Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-11-13
Terror In Tacoma.

the presidents proclamation the feel,
ing in this city is that there will be an
end to the anti Chinese riots on Puget
sound. There never was any neces-
sity for allowing outrages at Tacoma.
One company of United States mill
tary could have maintained order aud
protected property, but no organized
force IN The interests of peace was at
the city's command. What made
matters worse was the fact that the
MAYOR of Tacoma, a foreigner who
had lived in towe less than two years,
and in the United States not long
enough to speak English correctly,
was the leader of the anti Chinese
mob. Law>abiding citizens and the
few large property holders did nothing
but fold their hands and exclaim :
what can be done2" They feared to
organize against the mob, for the
reason that threats were made to blow
up their homes with dynamite. 1t
happens, too that the rough element
in Tacoma, headed by the mayor, out
NUM- ered the law abiding element
more than two to one. As is the case
in most of the railroad towns, the
Chinese are weak ply sically, have no
courage nor weapons of defens e, the
protection of the law was not otfsred
them, and there was nothing left to
do sut to be marched out of town.
They had good reason to fear
A SECOND ROCK SPRINGS MASSACRE.
Another feature of the risk was that
The Ledger, in the strongest language
at it's command, Endorsed the riotous
action and counseled the steps which
were subsequently, taken. 1t refused
to publish protests against the laWless,
ness over the signatures of the writers
and urged all Its energy to intimidate
those in the community. The sltua
ton at Tacoma at this time is one of
absolute peace SO far as can be observ-
ed. There are still in the town
about fifty Chinese, most of them en-
ployed as servants. They remain in
doors day and night, afraid to venture
into the streets because of threats of
assassination. Nothing more remains
fer the mob to do. Nearly all the
Chinese have been driven out and
their houses burned. The United
States courts have taken up the matter
of the outrages at Tacoma.
Vancouver and Tacoma though
nearly 120 miles apart, are in the same
judicial district and the grand jury
now in session at Vancouver has
summoned a number Of witnesses
from Tacoma to testify as to the in>
tlmldation and expulsion of the Chi
nese. 1t was impracticable to hold
the court at Tacoma with any hope of
enforcing the law or securing justice !;
still it is doubted, if indictme1 Is
should be found, which is probable,
that there will be conviction, be-
cause quiet citizens will be afraid to
testify IN open court at the risk of
having their lives taken and their
property destroyed by the mob.
THIRTY TWO INDICTMENTS.
1t is learned from Vancouver that
indictments have been found against
thirty-two persons of Tacoma for par
ticipation in outrages against the
Chinese at that place. The indicte
ments were found under section 55, :
159, Revised Statutes of the United
States, and other sections bearing on
the same subject. Warrants for the
arrest of these indicted persons have
been placed IN the hands of United
States Marshal J. w. George, and
will be served without delay. 1t
is understood that among the persons
indicted are Mayor Weisback of
Tacoma, the pol ce judge of the city,
the editors of two of the newspapers
and other persons prominent in incit-
ing the outrage.
White, in this city this evening, says
the evidence against the accused is
direct, positive, and overwhelming.
and he has no doubt of the ability of
the United States to convict the par
ties indicted. In each of the indict-
ments there are seven or eight counts.
MOB oUTRAGEs.
From various sources it is learned
that the United States will be able to
prove that the Chinese were dragged
from their houses, cuffed and kicked,
punched and beaten with clubs, hus-
tied along with violence, and in some
instances revolvers held to their heads
to hasten their exit. Sick and weak
persons were driven out in the cold
and driving rain and forced to travel
distance OF ten miles with no cloth~
ing but light cotton blouses and trous
ers. The houses were locked by the
mob and afterward burned. 1t it ex-
pscted all the accused will be brought
to Vancouver at once. These
proceedings create CONSERVATION at
Tacoma The mob do not fear troops
because they will not provoke an ac-
ton by troops, but are in great alarm
about legal proceeding. The first
statement telegraphed, that the Chin
csc left peaceably, is only true in
measure. They were pesceably
enough. but the mob was not, and
the fact remains beyond chance of
dispute that the Chinese did not leave
upon the request of the mob. but were
driven out.