Helena weekly herald., 1880-01-15
OPIUM DENS In HELENA.
Investigations Made i'm the Chinese
Quarters.
Facts Learned and Disclosed by q Herald
Reporter.


| For some time past rumors have been Cir
culating that opium dens existed in China
town which were frequented by white men
These rumors were believed by some, but
disbelieved by the greater part of our people.
To settle the matter, if possible, a HERALD
reporter was detailed to investigate the mat
ter He soon found that houses did exist
where the deadly drug was regularly sold to-,
and INDUCED in by white men and women.
The parties first approached who knew of
the fact seemed to hesitate about imparting
the desired information, and that we might
give statement fer which we are able TO
vouch, our reporter started out to learn for
himself.
1t is midnight when we arrive or Main
street. The contrast between this hour and
midday is striking. The street is checkered
with alternate spaces of darkness and of
light, the closed business house contributing
to one, the brilliantly lighted saloon to the
other. Men appear for moment and then
are lost in the gloom beyond. We meet a
party out on ''racket" who fairly make the
place echo with their loud shouts and laugh
ter. The dance houses are in fnll blast.
Lively music and boisterous merriment ring
out upon the silence of the night. The air
bites sharply as we pass along toward China
town. Here the aspect of the street in some
respects is similar to the one we have just
left. Many of the houses are dark and silent,
while few are as brilliant as lamps can
make them. We saunter into one which has
been indicated as an opium den. The room is
spacious for Chinatown and many are gamb-
ling. There are two tables about which are
eager crowds of Cinnamon and women. They
gabble, they chatter, and when the excite
ment reaches its height at a crisis of the
game the confusion is that of bedlam. Be-
hind the table sits middleaged, serious
looking man, with small hands and taper
fingers, which are ornamented with nails of
prodigious length. In his hand is a stick or
pointer with which he pushes about the brass
checks or counters. The principles of the
game is mystery we are unable to solve.
But to our work. Back of this room is
narrow passage way, on each side of which
are small compartments. We stroll through
this passage, enter room and sit down. A
moment later Chinaman appears and en-
quires. f.-- .-..--. ..-.. .....
"What you want?"
We demanded pipe and opium. He looks
at Us suspiciously.
''Me no likee you," he replies.
How much you CHARGE" we asked brus-
Que]y.
''John'' goes out, consults, comes back.
''Me no sell opium to white man."
No amount of persuasion induces him to
furnish the drug. The scheme here has
failed.
We pass out and enter another opium
house. Unlike the other it is small, the
wooden shutters are closed, and from the out
side no one would imagine that the room was
lighted. Again we call for opium. John
hesitates.
''Me cont know you, policeman telle me
finee me one hundred dollar if me give white
man opium"
Money will not induce him to give the de.
sired pipe, but he directs US to the next house.
1t looks as though the enterprise would
end in failure. Something must be done.
When we enter the next house we feign
intoxication. Several are in the room. We
salute them noisily, play our role as we'll as
possible, and fDally demand opium. John
smiles pleasantly.
"Where you come from?" he asks.
"Butte," we answer. (That was lie).
''When you come from Butte ?"
Yesterday" (That was another).
"How much you charge for opium smoker"
''Four bits"
81 want heap, learn to smoke opium in
Butte; hurry up
The last shade of suspicion leaves his face
An earthern jar is produced. Taking needle
in one hand and a card in the other he dex-
trously transfers to the card, perhaps tee
spoonful of the drug, which resembles in
consistency and color low grade of molas-
ses. We then go into back room where
around a table are several Cinnamon gamb-
ling. Still further back is passage-way in
most respects similar to the one already de-
scribed. Several Cinnamon are lying about
stupeie.l. Through small aperture we catch
the figure Of white man. He is also stupef-
ed. His pipe is lying near him and cuddled
up in heap he is sleeping.
We enter compartment; the bed resem-
bles wide shelf and runs the length of the
room. In the centre are couple of Chinese
pillows, and little glass lamp is burning be-
Tween them We Law down Inhn renarks