Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-11-27
SAVED BY a CalNAMAN.

The dark days Of the riots came on.
Celestials were hiding in every conoeiv-
able place, some Of them breaking for
the p%rairies and open country or seek
INC refuge at Tho ranches OF farmers
within a dozen milesof the city. Among
the fugitives was Ching Lee. with his
place OF business sacked and DESTROYED,
and 4 hoWJing mob hunting him down.
lie sought Il hiding place in the wagon
OF a farmer living near Golden. Fear
ing almost to breathe, the terrified Ce-
lestial lay flat in the bottom of the wa
gon until the barn of Goldsmith, the
ranchman, was reached. The latter,
all unsuspecting of the living freight
he had brought from town, unhitched,
fed, and cared for his horses, and went
into the house. Ching lay very quiet,
listening to the retrealing footsteps of
the farmer. These had hardly died
away before his quick ears caught other
sounds, evidently coming from the cor
ner of the barn.
''Sh!' said Il voice, she is not in the
house"
''Do you think he brought much
money back with him." asked another
voice.
Yes he took a great deal of stuff in
town, and. besides, l heard him say
that. or account OF the riots, he would
draw his money out Of the bank, as it
would be safer at home.n
Covering down in the wagon. the
Chinaman never moved until he saw in
the dim twilight the figures of two men
stea!thily making their way through a
small door cnt in the large barn door,
which they softly closed behind them.
No sooner Were they out of sight than
Ching leaped quickly from the wagon
and rolselessly passed through the little
wicket. keeping. however, in the
shadow OF the barn, then crawling on
his hands and knees across the open
space, he arrived nj a ciump OF bushes
near the house. He saw one of the
ru1hans slowly raising one of the lat
llces, While the other stood behind him
with u large revolver cooked and with
his finger on the trigger. Lying on the
ground near him Ching saw q piece of
heavy wood, evidently used as the ham
ole OF q pump which WAS near by.
Selling this With both hands he rose
from his crouching position and dealt
1lle fopber nearest hlm q terrible blow
on the head, Telling him to the ground.
AT The same monlen there was Il flash
and d report, and the second robber
tell to the ground with Il groan. For IL
moment all was quiet; then the back
door OF the house was opened, and the
1armer cautiously approached with the
still smoking pistol in bis hand. See
ING CHING i'll the moonlight, which now
Illuminated the scene, he covered him
with his pistol. AT this moment he
caught sight OF the two PROSTATE rob-
bers. WHO are you, and what do YOU
Want?' he asked, addressing Ching.
''NIc Chinaman. Bad Mclean man
killee you and take money! said
Ching, pointing to the men, who were
beginning to show life.
How did you get thcre?n asked
Goldsmith.
Me hide in your wagon; come from
Denver
Gradually the situation dawncd upon
the farmer, and, seeing the club, which
was still grasped by Ching. and its ter
rib!e effect Oh Il OF Tie rullians, he
that the Clinaman had largely
contributed toward saving his property,
ana perhaps nus lille, as it was the blow
from his club and the cry OF his victim
as lie Tel which attracted his attention
and caused him 10 shoot at the other
burglar.
With the AID of Ching the two men
were securely bound, 1T first having
been ascertained that neither OF them
was dangerously wounded. They
were taken to the city, and in due
course OF time, tried, convicted, and
sentenced to ten years in Canon Pcni-
Goldsmith offered in his
gratitude q home to Ching, who, tired
of the prosecutions and terrors of the
city, accepted the offer, and is to-day
one OF the best and most experienced
and fruit-growers in the coun-
ny, beng. Il permanent fixture ut the
Joldsmith ranch.- Denue7 NelCs.