Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1879-04-19
NEW CHINA.
Charles Warren AtOddard IA The COslIe
stronghold in san Francisco.


Charles Warren stOddard IA the COslie
stronghold in sam Francisco
San Francisco Chronicle.
So far we have but nibbled tl e shell of
this hardest OF nuts to crack. Open
sesame! Shades of special cfiicers protect
US Back of the highly respectable brick
buildings on the south side of Sacra-
mento street there are pits and deadialls
innumerable, and over all "a the back
ness OF darkness, for these moles can
work the earth faster than the ghost OF
the murdered Dane. From the noisome
watts three stories under ground to the
hanging gardens of the fish dryers on
the roofs, there Is neither nook nor corner
butt populous with Mongolian mongrels.
The better class have their reserved
quarters With them there is at least
space TO stretch ones legs without bark
ing the shiDs Of ones neighbor; but from
their comfort to the condemned discom
fort Of the impoverished coolie is but
step. Between brick walls we ,hread
our way, single file, and begin descend
ing into the abysmal darkness. Tne
tapers, without which it were impossible
toproceed with safety, bu IN ieebly in the
double night Of that subterraDean tfne.
ment. Most OF the hsbitable quarters
under the grade are like 30 many pigeon,
houses heaped together Unfortunately.
If there were sunshine enough down
yonder to drink up the
/ SLIME THAT CLOSES EVERY PLANK,
and tresn ar enough 20 sweeten the mil.
dewed Kennels, this highly eccentric
style Of architecture might charm for a
moment by reason OF its novelty, There
is, moreover, suspicion of the pictu.
rescue lurking about the place - but
heaven save us, how it smells We pays
from one black hole to another. In the
first there is kind Of bin for ashes and
coals, and pots and grills it is the
kitchen A heap of fine kidding in
one corner, a bench or a stool, az black
as SCOT can paint it, few bowls, few
bits OF rag, few fragments of food and
n cOolie tquatting over a fire-a coolie
that rises out Of the dense smoke like
the evil genii in the Arabian tale! There
Is no chimney; there is no window
there is no drainage. We are in cubic
sink iii which we can scarcely stand
erect From the hall door pours dense
volume of smoke, some of it stale smoke
which our entry has forced out of the
corners. The kitchen will hold only sc
much, and we have made havoc among
the cubic inches. Under foot the thin
planks rag into standing pools, and there
Is the glmmes Of blue Just along The
foot of the wall Gentlemen, Thousand
iced at these troughs The next apsrt
ment, smaller vet, and backer and bIuel
and more slippery aud shiny, is
AN UNCOVERED CESS POOL,
from which sckening stsnch arises anc
pervades the quarter aud here are cham,
bers opening upon narrow galleries that
run in various directions, and sometime.
bridge one another in marvellous anC
ingenious economy OF space that Outwitl
the invention of 8 mere white man
The majority of these chambers are Just
long enough to lie down in and broad
enough to allow space iOr tire narrow
door to swing in between two single beds
with two sleepers in each bed. The
doors are closed and securely bOted
Our specials, by authority, demand ad
lnittance. There is no responsc from
within. A group of coolies, who hive
in the immediate vicinity and have fol,
lowed close at our heels ever since oul
descent into the under world, assure us
ia broken English, that there is no one
within. We suspect, and persist in oul
investigations; still no response. The
door is then forced by the specials, anc
behold four of the seven sleepers packed
iuto this sir.tight compartment, and in
sensible even 10 the hearty greeting w
offer them The air is absolutely over
pOwering we hasten from the place, bu
are arrested in our fight by the Specials
who lead us to the gates OF the cata
combs and bid us follow them. ! know
not to what extent
THE EARTH HAS BEEN RIDDLED
under the Chinese quarter; probably Il,
man knows save he who has burrowet
like gopher from one living grave Il
another to escape taxation and the de,
tective. / know that have threade,
dark passages cut in the earth so marrow
that two of Us might not have crossed
tracks, 10 low thBt 7 o'teu crouched q
the doorwsys which intercept pursuit 8
unexpected intervals. Here the THE
and the assassin seek sanctuary. It is
city OF refuge for lost soul. They know
the forbidden joys OF hell in that black
ened sepulcher. Dante and Vireil Nigh
look with sorrowful eyes iuto the bowel
of the earth over which we pass dali,
and hourly. and behold horrors not les
appalling than crowd the pages of tn
"Inferno." Even above ground Their
.. are secret ways that elude the eyes o
the most Nigilsnt. The numerous gam
bling hells ae so cautiously guarded
! that only the private police, who ar
t said to be in the pay of the Chimes
authorities, can 'erret them out. Doc
upon door is shut sgatnst you, and yo,