Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-08
MEEN FUN THE MANDARIN.
A Tale of Love and Treachery In Can
ton and Brooklyn

a 4ale OF Love and Treachery In Can
ton and Brooklyn.
\ Chinaman named Fung Hi is first as
sstant ironer in the laundry establish
ment of sam Lee, on MOntrose avenue,
Brooklyn says the New York World of
the 3d inst. On Saturday Fung was bend
ing over his board when Chinaman
about 40 years old entered and asked if
there was room in the establishment for
an energetic laundryman with the best of
references from san Francisco. The
only answer Fung Hi gave the applicant
was to catch him by the back of the neck
and throw him into vat of soap-suds.
Other Cinnamon rushed into the place.
and the action of Fung Hi found general
favor, for in two minutes the ChInaman
was dragged from the soap vat, punched
in the back and neck, had his nose
wrung, his pigtail cut off, and was sent
up MOntrOse avenue under the maledic-
tiOns of dozen MOngOlians.
Some years ago Fung Hi was an auc-
tiOneer in Canton, and was man of
wealth, having his own tea garden and an
African to hold a sunshade over him when
he went out for walk. Near him lived
AW Chow, a tea merchant. Aw Chow
cametO New York and opened man,
moth tea store in Chatham street. from
whence he sent many dollars home to his
wife and children in Canton. There also
lived in Canton -Meen Fun, the man who
figured in the soap vat. Meen was a
Mandarin. and for some reason or other
left suddenly for America and came to see
AW Chow. The tea merchant took him
into his confidence. He fed and clothed
him and lent him money when he lost 1T
Fan Tan. Meen, however, sighed for Can
ton, and when Aw Chow said he wished
to send 81 900 home to his wife he offered
to brave the dangers of the bastinadO and
carry the money to China. He took the
money and a short while afterwards ar
rived in the Oriental City. He went DIP
rectly to Mrs. Aw Chow, laid $40 before
her and said that he had Just buried her
husband and the $40 represented his es-
tate.
Mrs. Aw Chow lived in palatial tea
garden, and like the auctiOneer, never
went out except accompanied bv her sun
shade bearer. Every day Meen drove over
to her garden, until the $1,000 was gone
and then he walked, and finally pre-
vailed upon Mrs. Chow to marry him.
Thinking her husband was dead she con
sented.
A month after the marriage Meen called
upon AuctiOneer Fung Hi. He told him that
he and his wife were going to travel and
>.
AW Chow was away from home the whole
estate was knocked down to the highest
bidder and Meen decamped with the
money. When the authorities heard of
the sale Of the property they hung up the
auctiOneer and bastinadOed him. Fung
HIS business was ruined. He came to
Brooklyn and went to work for Sam Lee.
Meanwhile Aw Chow waited to hear
from his wife and the LOCO he had sent
her. After some time he wrote to the
authorities and received letter from the
Postmaster at Canton informing him Of
Mems achievements. He also heard
that Meen, under the name of WaM Lee,
had come to America and was in st, Louis
telling the st0Ty of political difficulties to
other Cinnamon. He wrote to his wife
and she answered and said she had heard
that he had cut off his pigtail and died an
impiOus Christian. She was also looking
for Meen. Aw Chow went to St. Louis.
but could not find Meen, and nothing more
was heard of him, until, broken-dOwn
man, he entered Sam Lees place for
work. and was there thrown into the
sOap-tub. Chow came from his Chatham
street store when he heard of it. He will
now collect all the outstanding debts of
his business and go with the ex-auc-
tiOneer to China. He viii set Fung Hi
up in business, buy his tea garden and
take his wife and children back to his
hocOr1