The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1885-09-04
TELEGRAPHIC.
ASSOCIATED PRESS TELEGRAMs- sPE-
cIAL TO cTr1zEN.]
THE CRUEL BUTCHERY
of the Chinese Miners at
Rock Springs.
A blot on humanity and a dis
grace to America.

Rock SPRINGS, WYOMING, Sept. 4th.
A glance over the battle ground of
Wednesday reveals the fact that many
of the bullets fired at fleeing Cinnamon
found their mark lying in the smolder-
ing embers. Where the Chinatown stood
were found charred and shapeless human
remains, sending up noisome stencil
that smelled to heaven; while another
which had evidently been dragged from
the ashes by hogs was found. In the
same brush near by search resulted in
fading the bodies OF 1te niane, (lIiBa-.
men killed by rife shots while fleeing
from their pursurers. All were placed
in pine coffins and buried yesterday af-
ternoon, some six or eight others were
found seriously wounded, and were car
ed for by the railroad officials. The
coroner's jury has rendered verdict to
the effect that the dead came to their
death at the hands of parties unknown.
Reports from along the line of road are
to the effect that Chinamer had been
arriving at the small stations east and
west of here; and they say that large
number of fugitives were wounded by
Wednesday IS attack; and that many have
persisted in the hills. It is feared that it
will be found that no less than fifty lost
their lives, when all the returns are in.
This trouble has been brewing for
months. The contractors who run mines
have been importing Cinnamon in large
numbers and discharging white men
until over six hundred Celestials were in
their employ. It is said that mine boss
es have favored Cinnamon to the detri-
ment of white men, and it needed only
spark to kindle the flames. This was
furnished by the quarrel between the
party of Celestials and whites in the
mine over their right to work in certain
chamber, fight ensued, and the China
men were worsted, four of them badly
wounded, one of whom has since died.
The white miners then came out, armed
themselves with fire arms, and notified
the men in the other three mines to come
out. In the meantime all was excite.
nIent in Chinatown. The flag ashois-
ted as warning, and the Chinese work.
ing in the different parts of the camp fled
to their quarters. After dinner the
saloons were closed and no liquor has
since been sold. The miners gathered
on the front streets, about cne hundred
of them armed with guns, revolvers,
hatchets and knives, and proceeded to-
wards Chinatown Before reaching
there, they sent over there, warning the
Cinnamon to leave in an hour. This they
agreed to; and started to get ready to
leave. In about half an hour the white
men grew impatient and advanced upon
the Chinese quarters, shouting and firing
their guns into the air. Without offer
ing resistance the Chinese fed with
whatever they could snatch up. They
fled to the hills about mile east of the
town. The miners firing at them as they
fed, the miners then set fire to some
of the houses, and soon about ten of the
large houses were in flames. Half chok
ed with fire and smoke, numbers of
Cinnamon came rushing from the burn
ing buildings. and with blankets and
bed quilts over their heads to protect
themselves from the rifles They were
followed by the miners into the hills at
the top pof their speed A laundry in
town was next visited, and three of the
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. During the night all
of the Chinese houses in the town num-
bering nearly fifty were burned to the
ground. A number of Cinnamon who
were hiding. fed from the burning bull
dings. 1t is rumored that Mormon min
ers in the camp are to be ordered out,
but no action in this direction has yet
been taken. The miners here are entir-
ely unorganized in the crusade, and al
though large number of them are
knights of labor, the move was not made
under their direction.
The mines have not been working
since the riot business is almost entirely
suspended and everything is quiet.
taking POsseSsTOn