The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-01-19
H RIVER S.
DEMONIACAL DENIS.
Benton the Victim of Almond-Eyed Minis
tiers Of Satan.

tiers of Satan.
Opium Smoking Making Victims of Our
Youth, and the Law Powerless.
Few of the residents of Benton are aWare
that there exists within a stones throw of the
Overland Hotel, at least three of the vile dens
which are one of the beauties of Chinese So
ciety, and is one Of the effects of their inter-
mixture with our people which is being pro-
ductive of great harm to the rising genera
ton, who are peculiarly susceptible to the
novelty which is first experienced by the be-
| ginner in the practice of opium smoking.
Believing that the exposure of these dens
to the public and to the authorities wa de-
handed alike by regard for the present and
future welfare Of the town, a Press reporter
was detailed, a few evenings since, to inVes-
tigate, il possible, the truth and extent Of the
noxious growth which was only just begin
ming to attract the attention Of the ely"
Accompanied by o frequenter and perpetual
user OF the drug, without whose assistance it
would have been impossible to gain admit
lance, he started on his round, determined to
investigate the matter and to furnish readers
Of the RIVER Press information as to their
Whereabouts, surroundings, appearance, and
in short to perform whatever might be neces-
sary to give them o full and truthful report,
which is given as follows by our special faber
shower:
The first Of these resorts to which your
reporter was introduced by his sedate and
tranquil guide was a long, low log cabin To-
Gated on Benton street, near the levee, which
does double duty as an opium den and a wash
house. Here he knocked, and in due time
the door was cautiously opened a little way,
and a pair Of almond eyes peered through,
but, probably on seeing our unfamiliar face,
the owner Of the eyes was struck with some
underlined fear, for the door was instantly
closed. The guide remarked that we
would come around again in an hour or so,
and for your reporter to keep back if he ex-
pected to gain admittance at all. Return
ing at a later hour, and thrusting the intro
ductory ceremonies upon the platonic guide,
he was finally admitted, with many chances
of suspicion toward him from the celestial
doorkeeper. Nothing was visible but thin
haze of smoke, and only the prevalence of
the powerful, s%ickening odor Of the drug gave
indication of recent occupancy. Evidently
our Chinaman was exercising the EXTREMIST
caution, for the frequenters had either been
concealed or had left the house by another
door. The guide informed us that this was
the place most frequented by those addicted
to the habit, and that, although the opening
Of these dens was quite recent, the habit was
spreading very rapidly.
'sYou would be surprised said the guide,
eff you knew who frequented this place.
Some Of the best people in town either come
here or buy opium here. Why" said he,
''every day adds new victims to this terrible
habit, which becomes indurated into the sys-
TEN in a marvelously short time. [ have
been a user OF the drug for years, and it
would be absolutely impossible for me to
break away from it"
l. LIZ u " T. IA VAo oAao
consisted only of a series of pine tables
ranged around the sides of the low, dingy
room, which your reporter imagined resem-
bled more an apartment in Hades than a
place Of resort for those who would enjoy
tranquil impassibility TO all worldly cares,
and partake of a season Of relaxation in
fields Elysian.
Seeing nothing further to excite curiosity,
and not having as yet sufficient courage to
enter fully into the spirit of the occasion by
partaking of the drug, we left the dive, with
q sense of relief as we re-entered into the
fresh, pure atmosphere. But duty to the
public required that the programme be car
ried out, and we went on to the second of
these dens, which is situated in the wash
house a few doors below the Overland. Here
our guide was evidently familiar, for bis rap
on the door was accompanied by his name
and some Chinese words, which proved the
open sesame that gave us admittance. Pass
ing through the front room, which was de-
voted to lavatory operations, we were shown
into a little, dark, low apartment, which was
really a den of the most pronounced type.
The same sickening odor was here, but more
noticeable, for there had evidently been q
number smoking when We entered, but as the
room was dark, we were unable to see whom
or how many were present. We continued
on through what was apparently a small,
sliding door into q little side room, more re-
sembling a tomb than anything else. We
were asked if we desired to smoke, and, an
auer;np il the affirmative. the Celestial at