Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-09-03
CHING LEE,
A Colorado ChinaEnan Who saved tn q
Life ct "A Farmer.
Denver News

the passage of the Chinese immiora-
ton act. Tired of the prosecutions of
his countrynen in San Francisco
he starte on an Eastern pilgrimage
arriving IN Denver in the spring al
1880, shortly before the Chinese riots.
Cning, like others of his compatriots
adopted the profession of a laundry
man, locating on Sixteenth near
Wazee street. He was a typical Mon
golian-his almond eyes had the prom
er inclination and bis pigtail The
proper length and number of olaits
The dark days of the riots came on.
Celestials were hiding in every con
ceivable place, some Of them breaking
for the prairies and open countrv or
seeking refuge at the ranches of farra
ers within a dozen miles Of the civ
Among the fugitives was Ching Lee
with his place of business sacked and
destroyed and a bowling mob hunt
ing him down. 1t was no wonder
that he sought a hiding-place, which,
ne found in the wagon of a tanner
living near Golden. Fearing almost
10 breathe, the terrified Celestial Law
fiat ia the bottom Of the wagon until
the barn of Goldsmith, the ranchmap
was reached. The latter, all unsus.
pectng of the living freight he had
brought from town, unhitched, fed.
and cared for bis horses, and went in,
10 the house. Ching lay very quiet.
listening TO the ~retreating footsteps OF
the farmer. These had hardly Giec
away before his quick ears caught
other sounds evidently coming from
the corner of the haystack. Ching
had pretty well mastered the English
language and understood onIy too
well tho meaning of a whispered con-
v~ersation evidently between two men
concealed in the hay>loft.
Ssh" said q voice, ''he is not in
the house yet"
"Do you think he brought much
money back with him2" asked anoth-
or voice.
eyes, he took a great deal of stuff
in town with him, and, besides
| heard him say that on account of
the riots he would draw his money
out of the bank, as it would be safer
at home"
Ching listened to this conversation
and understood perfectly its dreadful
import, but what could Le, a poor,
despised heather do, to avert the
threatened crime2 Covering down
in the wagon, the chinaman never
moved until he saw in the dim twi-
light the figures of two men stealthily
making their way through a small
door cut in the large barn door, which
fhar c4.FFlu pinuaI haIT.a1 H.. NJ
sooner where they out of sight than
Ching leaped quickly from the wag>
on, and noiselessly passed through
the little wicket, keeping, however.
in the shadow of the barn, then crawl
ing on his hands and knees across the
open space, he arrived at q clump of
bushes nea the house.
Watching with the eyes of a hawk.
ne saw one of the ruffians slowly rails
ing n of the l~attices, while the other
stood behind him with a large revol-
yer cooked and with his finger on the
trigger. Lying on the ground near
him Ching saw a piece OF heavy wood,
evidently used as the handle OF a pump
which was near by. SEEING this with
both hands he rose from his crouching
position and death the robber nearest
him a terrible blow on the head, fell.
ing him to the ground. At the same
moment there was a flash and a re.
port, and the second robber fell to the
ground with a groan. For a moment
all was quiet; then the back door of
the house was opened, and the farmer
cautiously approached with the still
smoking pistol in his hand. Seeing
Ching IN the moonlight which now
illuminated the scene he covered him
with the pistol. AT this moment he
caught sight of the two PROSTATE rob
bers. Who are you, and what do
you wauti' he asked, addressing
Ching. me 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 thers2" asked
Goldsmith.
ME hide in your wagon come from
Denver"
Gradually the situation dawned
upon the farmer, and seeing the club,
which was still grasped by Ching, and
its terrible effect on one of the ruff
fans, he realized that the Chinaman
had largely contributed toward saving
his property and perhaps his life, as i
was the blow from his club and the
cry of its victim as he fell which had
attracted his attention and caused him
to shoot at the other burglar.
With the aid of Ching the two men
were securely bound, it first having
been ascertained that neither of them
was dangerously wounded. They
were taken TO the city, and ia due
course of time tried, convicted, and
sentenced to ten years in Canon pen
itentiary. Goldsmith offered in his
gratitude a home to Ching, who, tired
OF the prosecutions and terrors of the
city, accepted the kind offer. and is
to>day one Of the best and most ex~
~pelienced farmers and fruit growers
IN the country, being p permanent
81 .-s, ~. 90 +ho n-1lr,,sFl -