey back from Cicnfucgos. |
WINGED OF the truth of his narrative. | give
it just as it was related by him. suppress
ing only the name of the barque on which
he arrived and the captain who kindly as
sisted him. This Chinaman was placed on
shore by the captain and being unable Ito
speak English, was taken by II policeman
to the store Of Ar-Show. the Chinese ten mer-
chant, who kindly took him in charge His
appearance serves to prove the truth Of his
statement
story OF Chun Young Hing.
My name is Chun Young Hing. In the
| year 1869, the llth moon and the 18Th day,
while was sitting in the streets of Canton
surrounded by party of my friends, one
countryman named Ar-Kin came up, and
toldus that we could all obtain work in
Annoy, and that If we would so there with
him he would pay all OF the expense. |
with many others went with him, and when
we arrived ut Annoy he told us that he was
disappointed in obtaining work for us but
! if we would go over the water he would pay
us each ten dollars q month. We consulted
together, and rs most of us had no money
to return to Canton, we accepted his offer,
and mt once went on board French barquc
lying in the harbor. IA soon rs we climbed
over the side of the ship we were command
ed to go below between decks Those vino
did not go willingly were thrown down, and
the matches were closed
ON Slave ship.
We had lain there about two days when
we felt the barque move. In the meantime
we had counted our number, and found
there were 1868 on board. While on the sc',
we were given plenty to cat, and IN about
three months we arrived at Havana, in the
Island of Cuba
While there many men came on board
strength tested. The men who had us in
charge delivered ten of our number to some
men, so TO others, and ono man took 100
If any OF us were unwilling to go we were
kicked and told that we must go and do ms
he said, or else go out ON the streets and
starvc. man named Panic Francisco
made arrangements to take 30 To work on
] q. ola I 4,
and rs soon as he had paid Our master some
money he placed us on the cars, and we
went to Ceniucgos. Upon arriving there
we were driven back into the mountains,
and ut about eight o'clock we arrived at Il
large house, surrounded by trees. We were
at once placed in log hut>, and told that we
must sleep ON the floor, which we did Us best
we could.
In slavery on Plantation.
At three o'clock the next morning VIC were
driven out to the sugar plantation and told
that we must cut cane. We worked until
s u. m, when we had some potatoes and In.
dian corn to eat. After eating We were
driven back, and then worked until in the
evening, when we were allowed to rest aud
eat supper. We did not have anything Ia
cat between =. m. and 8 p. M. During the
busy season we went out after eating supper
and worked until half-past ten, We then
had -four and Il half hours rest. and were
compelled to work again.
CrueItIeS.
When we wcrO ut work We were watched
continually by u driver, who, with II long
whip IN his hand, would walk behind aud i
any one Jagged hn would receive iilly lash
es. II any of us were unable to work W.
were whipped, aud if we were unable to get
up we were left in the hot sun until night
when we were carried in by our comrades
We were not allowed to speak to each olhel
in our native tongue, and many of us di,
not even know the names of the others.
On II Sunday, when we were given short
time to enjoy ourselves, |, with others, wen
for II walk in the woods, and | did net re
turn until onc-half hour after the others
For this oiIense | was tied TO tree and re
ceived 100 blows. My body was so bruised
that | could not go to work next morning
| was then whipped again and compelled I,
go out to work. My body shows the marks
of that whipping yet.
At one time one of my comrades RAJ
away into the woods, and when he wa
caught he was three times beaten and thel
compelled to wear two large iron ball
which were chained to his legs. lie had Ia
work with these chained to him, and if he
did not keep up with the others he was beat
Ell by the driver.
Many times we did not have enough Il
eat, aud rs II general thing we were USED
worse than the negroes, for the masters SAID
that while they owned the negroes for lil'
they owned us for eight years only.
Hopeless Lives.
Panic Francisco, my master, had ono hun
dred aud fifty Cinnamon IN his employ
Part of this number were working on II new
contract, having served their eight years