Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-19
Terror In Tacoma.

results.
Terror In Tacoma.
PORTLAND, Oregon, Nov. 11.-Since
the presidents proclamation the feel
ing in this city is that there will be an
end to the anti>C Chinese riots on Puget
sound. There never was any neces-
sity for allowing outrages at Tacoma.
One company of United States mill-
tary could have maintained order and
protected property, but no organized
force In the interests of peace was at
the city's command. What made
matters worse was the fact that the
mayor of Tacoma, foreigner who
had lived in towe less than two years,
and IN the United States not long
enough to speak English correctly,
was the leader of the anti Chinese
mob. Law>abiding citizens and the
few large property holders did nothing
but fold their hands and exclaim:
'What can be done?" They feared to
organize against the mob, for the
reason that threats were made TO blow
up their homes with dynamite. It
happens, too, that the rough element
in Tacoma, headed by the mayor, out
NUM- bered the law-abiding element
more than two to one. AS is the case
in most of the railroad towns, the
Chinese are weak physically, have no
courage nor weapons of defense, the
protection Of the law was not offered
them, and there was nothing left TO
do but to be marched out of town.
They had good reason to fear
A SECOND ROCK SPRINGS MASSACRE.
Another feature of the risk was that
The Ledger, in the strongest language
at its command, Endorsed the riotous
action and counseled the steps which
were subsequently taken. It refused
to publish protests against the lawless-
ness over the signatures Of the writers
and urged all It's energy to intimidate
these IN the community. The situa
ton at Tacoma at this time is one of
absolute peace SO far as can be observ-
ed. There are still in the town
abou. fifty Chinese, most of them en-
ployed as servants. They remain in
doors day and night, afraid to venture
into the streets because of threats of
assassination. Nothing more remains
for the mob to do. Nearly all the
Chinese have been driven out and
their houses burned. The United
States courts have taken up the matter
of the outrages at Tacoma.
Vancouver and Tacoma though
nearly 100 miles apart, are In the same
judicial district and the grand jury
now in session at Vancouver has
summoned a number of witnesses
from Tacoma to testify as to the ms
t1mldation and expulsion Of the Chi
nese. It was impracticable to hold
the court at Tacoma with any hope of
enforcing the law or securing justice;
still it is doubted, If indictments
should be found, (which is probable,
that there will be conviction, be-
cause quiet citizens will be afraid TO
testify in open court at the risk of
having their lives taken and their
property destroyed by the mob.
THIRTY TWO INDICTMENTS.
It is learned from Vancouver that
indictments have been found against
thirty-two persons of Tacoma for par
ticipation in outrages against the
Chinese at that place. The indicts
ments we're found under section So
159, Revised Statutes of the United
States, and other sections bearing on
the same subject. Warrants for the
arrest of these indicted persons have
been placed III the hands of United
States Marshal J. w. George, and
will be served without delay. It
is understood that among the persons
indicted are Mayor Weisback Of
Tacoma, the police judge of the city,
the editors of two Of the newspapers
and other persons prominent in incit-
ing the outrage.
United States District ATTORNEY
White, in this city this evening, says
the evidence against the accused is
direct, positive, and overwhelming,
and he has no doubt of the ability of
the United States to convict the par
ties indicted. In each of the indict-
ments there are seven Or eight counts.
MOB oUTRAGEs.
From various sources it is learned
that the United States will be able to
prove thai the Chinese were drag ged
from their houses, cuffed and kicked,
punched and beaten with clubs, hus-
tied along with violence, and in some
instances revolvers held to their heads
to hasten their exit. Sick and weak
persons were driven out in the cold
and driving rain and forced to travel
a distance o. ten miles with no cloths
ing but light cotton blouses and trous.
ers. The houses were locked by the
mob and afterward burned. 1T it ex-
pscted all the accused will be brought
to Vancouver at once. These
proceedings create CONSERVATION at
Tacoma. The mob do not fear troops
because they will not provoke an ac-
ton by troops, but are in great alarm
about legal proceeding. The first
statement telegraphed, that the Chin
csc left peaceably, is only true in a
measure They were naaoeab1v