Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-03-27
He!ena's Opium Ioints.

lena are not aware Of the extent te
which the degrading and debasine
habit OF opium smoking is carried or
in their midst, SO says the Independ
ent. Not alone among the Chinese,
but among the white, men, women
and girls of tender age are being
gradually drawn into the vicious cir
Gle, the fumes of the pipe encircling
its victims in deadly coil from which
extrication is almost impossible.
About week ago three girls of re-
spectacle parentage were seen to en-
ter, either in fit of curiosity or 9TH
erwise, an opium joint on the south
west corner of West Main and Cutler
streets. They stayed in this den
about an hour, and out of regard for
their parents the police, who saw
them enter and emerge, refrained
from arresting them and from divulg-
ing their names
There are III Chinatown abo,,t six
Joints" or opium dens that have more
or less patronage among the whites.
Some members of the demi monde
are regular customers, although their
female clientale does not end there.
The male patrons are more numer-
Gus, however, and chiefly recruited
from among the professional gamb-
lers.
All Sam, on Water steet, has six
hunks and at almost any hour OF the
day one or more are occupied by some
opium fend, either hitting the pipe"
Or in the various attendant stages of
intoxication.
A house on the north side Of Water
streets contains fourteen hunks and
is much patronized by the citizens of
Wood and Bridge streets, bank en-
trance from East Bridge affording a
shady means Of approach. Opium
smokers are invariably ashamed of
the habit, and when the case becomes
chronic not only know and feel the
depths of their degradation, but are
peculiarly sensitive to it. A visit to |
the house mentioned at an early |
morning hour in company with a
police officer, found six hunks oesuni-
ed. Two white women were lying in
separate hunks IN deathly, lethargic
sleep, while one white man looked up
at US with a silly giggle, evidently
not compromising anything OF rec
ognizing us, and sank back again on
the bunk. A Chinaman with shrunk-
sn, palid face, and skin drawn tight
over the high cheek bones and reced-
ing forehead, was twirling the thick liq-
uid around the end OF long needle
and filing the pipe. Holding it over
The lamp he ignited the bubbling and
drug, and with an air of SUI
oreme satisfaction inhaled the power
tul fumes. The silence of death
'eigned supreme, not word was said
,n either hand, and amid this horri-
Die stencil the lost and enslaved
whites herded with the filthy Mongo-
ians, unconscious even of their own
degradation. Vice is usually made
but there was nothing at
ractive here. Bunks made of rough,
implanted boards, dirty sheets and
lirtier pillows, a room about 1Ox1O,
With no ventilation, and the flthiest
surroundings. What
fascination there must be in the pipe.
All Hung, or some such name, owns
he shacks 1, 2, 8 and 4 on Cutler
street. In the first of these, after
considerable delay, we obtained ad-
nittance. A white man Of fine ap-
oearanee had jumped from a bunk
md was ready to leave when disturb
ID. He expressed himself as wishing
o rid himself Of the habit and sswish-
ID to God" he had never hit the pipe.
He said he was ''tapering off day by
lay" Yes, tapering off to the grave.
There is 'sioint'' freely patronized
" Wood street siren little above
9uang Hing & Co.'S. store on West
Main and, one door or so away from
Tong High & On KEGS place.
The pipe stems are made Of BAN
,oo About four inches from the
md, the pipe is attached to the stem.
rhe smoker, with q dexterous twist,
axes on the end of a needle enough
i the black extract to form the size
# pea and puts it into the pipe.
The pipes are usually made of brass
lie holds this over small lamp and
4 short time ignites, draws and ex-
lausts it in a few long inhalations.
The effect on a beginner is to make
i'm feel light headed and airy He
apidly loses comprehension and
inally falls into a heavy sleep.
The curse Of opium smoking is a |
Ieadly one, and we trust the Terrific |
ial law -makers will legislate for its .