The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-08
HITTING THE PIPE.
A Peep Into the Opium Joints on the Pa
cifc Coast.
rDotroit FREQ prarc


cific Coast
Detroit Free Press
Although quite common in almost all the
large cities in the West, the pernicious habit
of opium-smoking, or hitting the pipe as
1t is usually called. is quite unknown in De-
troit," said q well-known druggist few DAYS
ago 10 reporter for the Free Press.
This habit" he continued, has grown
to an alarming extent on the Pacific slope,
and IN ali other localities where Chinese are
TO be found in any great numbers. | have
visited many Of the Chinese opium Joints,
both in New York and San Francisco, aud
can tell at glance whether a person is ad-
dictsd 10 the use of the deadly drug or not.
l have had strangers come into my store
whose facial appearances indicated that they
were the slaves OF the haoit, and so la &c |
knew there is no sure cure for it except TO
shUn the drug SO one would vipor.
The opium used by the Chinese is OF an
inferior quality, and Is brought to this coun-
try in the form OF paste, put up in small
round foillined boxes similar TO those used
for pills. The pipe is a curious looking con.
trivance, and might be taken FOR a common
wslkingstick were ii not for the little metal
lie bowl placed midway between the mouth
piece ana the end OF the stem. The stem it.
self is constructed Of bamboo. one end bsing
p ugged, the other htted with an amber or
metallic tip. II the bottom of the bowl are
into the stem, the other only about half way.
in using the pipe small quantity OF ths
opium paste is relied up into a pellet and
pis ced on a wire, the end OF which is inserted
in one OF the holes in The bowl of the pipe
The smoker stretches his or her form on the
floor or a low divau as tbs csss may bs. and
ignitss the opium by applying the bowl OF
the pipe to the fans from a charcoal brs zier.
II il be- his first attempt the initial Whit will
be sufficient to partially strangle him, as the
fumes of burning opium are exceedingly
pungsnt and distastefal. Very 5000 ne be.
comes accustomed TO the peculiar taste, and
gradually succumbs to its in faence. as one
does TO an an@sthetic, and finally drops off
into q ceep sleep. | tried IL once, and that
proved sufiicie mt for me. l had the taoss de-
lightful dreams, aud imsgined that I Owned
the earth, and hsd q chattel mortgage o. the
other plsDets. When I Tegained co lscious-
ness my head felt as large % q Saratoga
trunk, and Tor two days A. hast every bone
IN my b .dy schea IS badly II had Dsen
punished with club. | had no desire to Try
IL again.
with some people, however the habit
grows like the taste for liquor, and they can
no more control themselves thsn can ma
nleo. The peculiar head ache when followed
my ate mpt does not continue alter tue nfst
two or three lessons and, unless person has
q veIy strong will, there is a likelihood OF
the practice being continued. Some OF the
joints 10 The Chinese quarter in San Fran.
cIsco are fitted up regardless OF expense. and
almost every night after the theaters, are
out men aud women-and some OF them oe
long TO the upper cr1st-can bs seen Weno.
iug their way sioDg D1p9nt street, when al
OF .udden they will disappear and thst IS
toe last that is seen OF them until next day.
Sons Of them have become 50 accustomed 70
the narcotic influence thattwo or three pipes
ere required to produce the desired result.
In tho morning they emerge from the osns
with bBfsard faces and deep sunken eyes,
and having look or utter desperation as can
only be produced by opium. The practice IS
kept up day after day until their consiitu-