Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-05
Rock SPRINGS, Wv, Sept. 4.


nesdsy reveals the fact that many of the bull
lets firing at the fleeing Chinamen found
their mark. Lying in the smouldering EN-
bers where Chinatown stood were found ten
chared and shapeless human trunks, while
another which had evidently been dragged
from the ashes BY hogs was found in a sage
bush near by Search resulted in the finding
of five more Chinsmen, killed by rifle shots.
All were placed in pine coftins and buried
Thursday afternoon. Some six or eight
others were found seriously wounded and
were cared tor by the railroad officials. The
coroner's Jury has rendered q verdict 10 the
effect that the dead came to their death at
the hands of parties unknown
Advices from along the line of the road
are that Cinnamon are arriving at small sta
tions on the line and say that large numbers
of the fugitives were wounded by Wednes-
days attack ana that many have perished in
holes. 1t is feared that it will be found that
no less than fifty lost their lives when all the
returns are in.
The trouble has been brewing for months.
Contractors who run mines have been i'm.
porting Cinnamon and discharging white men
until over six hundred Celestials were in
their employ 1t 10 stated that the mine
bosses have favored Cinnamon to the detri.
ment of white miners and it needed only q
spark to kindle the flames. This was fur
nished BY the quarrel between a party of
Celestiais and whites in mine No. 6, over the
right to work in a certain chamber. A fight
ensued and the Cinnamon were worsted, four
being badly wounded, one of whom has
since died. The white miners then came out.
armed themselves with firearms and notified
the men in the other three mines to come out
in the afternoon Meanwhile all was ex-
citement in Chinatown, flag WAS hoisted
as warning and the Chinamen working in
the different parts of the camp fed to their
quarters. After dinner the saloons were
closed and since no liquor has been sold
The miners gathered on Front street, about
100 of them armed with guns, revolvers,
hatchets and knives, and proceeded tow ards
Chinatown. Before reaching there they sent
a committee of three warning the Cinnamon
to leave in an hour This they agreed to do
and started to pack up, but in about half an
hour the white men grew impatient and ad-
vanced upon the Chinese Quarters, shouting
and firing their guns into the air. Without
Offering resistance the Chinese fed with
whatever they could snatch up. They fled
to the hills about a mile east of the town. the
miners firing at them as they fed. The
miners then set FIRE to some of the houses
and coon eight or ten of the lsrges, houses
were in flames. Half choked with fire and
smoke numbers of Cinnamon came rushing
from the burning buildings and with blankets
and bed-quilts over their heads to protect
them from stray rifle balls they follow ed
their retiring brethren into the hills at the
top of their speed. A laundry in town was
next visited and the inoffensive inmates shot
dead
All the employees of the coal department of
the railroad were ordered to leave town,
which they did on the evening train. Dur
ing the night all the Chinese houses in the
town, umbering nearly fifty, were burned
to the ground. Numbers OF Cinnamon who
we're there fed from the burning buildings
1t is rumored that the Mormon miners in the
camp are to be ordered out, but no action in
this direction has been taken.
The miners here are entirely unorganized
in the crusade. and although a large number
of them are Knights of Labor the move was
not made under their direction. The miners
have been working since the riot. Business
is almost entirely suspended and everything
is quiet.
CHICAGO, Sept. 4.
A dispatch was received here from Gov
Warren at the military headquarters in this
city, Thursday, mentioning the attack upon
the Cinnamon at Rock Springs, and stating
his ability to suppress the riot and calling for
troops The telegram came through Gen.
Howard's headquarters Gen. Schoield for
warded the call to Washington for the action