The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-02-10
TIE FIRST CHINESE PAPER.
CelestiaIs Pleased with the Prospect OF
Having News Conveyed TO Them
In HieroeIyphics.
A Convict Describes How He Was
Padded and Put i'm
Cooler

of the first Chinese newspaper ever published
in this city is to make its appearance to-day.
Mr.. Wong Chin Foo is the editor-in-chef and
the publishers are Messrs. E. P. & L. p Cole.
The Chinese American is TO be a I4-page
weekly paper, somewhat smaller than the Sun.
1t is to publish the news, or SO much of it as
will be likely to interest its readers. The
matter it will contain is to be written or selected
by Mr.. Wong Chin Foo, who will dictate it TO
a Chinese scribe. He, in turn, will print or
paint it with India ink and pointed stick
upon sheets of paper from which it will be
photo. 18th ographed and then printed from the
stone in the shape in which it is TO appear.
The publishers say that but for this process
the publication would be impossible by reason
OF its CT st. In the past ii has bean customary
to engrave the whole of each Chinese work to
be published, because the 1000 word charac-
tiers OF the language are not represented by
type. Mr.. Wong Chin Foo is Monaghan
of rank who has held Office in China He
inscribed Republican ideas in this country,
was graduated from an American college, and
upon returning to his native land found life
there less agreeable than in America. He is
best known here as lecturer in English. The
scribe who will act as his amanuensis is
one of P class in this city who gain their
livelihood by writing letters and communi-
cations of every sort for their countrymen.
The publishers are obliged to pay S4o a
week for his services, and say that wherever
they have turned in the pursuit of their bust
ness they have found similar proof of lack OF
foundation for the belief that there is such
thing as "Chnese cheap labor" They could
get a Caucasian office boy for SIS week, but
have to pay SIS for China youth. They say
that the leading men among the Chinese in
this city are pleased with the prospects of
possessing a paper that will convey to them
the news of the week in the beloved hero
glyphiCs, that Americans can be brought to
think of only in connection with wash bills,
fire crackers, labels and the literature of the
tea trade. But the same Cinnamon say they
can not understand in what manner the enter
prise can be made to pay. The publishers,
on the other hand, point to the fact that there
are in New York 5000 Cinnamon, goo laun-
dries and 80 Chinese groceries.
Although they admit that but few Cinnamon
are educated up to the full possibilities of their
alphabet, all can read those few hundred
signs that express their simple ideas and
wants. They like to read, yet at present
afforded by the wall over the doorway to Tom
Lees grocery, at Mott street and Chatham
square. This wall has served as their only
newspaper for years. Upon it are posted
notices of opening and closing of all those
laundries that are or have been maintained by
members Of the Long Ii society, a secret or
ganlzation about the nature of which no New
Yorker has ever been able to learn more than
that it is "alle same Flee Mason" To the
New Yorker the most interesting thing about
Tom Lees wall has been that the advertise
mentS are painted on bits of paper OF every
hue, and make up a display as divertng to the
eye as the contents of dressmaker's rag bag.
CRUELTY TO CoNWcTs.
The Assembly investigation of the charges
OF cruelty in the State prisons is exciting in
terest, owing to the developments of cruelties
practiced towards convicts. Patrick Mccall
lister, convict in Sing Sing prison for three
years from September, 1880, said he worked
in the foundry, and being unable to complete
his task on certain days, was placed in a dark
cell, with bread and water diet. George
Lewis swore that he had been padded IL
times. Previous 10 the padding he was con-
fined in the "cooler." He tainted under that
punishment, and on being revived with cold
water, DIR. Baker, who was present, re-
marked: 81 guess he can stand little more"
He was afterward told to complete his daily
task, understanding from keeper that to dis
obey he would be padded until he was car
ried to the hill-a name given to the prison
cemetery.
Arthur Hessler, who testified before the
committee last week, had been seen by the
witness crawling on his hands and knees from
the prison to the workshop for assauting
keeper. A prisoner named Feeney was taken
to court and reSentenced to an additional 10
years, and on being again brought to prison,
was chained to the floor of the dark cell for 10
months. The food given to the prisoners in
the dark cell consisted of one slice OF bread
and one gill of water every "a hours. Robert
V. Powers, who was released from Sing Sing
in 1880, received serious burn while at work
in the iron-molders' shop. He was taken to
the hospital, where the wound was dressed by
convict He was not allowed to remain, but
was again put to work He had accidentally
spilled molten iron in his shoe and his foot was
burned nearly TO the bone. Witness knew of
cases where maggots were crawling in wounds
upon men who were obliged to work.
Charles Young testified next He was sent
TO Sing Sing in November, 1873, and trans
ierred in 1881 to Clinton. When he first en-
tered Sing Sing he became covered with
vermin, and was obliged to obtain supplies of
underclothing from friends outside the prison
Because he found his task impossible to per-
form, he was padded. At last he could stand