The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-07-25
OUTBREAK AT SAN FRANAIsCO.
A Raid ON Chinameu-SeveraI Chine
Stores and WaahhouAes Sacked.

A Raid ON Chinamen-severaI Chine sc
stores and Washhouses Sacked.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 23.-Midnight.-
GUS trouble is considered possible if not proba.
BILE. A meeting of workingmen in the open
air at City Hall was largely attended and some
decidedly incendary resolutions were offer ed.
Speakers we're interrupted in remarks concern
ing eastern labor troubles by cries evidently in
tended to turn the meetiag toward the Chinese
question. Two men in the crowd were wound
ed by pistol shots supposed to have been fred
from the near houses. A crowd of young
hoodlums and boys is reported depredatipg in
the Chinese quarters, breaking windows, etc.
The military are all assembled at the armor les
waiting orders, and 1900 national troops are
guarding the city. Many officers and men are
veteran soldiers and the force is considered re.
liable.
When the working-men's meeting, which
numbered about 10000, broke up, a portion of
the crowd wrecked Chinese wash.house, and
the majority dispersed towards home, but sew
eral hundred banded together and proceeded to
Geary and Leavenworth streets, where there
were two strong frame buildings, containing a
Chinese laundry and fruit store on the ground
floor, with residence above. The crowd at
tackled the Chinese place, broke street lamps
and set the building on fire. Several white
women were barely saved alive from the upper
story. The mob impeded the fremen, cut the
hose, and the building was destroyed. They
then came down Geary street to Dupont, wi tn
the intention of raiding the Chinese in tina t
quarter. On the way they tore down a num-
Der of Chinese wash-houses By the time they
reached Dupont street, they numbered five or
six hundred Here they were met by strong
force of the police who formed in line across
the street. The rioters endeavored to break
through, but the police stood firm and being
reinforced in haste from City Hall, with their
clubs beat back the crowd At present the
police hold Dupont street at the corner of Pine
against the main BODY of the mob, while
strong guard is posted at the Intersection of
Gross street with Dupont, with the design to
keep the mob from Chinatown. The hood
lums evidently lack leaders, and their move
ments are without cohesveness. Thew make
little show OF resisting the police other than
crowding upon them, yelling and hooting. The
impression among the authorities is that by
vigilant and determined action, the crowd can
be held in check.
During the contest of thel policeiwithsthe
mob on Dupont street, several stones were
thrown at them, hitting one or two but doing
no injury OF consequence. While the disturb
ance was in progress at the south end of the
street, another mob numbering five or six hum
bred gathered at the northern end, and wreck
ed q few Chinese houses They attempted to
penetrate into the Chinese quarter, but finally
were forced back by the police, and at last adj
vices, had dispersed. During these attempts to
much alarm and early in the evening every
door and shutter was closed.
Not q Chinaman was seen in the streets.
Although this morning all is quiet, the civil
and military authorities are fully alive to the
gravity of the occasion, and vigilance will not
be for moment relaxed. Prompt and courage
GUS action of the police barely prevented
bloody riot, for had the mob gained the heart
of the Chinese quarter, fearful crimes would
bave resulted. 1t is believed that the imme-
diate danger is over,