The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-02
SAVED BY A CHINAMAN.
Heather Ching Lee Docs n Most Thor
ou9hly Christian Decd.
IFrom the Danyar News

lFrom the Denver News.}
The dark days of the riots came on
Celcstials were hiding in every c~oncciv
able place, some of them breaking fol-
the prairies and open country or seeking
refuge at the ranches of farmers within
q dozen miles of the city. Among the
fugitives was Ching Lee, with his place
of business sacked and destroyed and 8
bowling mob hunting him down. He
sought a hiding place in the wagon of q
farmer living near Golden. Fearing al
most to breathe, the terrified Celestial
lay flat in the bottom of the wagon I'M
til the barn of Goldsmith, the ranch
man, was reached. The latter, all un-
suspccting of the living freight he had
brought from town, unhitched, fed, and
cared for his horses, and went into the
house. Ching lay very quiet, listening
to the retreating footsteps of the farm
er. These had hardly died away before
his quick ears caught other sounds evil
IDENTITY coming from the corner of the
barn. Ching had pretty we'll mastered
the English language, and understood
only too well the meaning of q whispered
conversation evidently between two men
concealed in the hay-loft.
Ssh" said a voice, che is not in the
house."
"Do you think he brought much
money back with him p asked another
voice.
eyes, he took a great doal of stuff in
town, 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"
Covering down in the wagon, the
Chinaman nevc moved until he saw in
the dim twilight the figures of two men
stcalthily making their way through a
small door cut in the large barn door,
which they softly closed behind them.
No sooner were they out Of sight thar
Ching lcaped quickly from the wagon,
and noisclcssly passed through the little
wicket, keeping, however, in the shadow
Of the barn; then crawling on his hands
and knees across the open space, he mr.
rived at a clump of bushes near the
house. He saw ono of the %ruffians slow
ly raising II of the l~attices, while the
other stood behind him with a loaded re-
volver cooked and with his finger on the
trigger. Lying on the ground near him
Ching saw a piece of heavy wood, evil
IDENTIFY used as the handle of a pump
which was near by. Selling this With
both hands, he rose from his crouch
ing position and dealt the robber nearest
hin a terrible blow on the head, telling
him to the ground. At the same mo-
mcnt there was u flash and a report, and
the second robbcr 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
his hand. Seeing Ching in the moon
light, which now illuminated the scene.
covered him with the pistol. At this
moment he caught sight of the two pros
trate robbers. "Who arc you, and what
you want 2" he asked, addressing
Ching. "Mc Chinaman. Bad Mclean
man killce you and take money!" said
Ching, pointing to the men, wlo were
beginning to show life.
How did you get there 2" asked
Goldsmith.
Me l in your wagon; come from
Denver.
Gradually the situation dawned upon
farmer, and, seeing the club, which
still graspcd by Ching, and its terri
bic effect ON one of the rufians, he real !!
lZcd that the Chinaman had largely con-
toward saving his property, and
perhaps his life, as it was the blow from
his club and the cry from his victim as
nc fell which had attracted his attention
caused him to shoot at the other
With the aid of Ching the two men
we're securely bound, it first having
ascertained that neither of them
was dangerously wounded. They were
aiken to the city, and in due course of
line tried, convicted, and sentenced to
years in Canyon penitcntiay. Gold
smith offered in his gratitude a home to
{ hing. who, tired of the prosecutions
terrors of the city, accepted the
Differ, and is to-day one of the best and
most experienced farmers and fruit
growers in the country, being a perma-
lent fixture at the Goldsmith ranch.